The Weather Wizard

Caitlin was in the command center of the hall, monitoring Barry's cellular data. She had gathered an array of unusual readings from her recent examinations of Barry and now needed to organize them to pinpoint the differences between him and an ordinary person. Her gaze was fixed intently on the computer screen when suddenly, an alarm blared from the speakers.

It was the adjacent computer, its screen displaying a street engulfed in a blanket of white fog, encircled by red symbols marking danger. This was Cisco's surveillance system, connected to satellites watching over Central City, programmed to sound an alert at any sign of trouble.

Typically, Cisco would be stationed here, coordinating with Barry on his heroic endeavors. But today, the team had ventured out, and Dr. Wells was on leave, leaving Caitlin alone in the control room.

Upon seeing the alert, Caitlin hesitated only for a moment before dialing Barry's number.

"Barry, there's a strange fog on Yordem Street. The people there might need you."

Though Caitlin wasn't fond of Barry's superhero antics, the sudden and eerie fog raised fears for the safety of the civilians. She notified Barry and Cisco, albeit with a tone less than pleased.

"Cisco, you and Elon need to get back here and run your behind-the-scenes magic," she ordered before hanging up.

"Cisco, Elon, I'm heading out first," said Barry, vanishing in a blur of yellow lightning.

The detector had yielded nothing, and there was no reason for Cisco and Elon to linger.

"C'mon, Elon, we need to get back to S.T.A.R. Labs to support Barry," Cisco urged, a sense of urgency in his voice.

"No, Cisco, we're going to Yordem Street," Elon insisted as they headed out.

If his hunch was right, this was the work of the first metahuman from the series, Clyde Mardon, the Weather Wizard, with the power to manipulate the elements and control the weather.

Clyde Mardon's abilities were much more formidable than the series depicted. While they required some time to initiate, even at their weakest, they could cause severe injury or death to ordinary people. Once he successfully directed the weather, nature itself would fuel his control, driving the elements toward the chaos he shaped.

For instance, the storm from season one would have intensified rapidly if not for Barry's intervention. Such a storm's strength was irreversible; even Mardon might have lost control as it became a force of nature, with him merely the catalyst.

A fully-formed tornado was especially devastating. While not particularly fast—traveling at speeds comparable to Barry's, around 350 kilometers per hour—it could cover a path over two kilometers wide and unleash energy equivalent to eight atomic bombs in an hour, enough to obliterate Central City.

Not to mention Mardon's potential to cause downpours, hailstorms, thunderstorms, blizzards, and dense fogs—any of which could easily destroy the city if given enough time to build.

Elon knew better than to underestimate the Weather Wizard, despite how weak Mardon seemed on the show, where he was shot dead by Joe. Ensuring Barry's safety was paramount; Elon couldn't predict how his presence might alter this world's course. Even minor timeline alterations had led to dire consequences in the series; the impact of a traveler like Elon could be even more unpredictable.

Cisco followed Elon out of the precinct, arguing, "We should be at S.T.A.R. Labs, monitoring the environment for Barry, giving him advice so he can handle the situation faster."

Elon stood firm, "No, Cisco, trust me. The fog will blind the satellite cameras. Besides, I suspect there's something off about this sudden fog."

Cisco agreed, realizing the truth in Elon's words. The fog must be unusual to trigger their software's alarm, and Caitlin had described it as eerie. They jumped into the car, with Cisco driving towards Yordem Street.

"Why would fog appear out of nowhere? I checked the weather report this morning—19% temperature, around 40% humidity, few clouds, light breeze. It's autumn; the air is dry, and there's not enough moisture for fog," Cisco mused, puzzled by the anomaly.

Elon, seated in the passenger's seat, his eyes sparking with an internal storm, allowed a flash of silver lightning to dance across his hands as he prepped his cells.

"I can generate lightning without electronics or a magnetic field," Elon stated calmly.

Realization dawned on Cisco, "You mean... the fog was created artificially? Is there a metahuman who can generate fog?"

Elon nodded, "Or technology could do it, storing and releasing massive amounts of water vapor. If the atmosphere is stable and relative humidity hits 100%, fog forms."

Cisco nodded in agreement, understanding that either scenario was plausible. Cameras would be useless in the fog, offering no assistance to Barry. Only by heading to the scene could they help.

They reached the fog-enshrouded street quickly. Cisco parked the car at the edge; they couldn't drive any further.

A dense fog obscured all but a few meters ahead. Elon's keen vision could penetrate only about thirty meters into the rolling mist.

Then, a pained cry echoed through the air—Barry's voice.

Elon bolted from the car as a red blur tore through the fog, crashing into the hood of their vehicle, pushing it several meters back. Inside, Cisco clung to the steering wheel, steadying himself.

It was Barry, his body imprinting into the crumpled hood. Elon gasped at the sight of Barry's tattered suit, his chest looking as if it had been slashed by a blade and blasted open. A jagged wound crossed his torso, ribs shattered, exposing his organs, while blood and torn flesh marred his right chest.

"Do you realize you're opposing a god?"

From the churning fog, a figure emerged.