Chapter 14: Cisco Gets a Call
Cisco, Joe, Barry, Caitlin, Ronnie, and Felicity were all sitting down to eat dinner when Cisco's phone buzzed. Frowning, he took it and studied the screen. Seeing a strange look pass over his face, Barry spoke up, "Something wrong?"
"Yeah, there's been an explosion at the lab. Contained, but it looks like it set the sprinkler system off," Cisco said.
"How could you know that?" Caitlin asked.
"I put in a new system of sensors and linked them to an app I made for my phone," Cisco said.
"We left Harrison there looking at samples," Joe said.
"Well, he may have found something cause this looks similar to the blast that ripped through the floor of Palmer Tech," Cisco said. "We better get to the lab." Standing, he'd just started to grab his jacket when Barry zipped off. The rest of the group rushed to follow as quickly as they could. A moment later, Cisco's phone rang.
"Cisco," Barry said into his phone as he cautiously approached the cortex in STAR labs. "I'm in the lab. There's smoke and stuff in the air. Where did the blast originate from?" He was moving cautiously, worried about another explosion.
"Cortex," Cisco said as he climbed into Joe's SUV with the older man and Felicity. Ronnie and Caitlin were following in her car as Joe put on his lights and started speeding through the city.
"Okay." Barry was almost to the room in question. "Looks like most of the blast was contained to the Cortex. The containment doors are down." He pressed his hand against the protective plates Cisco had installed in an attempt to improve security and protection at the lab. "Cisco, how do I open them?"
"You can't," Cisco said. "They'll stay closed until all danger has passed." Pulling his phone away so he could look at the screen, he studied the data he was seeing. "Barry, it looks like there are still some residual mini-blasts going off. Once the computers think it is safe the doors will lift on their own."
"So, all I can do is wait?" Barry asked, angry at being unable to do anything.
"Basically," Cisco agreed.
"Well, is there anyway to know if Dr. Wells is okay in there?" Barry stared at the doors, wondering what was happening on the other side.
"No. Sorry. The heat sensors were overwhelmed when the blast went off," Cisco said. "I might be able to override the sensors when I get there."
"How long?" Barry asked. He was leaning against the door, trying to figure out if he could hear anything from the other side.
"Three minutes, maybe less with the way Joe is driving," Cisco said.
"Hey, don't you bash my driving!" Joe said as he expertly swerved around another car.
"Not bashing it," Cisco said. "I'm pretty impressed. Car!" He clung to the door as Joe swerved again.
"I'm more impressed that Caitlin is keeping up," Joe noted. "One minute Bar!"
"I hate waiting," Barry grumbled. He listened to the rest of the drive, so he wasn't surprised when his friend joined him at the doors. Moving quickly, Cisco went to a side panel and a moment later the doors were opening. As one, the group pressed inside, looking at the damage done by the blast.
"Dr. Wells!" Caitlin called as she stepped carefully. She paused as she stared at the wheelchair. It was in pieces on the floor, a few pieces embedded in the wall. A soft groan sounded and she rushed to the side room, stopping in her tracks at what she found. A half an instant later she was rushing to check the body on the floor.