"Cisco?" I call, walking into the Cortex. He's at the curved desk, typing madly as statistics fluctuate before him.
"Whaddup, Kat?" He spins his chair around, holding out his hand like he's presented me with a gift.
"I think I've found a way to let you be done with me."
Cisco raises his eyebrows. "Does that mean you don't like the Zoom I found? Cause he was legit."
I look at him, feeling small and weak. "I don't know if it can be the same."
Cisco sighs. "Of course not." He turns back to his computer.
"Wait!" I step forward. "I think there's another solution."
"You get a job and an apartment and become a normal human being?" he suggests hopefully.
"You Vibe outside of time, not into different universes."
Cisco turns around. One half of his face is deadpan, the other half intrigued. "Say what now?"
I explain eagerly.
"We don't know where the Time Wraithes took him or what they did to him. I think Wells is trying to cover it up because he's afraid for his daughter." A sentiment I sympathize with, but can't bring myself to sacrifice for. "If Barry can come out of the Speed Force-"
"...how did you know about that?"
"-then surely Hunter can come out of wherever he is."
Cisco regards me for a long time. Such a long time that I fear he'll deny me my request. Then he stands up.
"What the hell. Worth a try." He flashes a grin.
He begins walking through S.T.A.R. Labs, and I follow. We end up in his work shop, which has been abandoned for lunch hour. I find myself without appetite, which aggravates me. I shouldn't need Jay to bring me my food, but without him, it all tastes like styrofoam.
"So here's the thing. I work through connections, by my best bet. It took a connection as strong as Iris to reach Barry, which I still don't know how you knew, by the way. So I'm going to need you-" He spins around, a device in hand. "-to actually talk to him. No pulling anyone out yet, or I am D-E-A-D, dead."
I nod obediantly. I won't throw away any chances at redemption when I know I can return to him, assuming this works.
Cisco places the device on his head, then takes my hand. The contact shocks me. The last time I'd touched anyone was Caitlin handing me a S.T.A.R. Labs sweatshirt upon my arrival.
A pillar of storm rises around us, lightning flashing ominously through murky purple clouds. It feels dramatic, but everything in my life is now.
"No touching him!" Cisco warns loudly. Then Cisco vanishes.
I am alone in the storm. There's nothing but darkness. Weightlessness. Timelessness. I can't explain it, but it's there. Or rather, it isn't.
"Jay?" I call tentatively. "Jay? Are you here?"
Silence.
Time passes.
Or more accurately, it doesn't.
Then there's a skull in front of me. A flutter of brown cloth.
I'm not easily startled by sudden appearances after living with Zoom, but the affects of adrenaline are immediate. I can't hear a thing as blood rushes, everything races and hurts as my heart beats far too quickly. I'm jerked out of my storm and into S.T.A.R. Labs once more.
But Cisco is gone. And I am all alone.
I have never been more alone.
