WRITER'S NOTE: A few of you had questions and concerns, so I'll answer them for you. (:
WinterRain36 suggests Kiera should be more confident in herself.
-Kiera isn't as confident, because she believes The Flash is the real hero. He's the one who saved Central City time and time again and Kiera is just a newbie. She's still learning about her abilities and far from mastering them. She also doesn't want to take The Flash's spotlight.
Marie wanted to know why Kiera got so weak after the apartment building fire.
-Kiera had a VERY busy day. It's explained in the last chapter (the scene where Kiera woke up the next day). She used her powers several times that day and it caught up with her. She overexerted her powers.
Thanks again for all your reviews and kind words! It means more than you know! Always makes my day when I see I got a new review. (:
Kiera stared at the large screens on either side of her as she listened to Cisco. Just minutes ago, Caitlin and Cisco had told her they dug up some intel on the masked red and black woman who was using her mind-controlling abilities to make The Flash her accomplice.
Cisco pressed a button on his keyboard and the screen showed a black and white security video from a bank. The bank was empty and dark.
"This is from The Coast City Jewelers & Co nine years ago," Cisco said as he pressed play. Kiera glanced at him when she heard her hometown mentioned and then looked back at the screen.
The room was still for a moment before one of the front windows shattered and several dark forms entered. It was too dark to see what they looked like, but every once in a while a shine of light from one of their flashlights would reveal they were wearing dark masks and colored body armor suits. They didn't even care about covering the security cameras, because they knew no one could identify them. Kiera was able to count five thieves.
The team of thieves worked skillfully and in unison, as if having done these many times before. There wasn't much audible communication, making Kiera guess they planned this several months ahead. One of the thieves stood as a look out while two carefully took the jewelry out of their display cases and into suitcases, one checked the store's cash register and the last one emptied the store's vault. They worked quickly and without hesitation. In less than two minutes they were finished and out the same way they came in, escaping several minutes before the police arrived on scene.
"Four of the five were finally caught three days after this and sentenced to nine years in prison. They still haven't found the fifth. The police named them 'The Jewel Thieves', because each one preferred one jewel over the rest and often only stole jewelry containing those five gemstones," he said as he pulled up pictures of the group.
"There was 'Sapphire'," he paused and pressed a button. A police file came up on part of the left screen. It showed a man in a blue and black costume and mask and his prison picture next to it. Below the photos it displayed his criminal record. Kiera quickly read several reports of robbery, breaking and entering, and so on.
"Topaz," Cisco said as another part of the screen showed a similar criminal record of a man in a black and dark orange costume and mask.
"Amethyst." Another record showed up on the left screen, displaying a record with a man in a black and purple costume and mask.
"Emerald." A criminal record showed up on the right screen, showing a man in a black and dark green costume and mask.
"And the fifth one- the one that is still unknown- is Ruby," Cisco said and his tone changed as the image appeared.
"Is that-?" Kiera asked as she stepped closer to the image. The image of the masked woman looked almost identical to the woman that kidnapped The Flash. Most of the sections on the record were blank, but Kiera knew right away she was the same woman. The photo seemed to be taken from a security video, but Kiera could see she wore the same confident smile that displayed pure joy and greed. Her skintight red and black costume seemed to have had only changed a little since this photo was taken.
"Yes," Caitlin said as she stopped next to Kiera. "We've tried hacking every database we could think of to find her identity, but there's nothing. It's as if someone purposefully erased every trace of her. It's like nothing I've ever seen." She shook her head and frowned. "And have facial recognition software continuously looking at every security camera in Central City for Ruby and Barry. But we haven't gotten any hits; it's as if they are invisible."
"There's more," Cisco said and typed on the computer causing the screens to change again.
"These are robberies taken all over the U.S. in the past year," he said as the screens were divided into several sections to display different security videos. Kiera looked back and forth at the videos as they all played at once. They went down similar to the bank robbery video they watched earlier; but one thing was different. There were always only two thieves- one of the thieves always being the woman known as Ruby. The other accomplice changed every few videos, but in every video only Ruby wore a mask.
Cisco typed on his computer and the videos paused. Boxes appeared around the accomplices' faces and displayed their identities as four of other members of The Jewel thieves, besides Ruby.
"Each time, they'd rob two to three jewelry stores a night, for two days and then the next day the other thief would be found in an alleyway and wouldn't remember anything about the robberies. They'd claim they didn't do it, even after the police showed them the videos," Caitlin said with a frown.
"So Ruby became a Meta after the explosion and now she's using her abilities to continue her life of crime," Kiera stated as she watched the unusual robberies.
"Dude! She uses her mind control to force them to rob the jewelry stores with her and then brainwashes them to forget before she lets them go!" Cisco said; a little too excited. "Like a temptress. The Ruby Temptress?" Cisco shook his head. "No. No. Not my best. I got it! Ruby Siren!" He smirked and nodded. "Yep, that's it! That's her name. Ruby Siren!"
"Do you think she- Ruby Siren-" Kiera paused and nodded towards Cisco, who was grinning wide. "-will do the same thing that she did with the other members of the Jewel Thieves, with Barry?" Kiera asked, in a serious tone. Her heartbeat increased at the thought. If the police found The Flash in some alleyway with no memory of what happened, they'd arrest him and reveal his true identity.
Caitlin and Cisco frowned.
"We won't let that happen," Caitlin said. "I did some calculations and even if she were a Meta with mind controlling abilities, she won't be able to continuously use it on one person forever. The government has been doing research with mind control and found that it starts to wear off after a while. I imagine it will be the same with Ruby Siren," Caitlin added.
"How long do you think she can control Barry?" Kiera asked.
"I'm not sure," Caitlin said.
"What if Ruby Siren only had the ability to control the other Jewel Thieves for two days, that's why she let them go after that," Cisco thought out loud.
Caitlin nodded. "And since Barry is a Meta like her, it's logical to conclude she'd be able to control him a longer than regular humans," she added.
Kiera nodded and then she realized what she had been thinking about earlier. "I'm sure she's used her Siren abilities to force Barry to reveal his identity to her. What's stopping her from telling the world now?"
"Maybe she's waiting until the end? She still needs him to help her rob jewelry stores. When her powers wear off maybe she has a plan to reveal his identity then?" Caitlin thought out loud as she looked at the rap sheets of the other members of The Jewel Thieves on the screen.
Kiera's fists tightened as she thought of The Flash's identity wrongly exposed. She felt how important it is for him to keep this a secret. She knew it would most likely break him if Ruby Siren succeeded.
"I need to tell them! They need to know The Flash isn't a criminal!" Kiera demanded later that day.
"I agree, but you don't really have any proof. Why would they believe you?"
"Because I've been seen fighting side by side with The Flash! I know him. Telegirl knows him," Kiera insisted, growing frustrated.
"I'm not the enemy, Kiera. I'm just trying to prepare you for their reactions. Yes, The Flash was Central City's hero, but now the news is showing nothing but those videos of him robbing that store and museum! It's hard to argue with visual evidence," Caitlin said and frowned. It was her friend they were talking about. A friend that had been there for her more times than she could count. A friend she greatly missed also.
Kiera nodded and slipped on her mask, before turning on her heel and heading out. "Then wish me luck," she said over her shoulder as she walked out.
"All the luck in the world," Caitlin replied as she looked nervously over at Cisco, who had remained silent during the whole argument.
A few minutes later, Kiera ditched the S.T.A.R. Lab's van a couple blocks away and took to the roofs of Central City. She now stood on a building's roof looking down at the news station across the street. She took a deep breath to calm herself and straightened her shoulders.
"You can do this," she mumbled to herself. "They need to know the truth. They need to know The Flash is innocent."
She took another breath and jumped up in the air. Having had a little practice, she caught herself quickly and started to descend slowly towards the street. She floated above the cars and landed on the curb in front of the Central City News station's building.
Telegirl glanced around and saw that the civilians around had stopped and were watching to see what she was doing. Some even took out their phones and started snapping pictures and recording her.
A door closing brought Kiera's attention back to the building before her. Several people had emerged to come and see what was going on. A few seconds later, a man carrying a large news camera on his shoulder followed a pretty brunette reporter out of the building.
The time was now. There was no backing out now. Kiera inhaled sharply, trying to slow her heart rate. Kiera had always been a little on the shy side. She'd always feared talking to large crowds, ever since an incident in the fourth grade. Kiera tried to push that thought out of her mind and instead think of what needed to be done. The Flash needed to be known as a hero once more.
"People of Central City!" Telegirl started as she looked into the ready camera and then around at the growing crowd that now formed a circle around her. "I need you all to listen. I came only to say one thing; one important thing!" Telegirl looked back at the camera. "The Flash has not turned his back on you! He has not taken up a life of crime- not intentionally that is. The Flash is being controlled by an evil mind-controlling Meta-human named Ruby Siren; She is forcing him to rob for her! But she won't be for very much longer! I [will] find her! I will get our beloved hero back! You have my word!" She shouted over the clapping that started in the crowd around her.
"And what proof do you have, Telegirl? What's your proof that The Flash is being controlled by this woman?" The reporter asked into the microphone she held in her hand and then pointed it at her.
A sudden idea came to Kiera. "Look at the jewelry store footage again. Zoom in on The Flash's eyes when Ruby Siren turns to him. His eyes change! That's your proof!" Telegirl said into the camera.
"Oh boo hoo! You lost your man to another woman! Move on!" An old man in the crowd shouted.
Telegirl angrily turned towards the voice and shouted, "He's not mine! He's Central City's hero! He deserves more than five minutes of trust before you turn your back on him and call him a petty thief! How many times has The Flash saved Central City? More times than you or I can count! And after seeing one video of The Flash looking like he's stealing jewelry, you suddenly think he's changed sides?" She turned back to the camera as she continued the speech. "We've all seen unexplainable things before and this is just the latest!" Kiera glanced around at the crowd. "The Flash is not a thief! Ruby Siren is using her mind-controlling powers to force The Flash to do whatever she wants!" She repeated before jumping up in the air and flying up out of the crowd; the camera following her until she disappeared over the buildings.
Once Kiera was out of sight she sighed and shook her head. Caitlin had been right, not everyone believed her. She'd have to show them that she was right. She didn't know exactly how she'd do that, but she just knew she had to.
The wind blew back her long hair as she made herself fly through the air towards the Lab. Kiera cleared her mind and concentrated on moving her body through the air, trying not to dwell on what just happened.
Suddenly Kiera felt something- something strong. She closed her eyes tight as her head pounded and felt tight. She gasped and lost her concentration, causing her to fall again. It was as if every inch of her mind was screaming one thing.
9421 Golden Ave. 9421 Golden Ave. 9421 Golden Ave.
Kiera opened her eyes as she felt herself fall. She held in a scream and looked below her feet to see a crowded street quickly coming up to meet her. The address continued to pound in her head, almost taking over her senses, but she tried to focus. Kiera tried to focus on making her body float again, tried to at least move it over towards the nearest roof before she fell too far. She gritted her teeth and focused as hard as she could. Her body started to obey and she was slowed her descend and also started to move sideways.
[9421 GOLDEN AVE. 9421 GOLDEN AVE.]
The location surfaced again and was even stronger this time. Kiera screamed in pain as her head pounded and she felt something strike her back. She glanced behind her, but there wasn't anything there. Something was wrong. Kiera got the sudden feeling that someone at that address was in danger. Then she sensed it- she sensed who was in danger.
Barry Allen. Barry Allen. BARRY ALLEN. BARRY ALLEN.
The new piece of information caused Kiera to lose focus again and she started to fall once more. The pounding, repeating information and the pain her body was suddenly in made it impossible for her to focus. Kiera tried over and over again to catch her body and make it float towards the fast approaching roof that was now only a few feet to her right. Right before the building shot up past her, she was able to push herself towards it in one last attempt to save her self from becoming a splattered body on the street below. She reached out her right hand and grabbed onto the roof's ledge.
Kiera was now dangling off the side of the building. She swung her other arm up and grabbed onto the ledge before attempting to pull up herself up onto the roof. P.E. had never been a favorite class of hers while she was in school and now she wished she'd been more active then and now. Kiera screamed out in pain as her muscles gave out while she was trying to do a pull up and she fell back to dangling off the side.
9421 GOLDEN AVE. BARRY ALLEN. 9421 GOLDEN AVE. BARRY ALLEN. The words repeating louder and louder in her mind as if she was right next to a speaker at a rock concert.
"Kiera?! Are you okay? Your vitals are spiking. Are you hurt?" Caitlin's concerned voice said in her ear. The young doctor had just stepped into the main room after doing some work in another room, when she saw the monitor's red warning across Telegirl's vitals.
"Barry's in trouble. I can sense it all of a sudden. And uh," she paused and looked down at the street below. She bit her lip and looked back up. "Sort of dangling off the side of a building at the moment."
"What?! Can you use her Telekinesis to-?"
"Trying. A little hard with a pounding head that won't stop telling me Barry's in trouble," Kiera interrupted.
"Take some deep breaths. Try to tune it out. Focus on your task," Caitlin said, trying to help the struggling Meta-human.
"I'll try," Kiera said and closed her eyes again as she took deep breaths through her nose and exhaled through her mouth.
Focus. Tune it out, she told herself as she continued to breathe deeply. She tried to focus on only the shape and weight of her own body and on lifting herself up. She tried to tune out the repeated information as Caitlin suggested.
At first it didn't do anything, but just as Kiera was about to give up, the pounding in her head started to go away. The information started to fade and she started to feel herself lift up into the air. Kiera didn't let go of the side of the building, fearing she might fall again at any minute as her body continued to rise. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the roof was now at her hip. Kiera slowly let go of the edge as continued to rise and once she was higher than the building she moved horizontally until she was standing on the roof.
She grinned at her success and started to relax.
"It worked. Thank you."
"Good. Now get back here so we can work up a plan to save Barry," Caitlin said as she too relaxed.
"No time. I need to go now. He needs help right away. I can sense it," Kiera said as she ran towards the roof's access door and swung it open.
Her body ached from blows Barry was receiving at that very second, but she jumped down the stairs as fast as she could. She knew The Flash needed help and nothing was going to stop her from coming to his aide.
WRITER'S NOTE: I'm sorry this chapter is a little short. I was going to have this chapter be the first part of the showdown between Ruby Siren and Telegirl- with the aide of The Flash of course, but I wanted to add a scene of Telegirl trying to convince Central City that The Flash had not gone bad.
So as you guessed Chapter 15 will be the showdown. (: So keep a look out for the next chapter. :D