"Freeze!" I'm not sure if it was me or the rent-a-cop who shouted that. Probably the cop, my puns were much worse.

I was Captain Cold, fresh to the gear but not to crime. I knew the bank routine, and I knew how to shoot. A windbreaker and a cryo-gun weren't a big change.

It was all about the rep back then. Anything to distinguish myself. Back before the Rogues, I was after respect more than anything else. I've overcome this flaw, other than a few missteps, but…

Before the bank's rent-a-cop could decide to either shoot or flee, big red's fist smacked into my skull at what felt like just under the speed of sound. His aura thing prevents any lethal damage, at least at relatively low speeds, but it still hurt like Hell.

The Flash, 'defender' of the Gem Cities and symbol of 'hope,' saw it as his job to stop me from liberating loot from the bank. I didn't remember what the bank's name was. But even now, I still remember the camera layout, the rent-a-cop's schedule, and the manufacturer of the safes. It's an asset.

The score that week was three to two, my favor. It was a pretty good week, but that early in our careers, luck was a bigger factor than skill. Not to disrespect the Lady, of course, but it's much more satisfying when the Flash slipped on my ice than tripped on the curb.

The hit knocked me on my ass, and I dropped at least two fillings. Now, you'd think that the score would be even now, but despite Flash's speed, it takes a bit longer than that to take down the Captain.

Flash found himself slowed after that initial hit. He hadn't moved after it, and found his body temperature cooling. Even I was surprised at how fast it dropped. I hadn't figured out just how conductive his suit was, and wouldn't until a few weeks later, during Marco's debut.

Before I made my presence known in the bank, I'd discharged my weapon around me. A special chemical compound, to react to speeds faster than one hundred miles per hour. Whether it was a speedster or bullet, it didn't matter, as long as it stopped.

Evidently, the Flash was still too fast to stop completely. We were about to have one of those rare battles, where it was possible for me to land a hit in hand-to-hand. I wouldn't have another of those for years.

I rose to my feet, "Heh. Most people assume cold's a force. But it's really just the absence of-"

"-kinetic energy, yeah," said the Flash. He'd overcome the shock of slowing down, and was back to human speeds, "Cut the crap and fight."

That one threw me. I hadn't pictured Flash as the intelligent type, but I suppose with his power he didn't need to show it. A bit odd that he had chemistry knowledge, of all things. Whatever, his education wasn't my problem.

I leveled my gun at his chest, now back to the usual charges, and fired. He dodged out of the way, and I barely had enough time to deflect a right cross. He was up to double human speeds, but I was still the better brawler.

I kicked at his knee, and heard a crack. That was definitely a lasting injury, considering his viciousness in battles later in the month.

However, at this point his energy had recovered back to normal, and he launched into a barrage of hits at me. I went down easy, knocked out.

The score was even, and I had ideas for the next game.