One week ago

Eobard POV

Eobard didn't expect this. No, no, no. He has been planning this for nearly 15 years and made sure to account for every outside variable that could have happened. So far everything had happened as expected the Particle accelerator exploded Barry ended up being struck by lightning putting him into a coma. He didn't expect the dead coming back to life. How? Eobard wondered.

Eobard knows for a fact it wasn't the Particle accelerator exploding. He made sure everything happened the exact same way just like in the year 2020, the original timeline of when the flash was created. Only this time it exploded in the year 2014 but Eobard doesn't see how that would cause people to come back from the dead. Before he became the Reverse-Flash he used to study Dark matter for nearly his whole life and knows if you harness it and if you can create the right circumstances it can give you superpowers. It was how he was able to figure out how to gain the flash's superpowers in the first place. The particle accelerator caused people to get powers ranging from super strength to teleportation not bring people back from the dead.

The closest thing Eobard could think of what caused this is Bloodwork from what he recalls from the Flash's rogue gallery. No, it can't be him for one Ramsey wasn't even in Central City when star labs exploded. Two Ramsey doesn't become Bloodwork until the year 2019. Three Ramsey powers allows him to use people as incubators, sure they come back from the dead as mindless drones when he kills them but they don't last very long eventually they turned into nothing but a pool of blood.

That's the only good news from these walkers they don't have superhuman strength unlike Bloodwork's drones. The bad news is that though they don't decay in a few minutes and turn into a pool of blood. Eobard managed to figure out the only way to kill these things is to destroy the brain anything else they will just keep coming and they spread through bite to bite contact. At least that was his original Hypothesis but whatever this virus is everyone of us is infected except speedsters. Eobard managed to figure this out by exposing a sample of his blood to walker blood. It was true his speed maybe unstable comes and goes when he least expects it but his cells still had regenerative capabilities. It appears his cells are far too powerful for the disease to infect him meaning If I were to become infected I will not turn into one of them the same can be said if I were to die I won't come back.

Eobard sighed at his holographic journals that he had Gideon create. The original plan was to create the flash to use his speed to get home but right now none of it will matter if the entire human race becomes extinct. It's a good thing he decided to make multiple safe houses all over the world with their own time vaults luckily the CDC was one of them.

"Show me the future Gideon" Eobard asked.

"Of course Dr. Wells" Gideon complied.

"Dr Wells" Eobard mused. That name still feels foreign to him even after impersonating as the man for nearly 15 years. His programic shifter not only allowed him to take his body but also his memories, emotions, and his love. Its weird there are still days he weeps for Tess Morgan a woman he never even knew. Eobard snorted love, it is an emotion he has never experienced before, even when he was an adult he was never really attracted to anyone. That didn't mean he was gay though quite the opposite really he so badly wanted to find the perfect girl for him to spend his entire life with and have children but he never really found anyone. The closest persons he ever really consider his children was Cisco Ramon and Dr Caitlin Snow they stayed with him even after Star labs exploded when everyone else left him.

Eobard was grateful to get them out of Central city in time before it exploded and Barry Allen. He currently had him moved to Harrison Memorial hospital until he woke up. He made sure a camera was installed in his hospital room to keep an eye on him. Eobard didn't want to leave him in Central City as much as he hates Barry he is still his only way to get back home. Moving him to a hospital that had a very low population was the best option since he couldn't bring him here to the CDC. It is a place to work on ways to combat diseases not a hospital to take in patients.

Gideon showed the newspaper article that still says Flash Vanishes In Crisis April 25, 2024. Good Eobard thought the timeline remains intact, at least there will be a future to go back to someday. He took extra precaution to make sure Eddie Thawne is safe assuring his timeline remains intact. Until his connection to the negative speed force is fully restored keeping him safe from timeline changes he needs to make sure Eddie Thawne is kept safe. Last he checked on him he was with a group of people outside of Atlanta probably expecting the military to arrive and save them. Until he can find a way to beat this disease his stay here in the past could be indefinite because of all the unpredictable variables that could happen even if he were to get back to his time period. It could not be his time period anymore? He might never be born if he leaves?

Eobard Sighed frustratedly he was so close to getting back home when the particle accelerator exploded he thought he would be able to just train Barry to get fast enough to travel through time. Now thanks to this unknown disease he is trapped here who knows for how long. There are a few perks to staying here in the past though there are cows for one. Vitro meat in the future is simply too bland and it doesn't have the same juicy warmth whenever he eats a big belly burger. He made new friends out of Cisco and Caitlin. The future is rather bland it doesn't have the same eagerness or drive to learn more about the natural laws of the universe that's another reason why he enjoys the past. He doesn't belong here though everyone here he has met been dead for centuries he isn't even born until 436 years from now.

The only reason he, Caitlin, and Cisco were here and knew ahead of time when the Virus started out as just a rumor that the military was trying to cover up was because of Wade. As much as Eobard dislikes the man, if it wasn't for him enlisting him to find a cure, they never would have gotten out of Central City in time. It was also how he managed to pull a few strings to have Barry Allen move to a secure facility. Wade questioned why I had such a specific person moved so I decided to hit him back with some of his own words. "Sorry but its needs to know." Wade glared at me for doing that but he complied to have Barry Allen moved to a facility when I threaten to stop working altogether.

Despite my reputation being severely damaged when Star labs exploded I was still considered one of the brightest minds on earth. me and Barry are the only people who are immune to this disease so there blood might be the only chance at a cure.

Ramsey Rosso was one of the world's top scientists who were enlisted to start working on a cure and he was one of the world's best Blood specialists. Many of the doctors here commited suicide taking the easy way out having no hope of finding a cure. Eobard didn't blame them with what's happening to everyone outside and knowing their family might be dead. The only scientists left around here are him, Ramsey, Cisco, Caitlin, and a Dr Edwin Jenner. He has already given up though Eobard can tell just by looking at his face after his wife died, sure he might not have decided to opt out but his face is an expression of a man who is broken. A man like that can be dangerous.

"Dr. Jenner can we talk?" Eobard asked.

Dr. Jenner looked up from the picture of his wife Dr. Cadence Jenner. She was infected when examining one of the test subjects that bit her. She asked her husband to use her as research to find a cure and keep going. Dr. Wells managed to learn the disease was very similar to bone cancer so they gave his wife radiation and chemotherapy to see how if it would work all it did was slow down the progression of the disease. He was grateful to at least have more time with her 5 days those 5 days she told him to keep going to find a cure for this disease. Everyone else though opted out commited suicide except for Dr. Wells, Cisco, Dr. Snow, and Dr. Rosso at least he wasn't alone that's one more thing to be grateful for. He was surprised by that and asked why they didn't give up like all of the rest. Ramsey Rosso didn't want to give up because it was taking the easy way out and Brutally honestly stated that my team were cowards and should have kept on fighting. Dr. Wells had faith that we will pull through this and survive stating we honor the dead by fighting for the living. Caitlin Snow experienced the same tragedy he did but wanted to keep going because of Dr. Wells he gave her hope. Cisco Ramon was similar to Dr. Wells being very optimistic that we will pull through this. Each of these reasons gave Jenner a lot to think about. He's read many of Dr. Wells books on quantum physics and papers that he has written he truly is a man ahead of his time. From talking to Dr. Wells he is quite the optimist just like his wife was and a good man. He also felt a lot of sympathy for him when his Particle accelerator failed he can't imagine what it felt like when your life work just went down the drain just in a flash one moment you feel like you succeed the next it all blows up in your face.

"Yes, Dr. Wells is there something I can help you with?" He asked.

Dr. Wells smiled "Actually it's more like I am here to help you"

Jenner Sighed "Look Dr. Wells I appreciate all you've done for me and your team but please I want to be alone right now."

"I know what you are going through" Dr. Wells stated.

"Do you have any idea what it is like to lose someone you love" Jenner angrily said.

"Yes, I do that aching in your heart, the loneliness, it makes you feel like all hope is lost." Dr. Wells said sympathetically.

Jenner expression softened "Who did you lose?"

Dr. Wells began "Tess Morgan, nearly 15 years ago we were on our way to Central City to start our dream together STAR labs."

"What happened?" Jenner asked but he had a feeling he wasn't going to like it.

"We were just driving down the road when suddenly I lost control of the car. We crashed I was out not sure for how long but when I woke up Tess Morgan was dead. The police arrived when I just woke up." Dr. Wells finished.

"I-I'm sorry" Jenner apologize realizing Wells understands his pain.

"It isn't your fault what I am trying to say your here alive. We can't give up after one setback" Dr. Wells stated optimistically.

Jenner cracked a small smile "You sound just like wife highly optimistic always having hope. You are also a lot stronger than me."

"I will admit it wasn't easy for me after Tess died but you always have people who will care and worry for you." Dr. Wells said placing a hand on Jenner's shoulder.

"Dr. Wells I think I found something that might help us" Ramsey said.

Dr. Wells gave Jenner one last glance before heading over to Ramsey. Needless to say his words left Jenner deep in thought.

"What have you got Ramsey" Eobard asked walking over to the man to see what he has found. Eobard original was in a wheel pretending to be paralzyed to throw off anyone who might think he is the man in yellow. That was until a disease broke out bringing people back from the dead he remembers Cisco and Caitlin looks of surprise at me walking again so I explained I was working on an experimental piece of technology to give paralyzed patients the ability to walk again. Which was true I had one and gave one to Cisco as proof he smirked at Cisco's look of excitement when he showed him it and asking questions about the inner workings of what makes it tweak and tick.

Ramsey grinned "I think I managed to find a potential cure. Look at this" showing him a table of the virus infecting the brain "Original diagnosis mortality rate was only for a few days" swiping the tablelet "but now." Showing NK cells activating attacking foreign pathogens in the body more effectively.

Eobard had a rare look of being impressed. In the distant future he was considered one of the brightest of his generation. The future he couldn't help but laugh at the fact that a scientist that has been dead for centuries has managed to impress him while none of the ones he works with in the future didn't.

"Fascinating Ramsey but what's strengthening the Natural Killers?" Eobard questioned. Curious what he found that's managed to better combat the virus.

"Dark matter" Ramsey answered.

Dark matter Eobard had a neutral look the moment he said that because he was thinking about the benefits and consequences. Best case scenario: It would work as a treatment that would work as a sterilizing cure erasing the virus from the body. Worst case scenario: It will turn people into meta-walkers? It could make things worse causing the virus to mutate, evolve making the dead coming back to life more dangerous and even harder to find a cure.

"Hmm" Eobard said.

"You don't seem over ecstatic at the fact that one of the elements from your particle accelerator could potentially be a cure?" Ramsey asked.

"Ramsey" Eobard began putting a hand on one of his shoulders "You truly are brilliant" He complimented.

Ramsey smiled at the praise "Thank you Dr. Wells but all of the credit goes to you. Your one who made Dark matter applied rather than theoretical."

"All we need our willing full human test subjects that have been infected with disease." Eobard stated.

"We haven't had any test subjects since" Ramsey said.

"Since Cadence Jenner" Eobard finished

"Here let me see that tablet. I want to show you something" Eobard said taking the tablet.

Ramsey was confused at what he was looking at but then had a look of understanding "The dark matter its-"

"Cause some form of unnatural mutation that is altering someone's gene when injected with dark matter" Eobard said running simulations.

"What kind of mutations? What do you mean by unnatural?" Ramsey questioned

"I'm not exactly sure what kind of mutation but it is unlike anything I have ever seen before." Eobard said.

Ramsey raised an eyebrow "Your not sure what exactly is happening to the person's genome"

"No, dark matter has always been entirely theoretical. We are currently in the unknown here Ramsey until we find someone infected with the disease willing to be the guinea pig there's no telling what this unnatural mutation could do" Eobard lied. He knew injecting dark matter directly in a person would turn them into a meta-human only problem is it would be a coin toss of what powers they would get.

"We have managed to learn that this virus is a more deadly form of bone cancer," Ramsey said. When some of the scientists here commited suicide not all of them took a bullet some took pills to overdose on. They came back as one of them without being bitten this is when we learned that we all infected we all carry this disease since we learned it was like bone cancer we used forms of radiation and chemotherapy. All that did was slow the disease progression down on one of the test subjects she lasted nearly 5 days. Cadence Jenner. Edwin was grateful to have some form of understanding of how the disease works and had more time with his wife.

The military was giving it there all to hold off the undead but it was idiotic of them to create refugee centers to carry thosands of people. All that did was put all the food in one place for the walkers to attack in hordes people tended to respond irrational to what is different rather than thinking with logic and reason. Eobard knew families would try to hide that they were infected out of fear. Which is probably what's causing the military to lose so much ground someone could die from the disease in the middle of the night and come back taking a few others with it. Although he's managed to give Wade and his men more time by making dark matter powered weapons. Cisco and Caitlin were reluctant with the idea at first but once I explained to them how the military were losing control of the cities forced to nuke them.

*Ring!* *Ring!*

"Let me get that" Eobard told Ramsey grabbing his phone from his pocket.

"Hello" Eobard greeted.

"Dr. Wells I just came to inform you that Harrison Memorial has been overrun," Gen. Wade said.

"You got Barry Allen, out of there, right" Eobard slowly asked.

"No, of course not, why would I risk all of my men for one civilian" Gen. Wade said.

It took all of Eobard self-control not to snap at him. That is why he put a camera up to monitor him and miniature spy bots to follow him around. No matter he will take care of this situation himself.

"Very well then Wade is that all you wish to inform me of" Eobard said attempting to keep his voice neutral.

There was a long pause for awhile

"No, your accelerator when it exploded it didn't just gave us access to more advanced weaponry." Wade began referring to the dark matter powered weapons Dr. Wells created.

Eobard raised an eyebrow of curiosity. Did he encounter a meta-human? Or was he simply accusing him that his accelerator caused all of this?

"Are you making the accusation that my accelerator caused the dead to come back to life" Eobard calmly replied.

There was slight chuckle on the other end. "No, a Rumor has been going around that my men claim seeing a man light himself on fire. They dubbed him the Burning man if you will. Now I'm not the type of man to start believing in conspiracy theories but if the dead can come back to life anything is possible." Gen. Wade explained.

Burning man? Eobard thought Firestorm. Ronnie and Professor Stein are alive. Thawne was well aware reading through history books in high school that both Ronnie and Stein were the original Firestorm but he wasn't expecting to have a few run ins with Gen. Wade men. That's good though it means Ronnie and Martin are alive and have escaped from Central City.

"And you think my particle accelerator caused this" Eobard said.

"I don't think, I know. Me and my men are losing more ground every single day with these undead bastards." Gen. Wade began.

"And you want me to give you ways to enhance your soldiers the same with the burning man" Eobard finished.

"Yes" Gen. Wade replied.

"There is just one thing that has occured to me Wade. What your men saw is just a rumor so until you have some proof that this so called burning man exists. I can't help you" Eobard lied ending the call. He knew many ways to give his soldiers in enhancements. He can use dark matter to give someone a specific set of superpowers, use a biometric enhancement to temporarily make a soldier stronger beyond the normal baseline human Increasing strength, speed, agility, and reaction time. He could also develop a serum that completely rewrites human DNA and overrides the human healing factor to grow back limbs. It is rather simple reason why doesn't give it to them a man like Wade he cannot be trusted. It was true it would give the military the edge they needed to turn the tides and strong enough to fight off the disease but that's just thing it would cause World War III. As soon as another countries sees a new type of advance or some way to enhance people beyond what it means to be human, they will try to steal it. There is also the fact of alternating timeline by giving people technology decades ahead could cause a cataclysm. The only reason he made dark matter powered weapons is because it was rather minor change. The criminal underworld would have found a way to weaponize dark matter in just a year or two. Right now there was still time to find a cure to beat this disease we really need to figure out a name for it.

"Who was that" Ramsey asked curious.

"General Wade" Eobard said.

The moment Ramsey heard that name he had a scowl on his face. He remembers when Caitlin talked about a military contract STAR labs had a few years ago. Ramsey thought at first STAR labs were planning to make weapons but when Caitlin explained to him it was to give soldiers psychic and telekinetic enhancements and that Dr. Wells was interested in new gene therapies to help treat cancer patients. He also heard about the Serve torturement they gave to grodd he was relieved to see that Dr. Wells shut down the project.

"What did he want?" Ramsey asked with barely contained venom in his voice.

"He said there was a rumor going around his soldiers claimed to see a man who lit himself on fire" Dr. Wells explained.

Ramsey scoffed "What like pyrokinesis or something."

Eobard smiled "No, Pyrokinesis is where you manipulate fire from how Wade's men described this so called burning man he could summon fire at will."

"Please, don't tell me you actually believe they witnessed a man lit himself on fire." Ramsey said.

"Really, dead people coming back to life, is it so hard to believe a man can light himself on fire." Eobard countered.

Ramsey realized Dr. Wells had a valid point but still.

"Ok, then explained to me how it is possible for a man to light himself on fire" Ramsey argued.

"Wade was under the assumption that it was my particle accelerator that created him." Eobard replied.

"And, I don't see that could have created this burning man" Ramsey asked curious where Dr. Wells was going with this.

"My, particle accelerator released a wave of foreign radiation. Its effects on the human body are entirely unknown so there is no telling what it could do" Eobard explained.

"So, you think it is what caused this burning man to have powers?" Ramsey questioned.

"I don't know, maybe there's no telling what my the particle accelerator could have done it released dark matter, x-elements, and antimatter." Eobard answered.

Ramsey was silent for awhile.

"How is caitlin been doing" Eobard decided to ask. She hasn't been the same since Ronnie died and finding out her mother was dead didn't help matters he wouldn't have been surprised if she took the easy way out like everyone else. If it wasn't for him, Ramsey, and Cisco being there for her helping her through her grief she probably would have.

Ramsey was quiet for a moment "She doing a bit better but…"

"Still icy and cold" Eobard finished.

"Yes" Ramsey said.

"She just lost two very important people that she loved it isn't exactly easy to get over" Eobard said.

"I know Caitlin told me how strained her relationship with her mother was. She told me It was one of her many regrets not spending more time with her." Ramsey said.

"I can only imagine" Eobard said. He paused for a moment. "How are you doing" He decided to ask.

"I'm good-" but Eobard interrupted him.

"I am going to stop you right there Ramsey. I am well aware your mother was a scientist as well and she isn't here with you helping us with a cure that means something happened." Eobard said.

"She's dead" Ramsey said deciding to be blunt.

"What happened to her" politely asks

Ramsey sighed. "when the outbreak first started mom found a man walking down the street." Ramsey began. "My mother assumed the poor man was drunk or sick not one the infected. I told her we should just go I knew something was wrong but she insisted that the man needed help stating that 'we are doctors Ramsey our job is to help people.' She walked down the street to see what was wrong with him. One moment everything was fine the next the man tore my mom's throat out everyone ran when they saw it. Me I was filled with pure anger and rage" Ramsey clenching his fists.

Ramsey continued "So I grabbed the first thing I could find to use as a weapon, a brick. He was there eating my mom began to tear her open until hit him across the face with the brick again, again, and again until his face was unrecognizable and my mom she-she-she." Ramsey trembling tears sliding down his face.

Eobard placed a comforting hand on his shoulder "Hey, I am so sorry for your loss Ramsey."

Ramsey wiped the tears from his face and got better control of his breathing "Its ok you didn't know."

Dr. Wells took off his glasses "You know Cisco has been working on a way to make radiation more precise to better target disease maybe you could help him with I hear you some experience in radiation." Cisco suggested to work on a way to make radiation therapy more precise to better target only infected cells without damaging healthy ones as a method of curing the disease.

"That's not a bad idea Dr. Wells but what about my idea to use dark matter?" Ramsey asked.

"Well, until we can get ourselves a test subject for the disease. We are stuck here playing the waiting game unless your volunteering." Dr. Wells joked.

"Umm, no thank you I prefer not to get a bite taken out of me" Ramsey quibbed playing along. He found Dr. Wells sense of humor to be rather dry but also quite funny how deadly serious he can be.

Eobard smiled "Good, now if you'll excuse me I have some business to attend to." Heading to his time vault built into the CDC. He looks around to make sure no one is there then presses a hand against the wall. The timevault opens Eobard walks inside to see his famous/infamous Reverse-Flash suit with the tachyon he built from the schematics he stole- borrowed indefinitely from mercury labs. It is rather unfortunate Christina Mcgee is dead when he went to Mercury labs he found out she was bitten by one of her lab workers. Eobard doesn't know what compelled him to try to save her there was no benefit from maybe he didn't Christina to die a painful death being ripped apart and coming back as one of them or it was because he had Harrison Wells memories in some twisted way he cared for her. Christina was well aware the bite was going to kill her she asked me to kill her I did I grabbed a knife stabbed her in the head then quickly grabbed the schematics for the tachyons and got out of there.

Eobard sighed "Gideon show bring of camera 15"

"Of course Dr. Wells" Gideon replied. Showing Barry Allen in a hospital room asleep.

"How are his IV fluids" Eobard asked.

"His IV fluids are about 50% depleted" Gideon answered.

Eobard sighed at this if there was one drawback of having superspeed it was the fact you needed at least 10,000 calories a day. This outbreak isn't going to be much help either it is going to make getting food more difficult.

"If his IV fluids start to run out let me know" Eobard said.

"Of course Dr. Wells" Gideon said turning off the camera.

Martin POV

If there was one thing that Martin was it is that he is a genius. He had at least 5 phds to his name. He didn't believe in baby steps sure the old saying slow and steady wins in some cases but that is not always true.

That is why he kept himself calmed when a few weeks ago he somehow ended up in someone else's body. One moment he was fine carrying one his newest invention that would change the world the next he just blacked out and woke up as somebody else. He went to go look for his wife when he found her. She didn't even recognize him, he tried to tell her it's me your husband Martin she respond with fear and called the police.

Martin managed to learn it was the FIRESTORM matrix that merged him and Ronald together gifting them superpowers he was able to summon fire from his hands and use it to fly. He could feel Ronald's fear and panic he kept him buried to protect Dr. Snow he felt a little guilty about it but if he didn't, they most likely would have gotten her killed.

Unfortunately things had to go from bad to worse. Martin means that quite literally some sort of disease is going around where people are coming back to life and eating other people. He was forced to kill a few of them by burning them alive Martin knew they were already dead the fire didn't even phase them so he didn't hold back he burned them alive to nothing but ash. He needed to avoid getting bitten at all costs so if there were too many of them he flew away.

The military came in and tried to contain the disease in Central City emphasis on tried they were losing more ground to the undead by the day. Martin was smart enough to know very soon the military were going to nuke the city he had to get his wife out of here. He felt extreme guilt when he wasn't able to find Ronalds girlfriend Caitlin Snow he looked at all of the places Ronald told him to look but he couldn't find her. He had extreme guilt he wasn't able to do more to help Ronald. He remembers watching from afar when the city was nuked killing thousands of people Martin had swirl of emotions when it happened Guilt he wasn't able to help all of those people, Anger at the fact that the military chose to nuke the city, and Sadness that his home was gone he lived in Central City for nearly his whole life.

Now he is currently trying to survive with his wife Carlyssa he just needs to convince her it is him Martin her husband.

"What do want from?" Carlyssa asked afraid of this man who light himself on fire.

"Carlyssa I know I may not look like your husband but I am it's me Martin Stein" Firestorm explained.

"You are not my husband" She cried.

Martin realize this isn't going to work the only way he is going to convince her that he is indeed her husband he needs to tell her something only he would know.

"I am, you never had a favorite you always picked stripes" Firestorm said.

"How do you know that?" She asked confused.

"That is because I am your husband" Firestorm answered.

"Martin?" She asked reaching to touch him.

He flinched at the contact and backed away. "Yes, I am but I need to stay away from me"

"Why?" She asked confused again.

"It's a long story but we've got time" Firestorm said with a slight smile.

Firestorm went on to explain everything about how he was in someone else's body and how he was able to summon fire.

Needless to say Carlyssa was speechless "Wow, Martin I don't even know what to say."

"I know its a lot to take in but its true" Firestorm said.

"That's the understatement of the century Martin." She replied.

"I'm sorry" Firestorm apologize

"For what?" Carlyssa asks.

"For not being a better husband and being there for you more" Firestorm explained.

"Oh, Martin you have nothing to apologize for. What happened to you was completely out of your control." Carlyssa said.

"Not what I am talking. I am talking about the fact that my life's work shouldn't have been a nobel prize winning physicist. It should have been the best husband I could possibly be." Firestorm said.

Firestorm could keep it in anymore so he hugged her tears sliding down his face. "I missed you so much" Firestorm cried.

Carlyssa was surprised by the jester but wholeheartedly accepted it.

Martin was relieved to be with his wife again but he saved his wife but saved to save Ronald's what does that make him? One side of him said a good husband and another said not a good man, that's for sure.

Author Notes: Bet you weren't expecting another chapter this soon, eh? This something I was planning to do address in chapter one but I decided to split them apart but I have no fear the next chapter we will continue where we left off with Duane and Barry.