Kidnapping of Chris Smith

Kidnapping of Chris Smith
Previous	Skirmish at LordTech Field
War	Establishment of Salvation
Date	June 2025
Location	A.R.G.U.S. Warehouse Salvation
Result	Chris Smith becomes the first prisoner of Salvation.
Planned by	Rick Flag, Sr.
Executed by	A.R.G.U.S.
Target	Chris Smith

"Before we move all the metahuman prisoners here, I thought a little due diligence was required, see what effects this dimension has on the human body. I wanna thank you for volunteering."

―Rick Flag, Sr. to Chris Smith^[src]

The Kidnapping of Chris Smith was a successful attempt by A.R.G.U.S. to imprison Chris Smith on Salvation for the murder of Rick Flag, Jr.

Background

"So, on... on Salvation, that's... that's where we build the prison?"
"No, no, Mr. Secretary. Salvation is the prison."

―Stephen Mori and Rick Flag, Sr.^[src]

After being appointed director of A.R.G.U.S., Rick Flag, Sr. used his position to obtain the files related to his son's death on Corto Maltese during Project Starfish. Upon reading the files, he discovered his son had been killed by Peacemaker. Enraged, Flag ordered A.R.G.U.S. resources to be dedicated to monitoring Peacemaker. In January 2025, A.R.G.U.S. detected an interdimensional anomaly emanating from Smith's house. Due to the Metropolis incident, interdimensional rifts became A.R.G.U.S.'s top priority, and upon detecting another anomaly at Smith's house, Langston Fleury led a team to Peacemaker's house, but the team was attacked by Eagly and forced to retreat. Bordeaux led another attempt to enter Chris Smith's House, successfully entering the house, although Peacemaker had escaped and relocated the door to the Quantum Unfolding Chamber.

To capture Peacemaker, Flag recruited Emilia Harcourt and they set a trap for the vigilante in Kupperberg Park. Upon capturing him, Flag unleashed his anger and began beating him until Economos registered Peacemaker in the system, forcing Flag to release him. Peacemaker then traveled through the warehouse to Earth-2, where he took up residence. The remaining 11th Street Kids, however, used the portal to travel to Earth-2 and bring Smith back. Meanwhile, Flag sought the help of Lex Luthor at Belle Reve Correctional Center, who, in exchange for a transfer to a metahuman-free prison, offered to help him track Peacemaker's portal. With the help of Sydney Happersen, A.R.G.U.S. located the portal. When the 11th Street Kids returned with Smith, he surrendered voluntarily and handed over the interdimensional device, resulting in his arrest.

With the device in his possession, Flag partnered with LuthorCorp technicians to launch a campaign to find an uninhabited dimension capable of supporting Earth-like life, sending A.R.G.U.S. agents through the Quantum Unfolding Chamber to explore the unknown conditions of different universes. However, the investigations resulted in numerous casualties, which Flag barely cared about, until they finally discovered Salvation. Rick Flag, Sr. revealed his intention to use Salvation to imprison metahumans there due to their dangerousness, so they could never return, disappointing agents like Sasha Bordeaux, who left with the 11th Street Kids to found Checkmate. Otis Berg and Sydney Happersen devised a method to travel there without the Quantum Unfolding Chamber. After paying Smith's bail and convincing him to cope with his trauma, Peacemaker started the Checkmate agency with his friends.

Kidnapping

"This is for Ricky, you piece of shit."

―Rick Flag, Sr. to Chris Smith^[src]

Still harboring resentment toward Peacemaker, Rick Flag, Sr. forged a document from Smith stating that he had volunteered to test the Salvation Prison to see its effects on humans before it began sending metahumans there as planned. With the document, Flag ordered his A.R.G.U.S. agents to kidnap Smith, who, while trying to return to his apartment one night, was caught off guard. Smith had a bag placed over his face and was forced into a van, handcuffed while he didn't understand what was happening, until they arrived at the old LuthorCorp base, where they guarded the interdimensional portal. Smith was taken out of the van and the bag removed. Confused, he saw Rick Flag, Sr. and asked what was going on, but he was escorted to the gate to be transported to Salvation, where Angler and Vega removed the handcuffs.

Aftermath

With Smith left where he wanted him, Rick Flag, Sr. revealed his vengeful motives against him, explaining his intentions to use the dimension as a prison for metahumans, and mockingly thanking him for volunteering, revealing that he had forged his signature. Peacemaker tried to run toward the door, but it evaporated before him, worrying him as he found himself stranded on an unknown planet while hearing the sounds of approaching creatures. Due to Chris Smith's forced disappearance, Eagly moved in with John Economos at his home.