There was a bustle at Picture News. The article that Iris had written on King Shark had been a real hit in Central City. The fact that she had been captured by the beast known as King Shark, along with the Flash, whose powers had been dampened, showed that Central City's scarlet speedster, was in fact vulnerable. The fact that they had been rescued by the female CEO of STAR Labs was something else.
Iris knew that her being kidnapped all that time with the Flash, without finding out his identity would cause people to question her credibility as a reporter. But after The Flash came to her last night, pleading that she not reveal Cisco's identity, it led her to leave Cisco out of the article entirely. She would not reveal the alter egos of her heroes.
She decided to use this and put a spin on the article. She had revealed to her readers that Astrid Sutherland from STAR Labs had been the one who had freed them. That she had bypassed the military bravely and had unlocked the tank. Iris was still unsure as to how it had all happened, and her father refused to speak a word of it, but Iris believed that she had written the article that was inspiring.
She even left a message to her readers in her final chapter. "Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and they will always surprise us. It was a woman from STAR Labs, Astrid Sutherland, that freed us. We have always seen her as a villainess, a CEO who was willing to work with corrupt leaders such as Lionel Luthor. But she risked her own life to rescue us. This goes to show that while the Flash will wear a mask and fight every day to save the city that he loves, The Sutherland heiress, also wears a mask… a mask that hides who she truly is, a heroic and inspiring woman who will do anything to rescue the heroes of our city."
Iris knew that the rest of her article may have put off the impression that she was a little obsessed with the Flash, but maybe she was… it helped with her writing of course, which is what got her the job for Picture News in the first place. But this article had a real sense of girl power, and in this changing world, girl power is what was needed.
Iris reread over her article, very pleased with herself. But she was startled by the menacing voice of a man who called out over the large office. "Where is the writer of this article?" he called out angrily "Where is Iris West?"
"So, my fearless leaderette… How does it feel knowing that you took down the son of a shark god?" Cisco asked, as he and Astrid sat at the desk in the cortex.
"Well, my adorkable nerd… It's kind of scary. I even mind controlled general Eiling and his men to cover our asses… And my headaches were only dull this time… Like I'm getting used to them or something… This sort of power is…" Astrid was having a hard time finding the right words to finish her sentence.
"Intimidating to say the least?" Cisco asked. "Yeah, I get that. I bet your happy to be seen in a new light with Iris' article… Central City might not see us as the villains anymore, and it was thanks to you saving our asses... again… Just don't let the power go to your head… You know what I mean?" he grinned at his own joke, making her roll her eyes. "But, seriously… that's normally what sends the Jedi's to the dark side… you know… that and emotions… but I think your emotions are what keep you grounded."
"That article was quite flattering… and thank you for your wisdom, oh wise sensei, Cisco." she joked back, "I think I'll be fine provided, I have you by my side to keep me grounded…" she leant over and kissed him, just as Harry entered the room.
"I thought this was supposed to be a place of work," he announced making them part, "…in any other office the boss making out with her lackey would be considered as…"
"Yeah, we get it!" Cisco said, "But you're also forgetting that up here this isn't just any place of business. I mean, I suppose it would be hard for you to notice what with us taking down a shark god and you know, breaching him and a great meta-ape to separate earths!"
"Calm down, you two." Astrid replied as she stood up, "but I get it, no making out in the cortex where just anyone can walk in."
"Thank you, Astrid." Harry, replied, but then he realized what she meant as she walked towards her office with Cisco trailing behind. "Not what I meant!" Harry called out after them, but as he did the emergency alert sounded on the computer.
"There go our afternoon plans." Cisco said as he looked over at the screen. "Woah, man… That's not what I was expecting…"
"What?" Astrid asked, but she saw exactly what he was referring to. There was a situation up at Picture News.
"Okay! Masks on, Vibe!" Astrid said, "This looks big! Harry take the computer! I'm going with Cisco!"
"You know, Astrid, this will be the first time you and I have gone out on a mission together. Are you sure you can keep up with me?" Cisco asked as the two rushed off to put on their suits.
"Cisco, I've seen how long you take on your hair… I'm sure I'll be fine!" she grinned at him.
The two of them arrived via breach to Central City Picture News to find Iris being restrained by some of her fellow colleagues and a man who Astrid could remember seeing once in her lifetime. Dr Edgar Cizko, a former psychologist.
"Another woman?" he scoffed at Astrid. "You female heroes make me sick!
"Vibe, free Iris!" Astrid called out angrily, "Let me take care of this jerk!" But as Astrid went to charge at him, it occurred to her. He was a telepath and he was trying to compel her.
It wasn't working, of course, and she predicted his next move. Astrid had to duck as Vibe shot a blast in her direction.
"The jerk's a telepath!" she spat out. She focused her mind control on reversing the effects of Cisco's mind control, but as she was about to, someone knocked her over the back of the head.
Edgar Cizko used his compulsion to manipulate Vibe and Iris' colleagues to restrain Astrid and Iris and lock them into the back of his truck.
As he drove away, it took a few minutes to realize what had just happened. Cisco immediately breached back to STAR Labs to tell Harry the news.