Western and Third in downtown Central City was on fire, and I was going to go help in anyway I could. No one was going to die while trapped in a blazing inferno if I could help it!

352 mph; that's how fast I was going, according to Cisco. Pretty slow day, considering how fast I was booking it a week ago against Mardon's tornado. Navigating through the city like this, going fast would be more of a hindrance than helpful anyway. Not since almost tearing off that one open car door the other day. I'll try moving at higher speeds when I'm more experienced.

"Berry?" Cisco's voice was mumbled as he said my name before raising it to get my attention. "Berry!"

"What?!" I snapped back, skidding to a halt, hand on my ear piece. Oh. "Did-Did I miss it?!"

"Yeah, you overshot by like six blocks." Cisco said.

"...Oh. My bad, dude." I sighed and turned on heel, darting back the way I came.

There was a group of panicked residents outside the building. Faintly I could hear a mother calling for her child as I sped through the crowd. Many turned in shock at the red blur that flew by them, stirring up papers and lightweight debris. Inside the apartment building was a fiery nightmare. Everything was on fire and I forced down my own fear. There were people trapped here, most likely more scared that me. I had to help.

"You there yet?" Cisco asked.

"Cisco! There's fire everywhere!" I cried, looking around, and started to panic when he didn't respond. "Cisco? Cisco!"

Suddenly there was a cry over the roaring flames. "Mommy!"

I turned down the burning corridor and saw a small child clutching a stuffed animal in what looked like pajamas. My own fear was shoved aside as I threw myself at the girl and scooped her up and was outside in the next couple of seconds, setting her down safely.

Turning, I went back in again and again in a blur, getting everyone out that I could find. Once I was certain that there was no one else in the building, I sped away only stopping until I was safely tucked behind a building. Breathing in the now clear and smoke free air, I grinned and spoke over the comm. "Everyone's out. Is there anyone else needing help, Cisco?"

"Berry, it's Caitlin." the voice that came over the comm sounded less than thrilled with my heroics.

My eyes widened and I let out a nervous giggle. "Oh...hi Caitlin...How're you today?"

"Get back to STAR Labs. Now."

Aw, hell.

"Alright," I sighed. "I'm on my way."

I stepped forward, ready to sprint off, when suddenly I felt very light-headed, and stumbled into a nearby dumpster. I leaned against it for a moment and pressed a hand to my head in confusion. I took a couple of deep breaths, and the feeling passed. I shrugged it off, and ran back to the Labs, not looking forward to getting scolded by Caitlin.

8888

"Have you both lost your minds?! Who do you think you are!"

The way Caitlin was clutching that tablet, I stayed out of her striking range.

"Well, I'm the eyes and ears," Cisco explained, "and Berry's the feet on the ground!"

"This isn't funny!" she retorted and I trailed at the very end as Cisco followed the fuming doctor. That didn't help when Caitlin stopped, whirling around and pinning me with a glare. "You could have gotten yourself killed! You can't be running around the city like some sort of supersonic fireman!"

"But...isn't this what we talked about? Me using the abilities to do help people?" I asked, unable to keep the annoyance out of my tone.

"No, we talked about you helping us contain other people who were affected by the particle accelerator explosions – Meta-humans. And aside from Clyde Mardon we haven't found any others."

"And people in the city still need help," I interrupted, trying to ignore the exasperated exhale from Caitlin. "And I can help them."

"Will you please say something?" Caitlin directed those words behind me, and I whirled around.

"I think what Caitlin is trying to say, in her own spectacularly angry way," Dr. Wells said as he wheeled forward, "is that we are only just beginning to understand what your body is capable of. Not to sound like a broken record, Ms. Allen, but I do caution restraint."

Licking my lips, I tried to bolster herself. "Dr. Wells, I doubt restraint is how you got to be the man you are today."

"In a wheelchair and a pariah?" he retorted and I blushed at my own stupidity. "Lack of restraint is what made me these things – know your limits."

My face was still burning has he backed his wheelchair up and turned away.

Caitlin breezed by me, and I watched the shorter, older woman give me a harsh look over her shoulder. "Don't expect me to patch you up every time you break something."

As she stalked away, Cisco placed a hand on my slumped shoulder. "Hey uh...did anything happen out there today? The sensors in the suit were kicking back some weird telemetry, like your vitals spiked for a few seconds."

"Well, I was kinda freaked out running into a burning building like that," I replied sheepishly. "But I feel fine now."

Cisco still looked concerned when I heard my phone buzz. He reached into his jeans' pocket and passed it back to me. Looking down, I saw it was Joe, and immediately answered.

"Hey Joe, is everything alright?" I asked.

"Great," he responded. "I got a fresh crime scene – a dead body, detectives interviewing witnesses, and miles of that yellow tape stretched over everything. I'm only missing one thing. Can you guess what that is?"

Oh, right. I smacked a hand over my face. "I'll be right there." I hung up and looked over at Cisco. "Gotta go. My day job beckons."

It wasn't until I had already arrived nearby the scene that I realized that I had run here in my suit. Damn it.

8888

Decked out in one of my only dresses, I stood beside Iris, listening to Stagg's speech. This wasn't one of my more practical outfits to fight crime in, and the black and gold dress was short enough to definitely flash someone if I were to run in it. Well, maybe not if I move fast enough. Really would need to kick these damn heels off first though, or they'd kill me first.

Once he had stepped from the podium, Iris and I turned away.

"Alright, basic info – just let me know how much I need to break down for your readers," I began. "Simon Stagg's work in cellular cloning has led to huge advancements in the future of organ replacement."

Iris's eyes lit up as a waiter walked past with a tray of champagne; she immediately took two of them. "Are journalists allow to drink on the job?"

I sighed, taking the glasses from her and setting them on a table they walked past. "If you're bored already, wait until we get to the science behind cellular regeneration." I teased with a grin.

"I've missed this, Berry." Iris said, linking arms with me. "It really feels like we haven't had a chance to spend any quality time together since you woke up."

"I know," I agreed. "Its been a really crazy week. We should totally make a girls' day soon. We can go through my wardrobe this weekend if you want. I slept through a change in seasons so I should probably be seeing what still fits..."

"You know I'm going to take you up on that! A girl should have more than three dresses and a couple skirts in her closet," Iris teased. "Especially with legs like yours!"

God, I hated keeping this secret from her, it wasn't fair Joe made me promise not to tell her...

And then Iris's eyes lit on the man of the hour. "Oh! Oh, Mr Stagg? I was wondering if I could get a quote for my article?"

"Not right now, miss," the bodyguard with him said.

"I'll just make something up," she sighed, with a hand-wave, causing me to snort in laughter. "So what were you going to tell me? You looked like you had something to say..."

Iris could read me like an open book. However as I opened my mouth to reply, I was interrupted by gunshots.

Panicked screams erupted form the other attendees and people were diving to the ground as masked men walked through, guns held up over their heads and firing into the ceiling.

"Quiet! All of you!"

"Oh my God!" Iris clung to my arm, practically dragging me to the floor with her while the gunman's leader shouted for quiet.

"How considerate!" the leader mocked the terrified party-goers. "You're all wearing your finest jewelry. Almost like you knew we were coming to rob you."

There had to be a way to stop them, I thought wildly, even as the gunman shouted for them to line up. The gunmen's goons had black bags opened as everyone was made to remove their valuables. The guy that held the bag for us eyed the young scientist's simple pair of tiny gold stud earrings.

Once they had collected the valuables , they began to leave. They couldn't just get away-without knowing I had started to step forward, but Iris hung off my arm.

"Don't!" she hissed before letting go.

And then the lone uniformed security guard arrived. His gun was trembling in his hands as the six robbers turned in unison. "F-freeze! D-drop your weapons!"

My eyes widened when the gunmen fired. I could see the bullets launched through the air and quickly kicked off my heels and blurred forward to tackled the guard out of their path; an ice sculpture behind him shattered to pieces. I left the security guard in the stairwell, and continued down to try and stop them before they could get away. However, as I began to turn around the exterior stairs, the lightheaded sensation came back with a vengeance.

I sagged against the concert wall, staggering forward a couple steps before darkness over took my vision...

8888

"Berry! Berry!"

I could hear Iris's voice cracking in panic and felt myself being shook violently. Iris was pale as I looked up at her.

"Berry, what happened?! I turned around and you were gone and why were you on the ground-"

"I...was trying to go after them, to try and get the license plate number and then I...I think I fainted?" I blinked in confusion. "I just remember feeling so weak and lightheaded and then..."

"That's because you probably haven't eaten since dinner last night!" Iris groaned as she helped me back to my feet.

"Not true, I had breakfast this morning!" I retorted. "Ah, the dress, I didn't get it dirty did I?" I asked as we walked back; Iris checked me over and helped dust me off.

"Its fine, no tears or anything," Iris reassured me as we approached Joe and Eddie.

"Hi," Iris greeted Eddie and he lit up in relief.

"Iris!"

Joe gestured to me with his notepad, scowling. "And where were you?"

I bit my lip in embarrassment as Iris jumped to my defense. "Dad, go easy – I found her outside. She fainted."

Joe straightened while Eddie blinked over at me in confusion. "Do you need a paramedic, Allen?"

"N-no. I...just forgot to eat lunch, that's all." I reassured them.

Nearby we could hear the security guard I had rescued being interviewed; he held an ice pack to his neck.

"I thought I was dead I saw the gun go off and then-boom! I'm outside in the stairwell! I seriously have no idea how I got there." Oh, I know that look. Oops.

Joe gestured for me to follow him, much to Eddie and Iris's combined confusion. "Come here for a second."

Reluctant, I followed. Great I was going to get chewed out...again.

"You chased those gunmen, didn't you?" Joe asked as we walked.

"...yes. There were six of them and the shoes looked similar to the ones that make the treads from the gun store crime scene. I think it might be the same group."

"And what were you going to do when you caught them?" he demanded harshly and I cringed. "Ask them nicely to pull over? You're not bullet proof!"

He paused, eyeing me speculatively. "Wait. Are you?"

"No, but-"

"Okay, then no more heroics. Chasing the bad guys is not your job, its mine. I'm a cop. Promise."

My jaw clenched and spine straightened. "Promise." I forced out, and looked away from him.

He frowned. " And start making better excuses, Iris isn't stupid."

I rolled my eyes and muttered, "It wasn't an excuse..."

8888

"You lied to us." Yeah, and I thought Caitlin was pissed earlier.

"How could you not tell us you were experiencing dizzy spells?! We are your doctors! God knows what's going on inside your body!" Caitlin was circling the cot I was on and I gave up trying to follow her with my eyes. I was dizzy enough. "Your cells are in a constant state of flux – you could be experiencing cardiopulmonary failure or a transient ischemic attack."

I blinked and looked to Dr. Wells for clarification.

"A mini-stroke." Seeing my eyes widen and my mouth fall open in fear had him quickly add, "But probably not." He quirked his lips into a faint smile for me, which honestly, did make me feel better.

Then I remembered that I was half dressed with the top half of my dress pooled around my waist so that they could hook me up to the machines for testing. I was in my underwear in front of Dr. Wells again. God damn it.

"And your heart rate and blood pressure are both up and your face is red-" Caitlin whirled, giving me a look only to pause when she saw that I was side-eyeing first Cisco and then Dr Wells.

"Well, I'm sitting half naked in front of two men." I hissed in embarrassment; due to the device, I really wasn't able to cross my arms over my breasts and having a bra wasn't good enough.

"Just pretend we're not here if it helps, Ms Allen." Dr. Wells said soothingly.

"It doesn't," I muttered, covering my blushing face. I took a breath and lowered my hands. "But I'll live. And I imagine I'll get used to it...eventually."

Caitlin took a breath and after a moment of seeming calm, gave me an angry look. "You of all people should know that in science, we share. We do not keep secrets!"

I watched the older woman stalk away, and let my shoulders slump in defeat.

"Wow..." Cisco whistled, "I have not seen anyone make her that angry since Ronnie..."

That name was familiar... I watched as Cisco followed after Caitlin.

Leaving me alone. Half dressed. With Dr. Wells, my idol. Who I had a massive crush on. This was the stuff of half-dreamed fantasies.

Oh God. Just kill me.

Alright, calm down you stupid hormones! Think about something else, anything else-

"Ronnie, that was her fiancee right? The one that..."

"Died the night of the particle accelerator explosion?" Dr Wells finished for me. "Yes. He is missed. Now, lets see if we can figure out why this is happening to you..."

If it meant I'd be fully dressed and not half-naked, I was all for it.

8888

"We're all set!" Cisco announced as he walked around the stacked boxes with the STAR Labs logo emblazoned on them.

I stood there in borrowed sweatpants and sports bra, with sensors hooked up to my chest and upper abdomen, looking between the engineer and the boxes with visible disbelief and uncertainty.

"Oh don't worry, its just a little padding. You know...just in case," he tried to reassure me.

I made a noise that was between a sigh and a whine as he walked away to where Caitlin and Dr. Wells were sitting behind a console of computer monitors. Turning, I reluctantly approached the treadmill.

"...are you sure about this, Cisco?" I asked while gingerly stepped onto the treadmill.

"Most home treadmills have a limit for about twelve miles per hour," he told me and as I looked at him through the window, he gave me a thumbs up. "But this one has been Cisco'ed! Trust me, it can totally handle your speed."

"...alright," I sighed, feeling the machine activating.

I started at a walk, stretching the muscles my long legs before moving into a jog. Uncertain, I glanced at the window and saw Dr. Wells smile and give a slight salute, as though encouraging me. With that, I finally let loose, blurring as I ran.

It felt good to run, felt good that Dr. Wells believed in me. However, as I ran I could feel the lightheaded sensation creeping back up on me...

"Berenice," Dr. Wells said over the com, my heart skipping a beat. "I think we know why you keep-"

And then I faltered mid-stride, my last sensation that of being flung backwards through the air before seeing black.

8888

I came to laying on a cot, my vision blurry. A groan escaped my lips as I tried to sit up; both Caitlin and Cisco helped me move upright.

"...did...I pass out again?" I asked hoarsely.

"Total metabolic failure brought on by acute hypoglycemia," Caitlin informed me.

"...so...I'm not eating enough...?" I frowned. "So, an IV bag and I'm alright again?"

Cisco snickered as he gestured over his shoulder at the IV pole.

"Try forty," Dr. Wells informed me and his lips quirked in a sardonic smile. "I guess you were thirsty."

As he sipped out of his travel mug, I quickly turned my head away to hide another Harrison Wells induced blush. It's embarrassing how little it takes.

"We're going to have to fashion you a new diet based on your metabolic changes." Caitlin said as she peered at me.

"I've done a few calculations," Cisco said. "You need to consume an amount equal to roughly 850 tacos...unless we're talking cheese and guacamole and then we're talking a whole different set of equations." I let out a short giggle and shook my head in amusement.

"For Mexican, I recommend Tito's," Came Joe's voice as he entered the room. "On Bruckner Avenue? Best burritos in the city."

He paused and did a double-take at the sight of my sports bra. "Young lady, what the hell is your shirt?"

"I was-it's- we needed the sensors!" I oh-so-eloquently defended myself.

"Detective West," Dr. Wells greeted from where he was leaning back in his wheelchair. "What brings you to STAR Labs?"

"While I looking for you I did a little research...into a red streak that's been seen around the city – stopping muggers, rescuing people from burning buildings..." Joe said and his hands went on his hips.

"You didn't tell him we were working together?" Dr. Wells asked me, turning his chair in my direction.

I felt my face start to burn again as he arched his brows over his glasses at me. Glancing back at my foster father, I fidgeted. "Joe, I can explain..."

"You already have a job in law enforcement, Berry. I suggest you get back to it."

"Mh-hmm," Caitlin hummed in agreement and jerked a bit when Joe whirled to look at her. "Don't look at me, I'm on your side!"

"Detective, we all want what's best for Berenice," Dr. Wells said and I felt something pleasant swell up in my chest.

"If you wanted what was best for her, you'd be trying to talk her out of this lunacy instead of encouraging her to go out there risking her life!"

There was a smoldering in Dr. Wells eyes and my molars ground together as I abruptly stood.

"You saw a man control the weather, Joe," I stated, all eyes going to me. "What do you think the police can do against someone like that?"

Joe's lips pressed into a thin line.

I drove my point home; "The accelerator explosion didn't just make him and me. There are very likely more out there. A lot more. And not all of them are going to want to help people like me."

"And you're going to do what?" he demanded, crossing his arms over his chest. "Catch them? Are you insane?"

I flinched back as though he'd slapped me, then narrowed my eyes in anger.

I had hoped that after stopping Mardon last week, he'd understand what I could do... But now it felt like instead of chiding me for chasing the impossible he was chiding me for being the impossible...

"You think because you can run real fast you are invincible? You're not - you're just a kid."

I watched in confusion as Joe's glare turned to Dr. Wells. "My kid."

"Joe. You have been there for me. I am grateful, so very grateful to have ended up with you and Iris..." I said, my hands clenching into the fabric of my sweatpants as I buried my hands into their pockets. "But I cannot forget that my father is sitting in Iron Heights for a crime he didn't commit."

I looked at him, feeling so very tired all of a sudden, the anger drained away into weariness. Part of me wanted to run away. Part of me wished I had been able to run away a week ago, before Joe had seen me when I stopped Mardon. "You admitted to me you were wrong about him. You have to realize, you are wrong about this too. I can help people, like I cannot help him. If that means running into a burning building or stopping some armed robbers...then I will." I stated in a hard voice.

Joe ran a hand over his face, shaking his head. There was a tightness around his eyes. "You think you're so smart. You all do. But you don't know what you don't know. And I hope you-" he sent a look at Dr. Wells, "Are clever enough to realize that before someone-" and here he jabbed a finger in my direction. "gets killed."

I watched him storm from the room; my knees were trembling and all I wanted to do was sink down onto the cot and have a good cry. Suddenly tired of everything that's happened today, I leaned back and sat onto the end of the med-bay cot and buried my face in my hands. Faintly I could hear the whir of Dr. Wells' wheelchair and there was a light brush against my knee. At the contact, I looked down and into his eyes.

"He'll come around," Dr. Wells reassured. "He'll see what an extraordinary young woman you are."

8888

After I ran the DNA tests on the skin samples Joe brought me, and learning that they were what baby cells should be, shit went south fast.

I couldn't help but feel terrified as I ran towards where Joe was supposed to be, and felt it turn into my old friend rage when I arrived to see three identical gunmen shooting at Joe from where he was hiding for cover. Flashing forward, I plucked the guns from their hands, only stopping when I was beside Joe. The trio of guns clattered on the floor beside where he was crouched.

"Go." I demanded.

He looked to the guns and then at me before shaking his head. "No."

I felt my eye twitch and literally dragged him from his hiding place and tossed him out the back door in a burst of speed. The door slammed shut behind him.

Returning to the trio, I could see the look of surprise on the man's face.

"I don't know who you are or why you're doing this, but please just give yourself up. I don't want to have to fight you." I tell him calmly, although a small, horrible part of me wanted him to put up a fight. It has been a long, frustrating day, and I was feeling stressed.

"Sorry," the one in the middle said with a shake of his head. "We aren't going anywhere." Then in unison, said, "Not until Simon Stagg is dead."

"Okay, that's just creepy," I complained before speeding forward to knock the two on the sides into several boxes, making sure that they felt my smaller fists.

The man grunted in frustration before suddenly separating into three more.

Well.

I backed up as they approached and finally kicked one of the new copies away when he got too close. Another got my fist in the chin, and I grit my teeth and feeling the skin tear at my knuckles. He stumbled back a step and shook his head before furrowing his brows at me. The third got a kick to the center of his chest, which made...more copies.

Oh fucking damn it.

Surrounded on all sides, I felt like I was about to have a flashback to my younger days getting crowded and beaten up by Tony Woodward and his gang.

No room to run, no room to maneuver.

Fists and feet flew as I tried to fight them off, I desperately tried to suck in air as I was punched, kicked, and shoved around despite my best attempts to dodge. Was this really all I could do now that I had actual powers?

Panic gripped my lungs in an icy fist as one of the copies grabbed me from behind and pinned my arms to my sides. "Let go of me!" I hissed, and tried to squirm free.

He grunted, shifting to regain his grip, and pressed a hand down on my chest and painfully grabbed a handful of my boob. We both froze, which caused the other copies to freeze in confusion.

"You're a girl?" he asked, and squeezed questioningly.

My whole body burned in rage and embarrassment and without even thinking, I slammed my head back into his face and broke free. Deciding that I wasn't winning this battle, I sped out of there and didn't stop until I was a couple miles away and sagged forward against a fence, trembling in humiliation and anger.

8888

I let out a pained growl as Caitlin gently daubed at my split lip with a sterile sponge dipped in alcohol.

"Sorry," Caitlin apologized. "The abrasions are already rapidly healing, so you should be feeling better soon." There was a small smile on her face and a gentle look in her eyes. If she was trying to cheer me up, she apparently had no grasp of how to actually console people. I feared for any small children she ever spoke to, any elderly she ever passed near, and any person who ever tried to make contact with her, because she was either an evil, soul-less demon who preyed on peoples sorrow, or more socially awkward than me. I fiercely resisted the urge to bare my teeth and snarl at her. Instead, I fisted handfuls of the fabric of my jeans.

"You got blood on my suit!" Cisco said from where he was inspecting it. I took a deep breath and let it out in a dark chuckle. "Oh, I'm sure some of it is his." I rolled my eyes soon after and mentally tried to reel in the darker, angrier side of me. "Another not so friendly meta-human."

I ignored the curious looks the others were giving me and stared straight ahead before giving my full attention to Dr. Wells as he announced, "Danton Black."

I looked at the monitor and saw the one that I had fought. "He's a bio-geneticist specialized in therapeutic cloning..." Dr. Wells glanced over at me as he elaborated, "Growing new organs to replace failing ones."

"Apparently, Stagg stole his research and then fired him." Caitlin added.

"I saw him create duplicates from his own body," I told them.

"That's pretty ironic," Cisco piped up. "The guy specialized in cloning and now he can make xerox copies of himself."

Dr. Wells made a faint hum. "If he was experimenting on himself when he was exposed to the dark matter wave released the night the particle accelerator explosion-"

"Meet Captain Clone!" Cisco said, grinning hugely and when me and Caitlin both gave him a less than impressed look, added: "Don't worry, I'll come up with something cooler."

Biting my lower lip, I turned back to look at the picture of Black on the monitor. A wave of uselessness pressed down on me and I angrily bit down too hard and drew blood. "Berry!" Caitlin cried when she saw blood start to run down my chin. The men in the room turned at her cry. I jumped up and stalked away.

"Where are you going?" Caitlin asked, wringing her hands in worry. I turned back to look at them, knowing that I wasn't doing a good job at hiding my negative emotions from my eyes. "Joe was right...I'm in over my head. I'm fast but...I don't know how to actually fight! This isn't like schoolyard brawls, this is a guy who is older and more experienced than me, he knows what to hit to take a person down! He was intentionally attack my weak points." I admitted, sounding pathetic and miserable. "I can barely fight one meta-human, much less six..." I started towards the door again.

"Berenice," My body betrayed me as it stopped when hearing Dr. Wells' voice. I turned back around to face him and saw him move his chair towards me. "I understand, today was a setback. But any grand enterprise has them. you can never learn to fly without crashing a few times."

I looked at him and sucked in my abused lip in thought. His eyes darted down at the motion and narrowed slightly. I let it go with a sigh and turned again. I didn't want this remarkable man to see me like this. "I need to clear my head."

With that, I was off in a blur, speeding around the city.

8888

I had just finished a much needed meal and trying not to feel like more of a piece of shit than I already did for lying to Iris when my phone vibrated. I fished it out of my pants pocket at peered at the screen. STAR Labs was calling.

My gut clenched as I answered the phone. "Yes?"

"You need to get to STAR Labs right now," there was a stress in Caitlin's voice I've never heard before.

My earlier annoyance at her melted into worry as I looked over at Iris. "I'm on my way." I hung up and said to Iris, "Write the story you want to write, I know it'll be great."

"What's wrong, you look worried?"

I shook my head. "I don't know, Caitlin sounded...I need to go."

8888

I ran into the Cortex at top speed and saw Black standing there in front of Cisco and Caitlin. I felt a wave of calm sweep over me, before I was suddenly there in front of him, cracking my fist so hard and fast into his face that gold lightning danced off my whole arm.

I watched in sick satisfaction as his body was hurled backwards from the force and was about to follow before Caitlin grabbed my arm.

"Berry, it's okay!"

I threw her a quick baffled glance before quickly returning my gaze to the man who was still on the floor. "It's not okay, he's here and he's just..." I trailed off as I looked more closely at his blank face as he just stared straight up at the ceiling. "Laying there...is this not him?"

"No," Dr. Wells said while wheeling forward. "It's one of his replicants."

"...how did you get it?" I asked, finally tearing my eyes back to the him, Caitlin, and Cisco.

"I grew him." Caitlin said in tone that sounded way too proud given the situation.

When I just stared at her, Caitlin waved me over to one of the consoles. "I isolated a sample from his blood off your suit to see if I could trigger then invitro cultivation process and learn how Black multiplies." I was tentatively nudging the replicant in the leg with a foot as Caitlin explained. "So I exposed the target cells to a protein gel and they began replicating into...that."

"Okay..." I bent over him and waved a hand in front of his face. "So why isn't he...it?...doing anything?"

"We did a brain scan," Dr. Wells said. "The involuntary motor functions are active, but little else."

"We think its acting as a receiver," Cisco added.

"The clones are an empty shell without Black guiding them," Caitlin told me. "Shut down the real Black and you should be able to shut them all down."

"...okay. Then how do we know which one is the real Danton Black?" I asked.

"That actually occurred to me from your own fainting – he has limits just like you." she explained. "Controlling that many clones must require a tremendous amount of physical strength. So look for signs of fatigue or other weakness and then...you'll have the prime."

"Its just a theory," Dr. Wells said, "But one you might want to put to the test, Ms Allen."

"And, I whipped up these high-calorie protein bars for you. To you know...not faint," Cisco said, passing me a handful of large bars of some sort of processed...something.

Suddenly, the replicant sat up with enough urgency and force to smack his head into my fucking tit again. Caitlin screamed in fright and I stumbled back with a shout of "Motherfucker!" and accidentally ran into something sitting behind me. Then, as the clone stood up, gunshots echoed and it staggered back, hitting the floor. Standing in the doorway, gun still ready was Joe.

"There any more of them?" he asked.

"Nope," Caitlin squeaked.

I hissed in pain and held a hand over my damaged area. "Unbelievable," I muttered, shooting the now dead clone a dark look. "The bastard just had to hit the same one he grabbed before."

I felt a pressure increase to an almost painful level and I looked down in confusion to see a large hand gripping my hip. I whipped my head around to see that the thing I had stumbled into earlier was Wells.

"Shit, sorry sir," I stuttered out and hurried to take a step away and out of his space. My body tingled where his hand slipped from where it had been resting. "...Grabbed?" he asked. Something in that deceptively soft tone made the tingle spread like wild fire.

I swallowed and nodded, unable to tear my eyes away from his burning blue. "Yeah, from behind. He needed me still so that the others could pummel me and he had a hand on my chest and he-" I bit off the rest of my sentence and stomped down on the anger that the situation kept pulling forward. "Anyway," I refocused back on him and was startled to see an intense, almost hungry something swimming in those blue pools. "He knows I'm a girl now..." I finish lamely, suddenly unsure if I should have even brought this up in front of him.

"Why did it start moving?!" Cisco asked, unaware that he and the others had just interrupted.

"The Prime," Dr. Wells replied, not taking his eyes off me. "My guess is that the Prime is on the move and this one has heard the summons to battle."

"And I know where he was summoned to," Joe said as he holstered his weapon. "Stagg Industries." then he took a look at me and rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. "Uh, Berry? You know you're in public, right?"

I blinked at him, wondering what the hell that had to do with anything, when I saw Cisco point down towards my chest with a silly grin. I glanced down and my shoulders sagged in dismay. I had unknowingly been kneading my poor abused tit ever since I was assaulted. I quickly dropped my hand and could practically feel the heat waves coming off my cheeks from my blush. "What?" I snapped at the now laughing Cisco. "It fucking hurt!"

I felt a light touch at my wrist and looked down to see Dr. Wells looking up at me with concern and amused sympathy. "Are you alright, Berenice?"

I let out a sigh and managed to give him an embarrassed, half smile. "Yeah, I'll be okay, Dr. Wells." Before I could give myself time to change my mind, I shifted so that I could clutch his hand in my smaller one for a brief moment in thanks. For me, it felt like minutes.

I turned back to Joe and caught his eye. "You should call it in," I said calmly.

"The police can't fight this," Joe disagreed. "There's no training they have for something this. What Black has become, what Mardon was...is beyond me. Beyond them. The only person this isn't beyond? Is you. You have to stop him."

Well this was a complete one-eighty of what he had been saying yesterday...

"Now for once in your life do what I tell you to do," Joe told me, and walked over and place a hand on my shoulder. "Go stop him."

I stared at him for a moment, before nodding with a small smile.

8888

I had gotten there just in time; Black was aiming it weapon at Stagg when I speed through, scooping him out of harms way. Depositing him in his office I pointed at him reproachfully. "Stay here."

And with that, I blurred back to into the building; there were numerous copies of Black walking around, each armed. I took a breath.

"I know what Simon Stagg did to you, but that doesn't give you the right to commit murder," I announced, and the nearest replicant had his weapon trained on me.

He fired and I could see the bullet hurtle through the air; twisting my body, I let it impact into the wall behind me. Clenching my jaw, I sped forward, disarming him and the others I came across, knocking them down from the force my speed was generating.

Standing up on a catwalk, I scanned for the prime, the real Danton Black. I turned, seeing one approaching me, frowning as he harshly ground out: "You think this is about my job?"

Taking the chance he might be the real one, I sped forward, grabbing him and dragging him behind a pillar. When we had stopped moving he snapped, "This is about Elizabeth!"

"She was my wife," another copy said behind us and open fired right as I blurred to the side; the bullet struck the one I had hoped was the Prime. Guess he wasn't.

"She had a degenerative coronary disease," Black continued as he stalked forward, weapons sweeping back and forth as he searched for me. "She had been on the transplant list for years, but...time was running out. So if I couldn't get her a new heart-"

"You were going to grow her one," I said softly; he whirled and opened fire. Again I had sped to the side and the bullet took out one of the copies.

"I was so close," he howled and for a moment I wondered if he was talking about trying to shoot me now. "And then Stagg stole my research so he could reap upon the glory. And I got to bury my best friend. Now I'm alone."

I sped forward, a blur of red and golden lightning to knock him off his feet with a full-body tackle. I glared down at the man I was pinning. "And you think by doing this, you'll avenge her? All you're doing is making Stagg look like some sort of hero!"

"You don't understand anything, you're just some stupid little girl!" He slapped me away, sending me reeling.

Standing he backed up a couple steps and with a grunt...so many copies emerged from his body. Enraged and wary, I scrambled back to my feet as the copies encircled me. They charged in, closing ranks. Feet and fists flew and once again I found myself being pummeled. Fear started to kick in and I pulled on my speed,spinning around and creating enough force to knock the outer ring back and create an opening for me to speed through.

My chest was tight and my breathing has harsh as I skidded to a halt, dropping to my knees outside the building. I was on the verge of a panic attack, I could feel it building-

"Remember, Berry, you must find the prime," Caitlin said in my ear.

"There's too many of them!" I said tightly, my breath coming in wheezing gasps.

"Berenice," Dr. Wells's voice rolled through the comm and down my spine. "You need to isolate the prime."

"I..." My fists clenched in hopelessness. "I can't. Its impossible."

"Nothing is impossible!" Joe disagreed. "You taught me that, young lady. You can do this!"

There was a sound coming towards me as I rose up. Turning I saw a vast army of the clones walking towards me in perfect unison. I took a breath and let out a battle cry as I sped forward, gold lightning trailing in my wake.

I didn't plow through, per-say, as dart and weave through the ranks, using the force I was generating to knock the copies out of my path. As I ran I looked for him, for the real Danton Black. And it was at the back of the pack, that I saw him.

There was a look of concentration on his face as sweat beaded and rolled down his forehead and cheeks. I barreled into him, dragging him back inside the building, up a flight of stairs and onto a catwalk; he hit the ground, unconscious.

"Berry?" Joe called. "Are you alright?"

Leaning against the catwalk's railing, I panted for breath. My eyes widened as below I could see all the copies on the ground unconscious as well. A faint laugh of disbelief escaped me.

"Blue-Berry, you better answer me or so help me-"

"I'm fine," I laughed breathlessly. "I did it. Its done."

Something shifted behind me and I turned to see Black was back on his feet and charging at me. Thinking he meant to tackle, I sidestepped out of the way...

...but he didn't stop running, choosing to barrel into the window.

Speeding forward, I managed to grab him by the wrists as he was falling through the broken glass; his greater weight had my body slamming down, almost being dragged out the window with him. I hooked a foot in one of the catwalk's spindles...but his weight...he outweighed me by so much. My arms screamed and I grunted in pained exertion. "W—what are you doing?! Hold on!"

"No," he ground out and there were hands sprouting out of his forearms.

"Please don't!" I pleaded despite the strain.

He almost looked sad as the newly sprouted hands were peeling back my fingers. "No!" I screamed as he fell to the ground. I could only watch in shock as his body impacted with the ground with a heavy thud.

"Oh my God..." I whispered. I never wanted the man to die...

8888

I was watching the news cast, hugging myself tightly. "...I'm sorry," I whispered, eyes glued to the picture of Black on the monitor. "I tried to save him, really..."

"Some people don't want to be saved," Dr. Wells said softly.

His chair wheeled up beside me and I looked down at him, my vision swimming slightly from unshed, guilty tears.

"Some people, when they break...can't be put back together again," he said.

"Some people heal even stronger." I replied, looking at his chair and then into his eyes.

"I hope so," he replied.

For a moment, time seemed to stop. My heart thumped in my chest, and emboldened from not being scolded from my earlier contact, reached out towards his shoulder, gently brushing my fingers over the fabric of his shirt in a reassuring manner. The tingle started up again, slowly.

And then Cisco spoke up behind us, reminding me that he and Caitlin were still there: "At least Multiplex won't be able to hurt anyone else."

I flinched slightly and looked over at the engineer. He grinned cheekily at me. "Told you I'd come up with a good name."

I glanced between the three scientists and smiled faintly. "You know...I may be the one in the suit doing all the running...but when I'm out there helping all those people, making a difference, you three are right there with me."

My head tilted as I regarded them. "I realized something. We all were struck by that lightning."