By ten thirty that night, Cisco was sprawled out on his hotel bed using his laptop to find any sign of Firestorm or Caitlin Snow. He had connected all his equipment up as best as he could, considering he was not back at STAR Labs.
So far the most he had found were news articles and a video recording of Martin's speech.
"Hey you guys! Check this out!" he called out to his friends as he played the video that clearly showed Martin giving his lecture on Firestorm, with Ronnie to the side of him. His friends gathered beside him to see Martin's press conference:
"Our project FIRESTORM not only changes the DNA make up of an individual but also of the way we look at science. Now, my friend Ronald here is giving me the hint that none of you want to hear an old man ramble on… so, Mr Raymond, if you will make your way to me, we can begin the demonstration…"
They watched on as Ronnie and Martin demonstrated the merging of Firestorm. Something that they themselves, had seen time and time again. But the demonstration astounded the crowds that Martin had been addressing. They roared in applause.
"I just had a bad feeling…" Cisco said.
"I did too." Astrid agreed. When Barry spoke it, they knew that they were on the same track.
"What if they didnt go missing… what if they were taken for what they can do?" Barry asked softly.
Astrid took a breath, before she spoke… "If that's the case, maybe Caitlin wasn't targeted because she was looking for them but…"
"Because she can turn into Frost." Cisco finished just as he received a vision.
He saw Caitlin cold, alone and scared in a darkened cell. She was gagged and tied and crying.
Just as the vision disappeared he said, "don't worry, Cait. We will get you back… We will get you all back."
As Cisco explained to his friends just what he had seen, Barry paced the room trying to establish any clues. Then something caught his attention, from outside the window.
"Hey Cisco!" he called out.
"Yeah?"
"Come and look at this." Barry said as he nodded towards the window. Cisco and Astrid joined him. To Cisco's delight he saw it. Off in the cloudy distance, was a dark bat against a circle of light in the dead of the night. The bat signal!
Barry raced over and retrieved his suit. "Barry! what are you doing? You can't just go out there! This isn't our city! It's the bat's city… You heard what Bruce said… This place is dangerous!" Astrid exclaimed.
"Oh yes he can!" Cisco said excitedly, "Yes, this is totally happening and it is just so cool! Can you get me his autograph… and keep in contact! We'll have our communicators in place… Go Barry!" Cisco called out. Barry disappeared in an instant.
"If he gets hurt…" Astrid warned.
"Yeah, yeah, I know, it's my fault…" he replied handing her a communicator, "But hey, if we help the bat on this one… That means he owes us one… Here's hoping he can help us save our friends."
She prayed that he was right. They sat on the bed and kept their eyes glued to the screen, monitoring the Flash's activity.
Barry ran through the dark streets. He wanted to find the one crime that had required the assistance of the Batman. Along the way, he saw multiple muggings and attempted assaults which he took care of immediately.
Finally, he saw the silhouette of the vigilante that he had been looking for. He had almost missed it, as the man had blended into the darkness quite well. He was standing on a roof top ledge overlooking an alley way, just around the corner from some market stalls.
But as Barry had taken another quick glance… there was no mistake. It was most definitely a man dressed as a bat, wearing a cape.
Barry looked down into the alley way. It was almost as if time had stopped to all those around, except for him.
There was a group of people. Two were dressed like circus clowns; a man with a purple suit and a made-up face. He was assisted by a pretty girl dressed in black, white and red. Her hair was in two blonde pigtails.
The two of them were holding up a married couple. The husband and wife had been made to kneel on the floor facing each other, both of them had guns pointed at their heads.
It was a very grueling scene, but Barry had an idea, and he knew that he had enough time to carry it out. He sped past one of the market stalls, buying two large flowers and leaving the money on the counter before anyone could see.
He ran back to the scene, took the weapons from the clown-like villains and replaced them with the flowers. He then took hold of the couple, bringing them both to safety and returned again. Though this time, he hid in the darkness with a drink in his hand, ready to watch as the situation unfolded.
As it did, he flinched at the shriek of the voice that came from the clown-like woman, "Oh Mr Jay! Look it's a pretty flower! But what happened to our hostages?"
Barry watched as the Batman, who was quite confused by the scene apprehended the two villains and prepared to leave them for the police.
As the Batman went to leave, Barry stood in his way. "They call me the Flash! I think we might have met back in Central City… Only you shot an ice grenade at me." He said, as he stretched his hand out to shake the hand of the Batman.
But Batman just said "Good, now get out of my city!" and went to bypass the speedster.
"Hey! That's not very nice!" Barry said, as he went to follow him.
"Neither is this town… So go back to where you came from." The Batman went to shoot a grappling hook to one of the rooftop ledges to leave, but Barry caught it and held onto it… Even though it had hurt his hand in the process.
"Hey, my friends and I need your help!" Barry said, as he swapped the hook to his other hand and inspected the wounded one. He wanted to let out an expression of pain, though he refused to at that moment. He didn't want to look weak in front of the man.
"If you're friends are like you… and they're here… There is no hope for them." Batman said, he took the grappling hook from Barry, and bypassed him.
"So, what? That's it? They're done for? You won't help us?" Barry called out.
The Batman turned around briefly and said one word, "Falcone!"
As Barry tried to make sense of what he had just heard, the Batman used this time to disappear.
"Okay, Cisco. Did you get that? I'm on my way back!" Cisco had heard the word loud and clear and had already begun searching.
