Astrid arrived at STAR Labs earlier than usual that morning. She had a board meeting to get to in an hour but she also knew that Cisco was returning to work and she needed to speak with him about Caitlin.
She arrived to find him standing at his desk with three coffees and a very different fashion sense. "Hi Cisco." She called out as she picked up her coffee, "I would love to ask you about your peculiar wardrobe decisions and why you are going for some bad boy look, today… But first, I need to talk to you about Caitlin. I did what you said… you know about probing into her mind… and I think you're right. I couldn't get a read on her."
Cisco looked at her strangely. "I'm sorry. But what did you just say?" he asked her.
Astrid burst out laughing, "Yes, I said you were right. It felt strange to me too. But I tried to read her mind and I just couldn't! I mean even when she was Killer Frost, I was able to pick up something… but this… this was just like, when I try to read Barry's mind, and he doesn't know that I am doing it. It was impossible… I don't think it is really Caitlin. And I think we need to find out what happened to Ronnie, where our Caitlin is… and just who this imposter is…" A slight smile spread over his face, but she wasn't sure why.
Caitlin walked into the room and Astrid once again tried to probe her mind. But still there was nothing. Caitlin noticed the slight tension and asked, "Is everything ok in here? Where's Barry?" They both looked at Astrid. "Barry is fine! You guys... I need to get to my board meeting, but I will see you both later. Also, Cisco your bruising when down very well. I can't even see the swelling, anymore."
Astrid left quickly and went down to the lower floors. Whilst she was in the elevator, she called Barry, telling him that they needed to be cautious of Caitlin. But little did she know, that Cisco was no longer the Cisco that she knew. He too, was an imposter, Reverb aka Francisco Ramon, from another world.
As Barry got off the phone to Astrid, he was walking into Joe's office. He too had felt that something had been a little off about their friend Caitlin and wanted to look in to it.
He saw Joe standing at his desk going through a few files, that were entitled, Nora Allen. The sight of these folders pushed the thought of Caitlin being an imposter, out of his mind. "Joe, any new leads?" Barry asked, referring to the case in Joe's hands.
"Have you spoken to your brother lately?" Joe asked. Barry wasn't too sure if he was trying to change the subject, intentionally. "No, why?" he asked him.
"Eddie wants in on the Nora Allen case and while she is both of your mother, and my partner… I figured you might have something to say about it." Joe told him.
"Well, it doesn't matter what I think. The more eyes on this, the sooner we get my father out of prison. It will be strange, Eddie, my dad and I being a family again." Barry said.
"Well, whatever happens…" Joe replied, "…you will always be a son to me."
"…and eventually, so will Eddie…" Barry joked.
"Don't' remind me! But you came in here for a reason, Bar. What's going on?" Joe asked, placing the folders on the desk and staring intently at Barry.
"I'm thinking that maybe Astrid, Cisco and I are getting our wires crossed, but lately something seems off with Caitlin…" Barry began.
"How do you mean?" Joe asked as he took a seat and gave Barry his undivided attention.
"Well, it just seems… It just seems that ever since she got back from her honeymoon, she hasn't been the same… and we haven't even heard from Ronnie. I tried calling him, and I got nothing. It's like he has just vanished, and Caitlin doesn't even talk about him… But then the other night, Astrid tried to read her mind… she told me that she got the same response. That it was like when she tries to read mine, without me knowing. It's some sort of faster frequency or something…" Barry tried to explain.
Joe raised his hand, "…stop right there… Do you remember, at the STAR Labs opening ceremony, where there was that girl in the crowd who you had mistaken for Caitlin? Do you remember she was carrying some sort of…"
"…Some sort of device that changed her image, yeah I do. In fact, I think Cisco tucked it away somewhere. He said it looked like something from the future." Barry replied.
"…Well I highly doubt that its from the future. But maybe it could be linked to that thing? If you like, I can see if I can find out where Ronnie is… and Dr Stein… where one is, the other shouldn't be too far away. You guys just keep an eye on Caitlin. Normally when the three of you get a hunch about something you all turn out to be correct."
Barry agreed with his foster father and left the office. He had a few things to do at CCPD, before he went over to STAR Labs, which included speaking to Eddie about their mother's case.
As Reverb took the role of Cisco Ramon at the computer, he went through the files on the desktop. He really had no clue when it came to this sort of technology. At that point Eobard realized just who he really was. "Francisco. I must say, I'm relieved that you got my message as per a change of my plans. Though I was wondering how long it would take for you to get rid of Cisco and take his place, that menace was becoming a little too suspicious." Eobard asked him.
"That's because you clearly don't fit the role of Caitlin Snow, too well. You have already aroused a few suspicions. Astrid Sutherland thought I was her little lapdog and confided in me this morning." Francisco responded.
"She must be more foolish than I had expected. Would she really think her Cisco would wear anything other than merchandise T-shirts? She could be playing you too." Eobard replied, "We must be a little more careful in the future." They both agreed, when the office phone rang from next to Francisco.
He answered it, awkwardly and put the caller on to speaker. "Er… Mr Ramone," the caller began, "I have a Dr Stein here looking for Miss Sutherland… he said that it is urgent that he speaks with her as soon as possible!"
Caitlin's eyes grew wide. She ran towards the phone and answered the caller, quickly. "You need to restrain that man as soon as possible. He is a threat! This is Dr Snow. I will deal with him immediately!"
He hung up the phone and stared at Francisco. "Under no circumstances, do we allow Astrid to hear about this. You're impersonating the man who is her most loyal, therefore, it is your job to keep her oblivious! I will deal with this matter!"
Eobard left immediately to deal with the situation that was Dr Martin Stein.
