Here we are, the climax! Thanks for all the love on this story! A special shout out to my reviewers/favorites/followers! Enjoy!

"Let's get this thing powered up!" Cisco banged the side of the metal hull with his palm. They had managed to maneuver the machinery down the service hatch, but the sides were slashed up from grinding against the walls. Luckily, the rotators had ample space to create the wind gust that hopefully was necessary to blow out the fire that was raging through the city below. Firemen in their heavy gear were standing readily at the sides of the giant fan. The fire hadn't reached this portion of the city yet because these pipes had been sealed off years ago for inadequate use, so they were clear for now.

"Go, go, go!" a fireman yelled and Harrison lifted the lever on his small handheld controls. There was a large metallic groan as the dim rotators were being called to life. They started to spin weakly like a pinwheel in the wind, but Harry pressed a few keys and it started to warm up. The rotators being spinning with more force and power, the blades slicing through the air like daggers.

"Back away!" Singh yelled as the firemen were getting too getting chopped to ribbons.

They fled as sparks started to fly from the machine.

"Is that part of the plan?" Joe muttered to Wells.

The scientist was a mask of concentration, he didn't even look at Joe, "You try cranking out an 18 foot tall fan into a fire extinguisher in an hour and a half."

No arguing that one.

"It's gonna work," Cisco nodded excitedly, "I know it."

"We've got people posted up top at each block," Captain Singh and the Fire Captain came to stand by the trio, "they'll let us know if anything happens."

"Are the people safely evacuated?" Joe asked.

"We'll do our job, you do yours," the Fire Captain nodded tersely, "they are safe for now."

He looked at Dr. Wells questioningly.

The blades were spinning so fast now that they looked like one. The air was being cut by their sharp edges and the wind cast off the machine was blowing everyone back.

"Damn! That thing is powerful!" Singh clapped.

Harrison smirked and cranked up the lever a little more.

"Can it take that?" Cisco asked above the cacophony of wind.

"It has to."

Now, they needed to create a vortex-like effect. One spinning column of wind, like a tornado, that would disturb the oxygen particles igniting the fire. There was a large metal sheet attached around the rim of the fan that created a large circle. It started to rotate along with the fan blades in the same clockwise direction.

"What's it doing?" Joe nudged the doctor, he was practically yelling above the noise.

"The rotating aluminum sheet will support the tornado effect. It creates a vacuum on the inside as it rotates and slowly it will start getting pushed farther and farther down the piping lines as the blades keep turning!"

"You're a genius, Wells!" Cisco laughed impressively.

"Like Wonder-man?" he had an amused look in his eyes.

"Wonder-? No, it's Superman!"

"Same thing," Harrison grunted as he pushed the lever all the way and sparks started to cast off the controls.

There was a static on the walkie talkie in the Fire Captain's hand, "It's working, Doc! I got word from above, the fire columns on North and High Street are out!"

"I need all units to secure the blocks until all of the fire is out, meanwhile someone call the maintenance crew to check out the valves!" Singh ordered a few of his officers.

"Are we sure everyone is safe?" Joe looked to Wells, but he wasn't asking about the civilians so much as the meta-humans in the pipeline.

"STAR Labs has its own piping and routing lines because of our experiments that went on there," Wells' voice was devoid of emotion, "they weren't in any real danger unless the fire went out of control and melted the seals between both pipe routes."

"That makes me feel a lot better," Joe rolled his eyes, "as long as that crisis has been averted."

Jay, Caitlin, and Iris were back safely in STAR Labs. The facility was still under lockdown and the pipeline had been reinforced due to the precautionary measures. That wasn't their worry now, they needed to find out how to get the Mind Magician, as Cisco dubbed him, to release his hold on Barry.

Jay seemed pretty okay, all things considered. Iris was relieved that Barry hadn't fulfilled his word and not killed Jay, this gave her a shred of hope that her real brother was in there somewhere. Besides the cut on his brow, he was fine and Caitlin was relieved.

"Jay, you're from Earth-2," Iris spoke up, "have you ever dealt with a meta-human like this?"

"No one so powerful, we had one that could control emotions though, but not take over the brain entirely."

"Like the Rainbow Raider a while back," Caitlin nodded, "how do you think that could've happened?"

"Well, the dark energy storm caused a lot of weird mutations in people, but I don't know what he could've been doing to give him power of this degree," Jay shook his head, "we should focus on how to make Barry less appealing to him."

"Make Barry less appealing?" Caitlin snorted, "Barry is perfect. He is sweet, caring, funny, and charming, how do you make him less appealing?"
Iris laughed, "I'm with you on that one, Caitlin, but what made him appealing in the first place?"

"His speed? Powers?" Caitlin thought.

"No, it's his reputation," Hunter interjected, "Barry is the Hero of Central City, he's the icon. If you take that away then you have mass panic."

"Okay, so now that Barry is on his side, he makes him commit all these crimes," Iris nodded, "it makes sense, because then it shows you have control over him."

"And who knows the extent of how far they'll go," Caitlin said grimly.

"The fire is his doing, I'm sure of it," Jay looked to see the two women looking at him confused, "it's obvious. Barry is locked away now, and this attack is something that the normal police and firemen can't handle. It's underground, they can't get there that easily, it's a challenge to show them that if the Flash is gone, they can't stop the disasters."

"Powerful message," Iris gulped.

"Literally burning the city from within," Caitlin nodded.

"This can't be all now that Barry has escaped," Zoom thought, "I mean, he's not going to be able to resist to do something else with the Flash back out."

"So we got to get inside his head," Iris smiled, "a little reverse mind manipulation."
"How do we get inside the brain of a meta-human who's power is telepathic control?" Caitlin asked half-heartedly.

"We figure it out like always," Jay gripped her hand, "Barry's reputation is what made him so appealing, so now we must reverse that."

"That's going to be hard to convince him, the odds are next to impossible," Caitlin shook her head, "we aren't going in prepared."

"We need to have some faith," Iris rubbed her shoulder, "the people have already turned against the Flash already, so instead of making it a disadvantage, let's use it to our benefit."

"Make the people convince this meta-human that the control over the Flash is no big deal to them anymore," Jay nodded, "it could work, everyone has been rallied to the town square."

"Okay," Caitlin nodded, "let's go."

"I just got a call from Cait," Cisco walked up to Wells and West, "She, Jay, and Iris are on their way to Town Square, they have a plan."

"All the fires are just about out," Joe laughed with relief, "looks like you did it, Wells," he clapped the skinny scientist on the shoulder.

He didn't make any sign that he accepted the compliment, "You can tell the firemen to take apart the machine, it's just about toast anyway," he looked at the sparking and teetering invention that had saved them all, "the tornado effect worked as perfect as could be expected, but make sure all the valves are securely closed this time and no one should open them."

"Wait," Cisco pulled Harrison aside, "are you saying that it was a person who opened the oxygen valve? Who would be stupid enough?!"

"No one is stupid enough, Ramon, we are dealing with a mind controlling super human, is it so hard to believe?"

"Not until we have proof," his eyebrows were creased.

"I overheard the investigative report, there were human prints on the valve and the scorched corpses of a construction unit on scene," Harrison said darkly, "you should learn by now that there are no accidents where we are concerned," he lightly hit the engineer's shoulder as he walked back to the STAR Labs truck.

"Town square, Cisco, let's go!" Joe called as he hung off the passenger door. He saw the glum look on his face, "Hey, you okay?"
"I'm fine," Cisco walked in their direction, fire teams and officers moving in a flurry around him, "let's just get going."

Joe didn't say a word but a look of worry crossed his face. If they were going to take down this meta-human, then they needed to all be in agreement with one another.

"Hey, are we clear?" Iris looked warily at the hordes of Central City civilians gathered in the town square with lines of officers creating a secure perimeter around them. There were SWAT team members on the rooftops, in buildings with weapons hanging out broken windows, patrolling the ground, and in clumps amid the people.

"I think so, there is no immediate threat," Jay scanned the whole scene in a second. Whatever, there was no immediate danger to him at least, that's all that mattered.

However, he threw a side glance at Caitlin.

They all stepped out of the van casually, it was parked in an evacuated and dark parking lot a street down, but helicopters and huge armored vans gave away the area where the civilians were being protected.

"This is a bad strategy," Caitlin shook her head, "they are gathered here like cows ready for slaughter."

"Let's hope that our other meta-human doesn't know this," But Iris had heavy doubt in her voice. You couldn't miss this.

"Hey, hands in the air!" they heard a loud and commanding voice from up ahead. A bright light flashed on them and six armed officers with big guns and bullet proof vests came charging at them.

Iris and Caitlin immediately stuck their hands straight up, but Jay rolled his eyes and put them up slightly after a moment. If he wanted, he could take all of these people out in a second-literally,

"Officers, we're good, we're Central City civilians!" Iris tried to make her voice seem loud and unwavering but that was hard with four barrels aimed straight at your heart, "my father is Detective West-"

"Shut up!" she stopped talking and flinched as a snarling voice echoed through the streets, "Why weren't you evacuated with the rest?|"
"We got caught up," Hunter's voice had a mocking edge to it, "officer."

"You, smart ass, better shut your trap before I bust you full of lead," the silhouette against the light was shaking with anger.

"You would like that, wouldn't you?" Zolomon smiled darkly.

"Hey, calm down, everyone!" Iris sighed with relief as she heard the voice of Captain Singh followed by her father's.

"Iris, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, dad," she exhaled, "just tell these guys to stop aiming at us and look for the actual threat."

"Yeah," Singh looked at the officers pointedly, "I sent all available units on hunting the Flash, now go!"

They disbanded, but the commanding officer gave Jay a mean glare before walking off.

"Jay, you could've gotten shot!" Caitlin hit his shoulder.

"Relax, Cait, that guy didn't have it in him," he looked to Joe, "Where's Cisco and Wells? Are the fires out?"

"Yeah, they're all out."

"Did Barry show?"

Joe looked from Jay to Singh standing a little farther off talking to a few of his men, "No, Barry? Why would Barry show?"
"No reason," Hunter's lip twitched into a slight snarl.

"I know you're upset, Jay, we all are, especially since he looks up to you so much. You've taught him a lot, but we need to keep it together. This isn't Barry's fault, it's the meta's, so concentrate that anger towards him," Joe patted his arm reassuringly and walked off towards Iris.

Trust me, I am, Hunter thought sinisterly.

"Cisco, Dr. Wells!" Caitlin said with relief and tackled Ramon in a hug, "did it work okay? Wells' invention?"

"Yes, it worked," Harry nodded.

"Are you kidding me?!" Cisco said excitedly and gesticulated wildly, "it was off the charts, Cait! He was insane, just standing like all stone-faced in front of this sparking fan and it was amazing!"

Harry laughed as he looked at his two colleagues in amusement.

There were screams that drowned out the laughter. It was starting to get dark, around 7 o'clock, but the screams were coming from the crowd of people. Singh immediately dropped his conversation and his men followed him along with Jay, Cisco, Iris, Caitlin, Harrison, and Joe.

"What's going on?" Iris ran forward but was stopped by her dad.

"Cisco, get Caitlin and Iris in the van!"

He hurried over and grabbed the two women, to pull them away in case of any danger. At least those three are safe, Joe thought, relieved, and he put a man on Jay and Wells too. Harrison looked indifferent but Garrick looked at the two men who were a lot shorter and less bulkier like it was child's play.

"People of Central City!" they heard a new voice.

"Where is that coming from!?" Singh yelled, "Get all ground units to protect the people, make a shielded perimeter around them! Bring the copters low and the all vans, I'm talking ambulances, armored cars, trucks, company cars, fire engines-anything-to create a barricade! They are our first priority!"

"No need to be alarmed!" finally, he appeared. Atop the roof of City Halls stood a man dressed in all black. He had one black shoes, pants, a button-up, and an obsidian colored leather trench coat to match. This was the man that was behind it all, this was the man who took Barry. Already, his words were lulling, people subconsciously leaned forward a little just because you wanted to hear what he was saying, "I'm not here to harm any of you!"

Caitlin felt a feeling of relief and reassurement inside her, but after he finished speaking it was gone and she looked confused and worried. She turned her head to see Iris was the same way, it was his power talking, not him.

"I've only come for a demonstration!" he laughed as people scurried about and tried to listen to the Captain's orders. Officers with plastic shields sprinted to form a line before the civilians and vehicles started to form a barricade. SWAT team members were repositioning, their weapons loaded, "LOWER YOUR WEAPONS!"

A calm came before the armed men and they dropped their weapons to the floor.

"DO NOT PICK THEM UP AGAIN!"

He yelled loud to be heard above the clamor.

"ALL DRIVERS WILL STOP MOVING THEIR VEHICLES!"

All the brakes were pressed at once and drivers exited their trucks and vans on account of the seductive words.

"And introducing my friend," the man stepped back and revealed a new figure who strutted higher on the triangular shaped rooftop. He was wearing his red Flash suit and a devilish grin on his face.

"Barry," iris whispered to herself.

"Cisco, get a facial recognition right now," Harrison muttered to the young engineer, "before I'm forced to do something I don't want to."

Cisco, carefully, not to attract any negative attention went over the STAR Labs van and pulled out his tablet.

"I've got a match," he said after a minute, "his name is Garrison Paul, he was a therapist at Central City Psychiatric for years before the particle accelerator made him invalid in a hospital for 2 years. He was fired for coaxing a patient to kill himself and was evicted from his apartment."

"Rough year," Joe huffed, but his eyes were glued to Barry.

"Now, my friend and I were talking here," Garrison gestured to the speedster, "and we agreed that there's one more thing that should be done here, before you all are ready."

"Ready for what?" Singh shouted bravely from behind the door of an armored truck.

"Ready for full acceptance," he tutted, "it's time you all learned to rid of your boundaries between minds, insane or not, and think as one unit!"

"And how's that gonna work?" Hunter growled from below, his eyes fixed upon Paul like daggers. Barry looked to his master worriedly then at Jay as a warning.

"You have all grown to love and adore the Flash," he pointed to the Scarlet Speedster, "but he has changed."

People cowered and shivered under the control of this superior meta-human who had them all at his mercy. His eyes reflected danger and insanity, his appearance relaxed but a little edgy; this Garrison Paul was unhinged.

"He is no longer the hero you can call upon for help, but he's under my command," Barry looked ahead robotically as all eyes turned to him, pleading for his assistance.

"Your officers were attacked, your precinct invaded, your property stolen and broken. The city was in flames underground and you were powerless to stop it, and that's through my teachings," he spread his arms like he was some welcoming father, "but I have one last lesson to show you before you are all prepared."

Barry's grin grew in anticipation.

What's going on? Wells narrowed his eyes and looked at his pupil with full focus.

"We both agreed," Paul looked to the controlled Flash, his eyes were red like blood, "that this teaching is the most effective, it calls for a killing."

"NO!" Singh shouted and people started to scream, but no one could go for their weapons for protection.

"Settle down, settle down," Paul said calmly and immediately the shouts started to die out, "it's someone with repute, someone with power and influence over you all."

Cisco, Jay, Caitlin, Joe, and Iris all looked to Harrison Wells who immediately gasped with shock. Wells showing any type of emotion? That was unheard of!

"No, no! We need to stop him!"

"We know that, Harry!" Cisco hissed at him, "He's going to kill somebody!"
Singh was trying to get his troops in order, but they all had this urge in them to resist getting their weapons and listen to the man speak.

"Wells, what are you talking about?" Jay narrowed his eyes at the scientist.

Harry was about to explain, but Paul kept speaking.

"Flash, would you step forward please?"

Allen was so excited, he was finally going to show the Man in Black that he was capable of fulfilling his word, he wasn't going to back down on his promise to kill someone. The crowd was dead silent, all of them too scared of what was going to happen next. Who was going to die?

"I want you to run down and get that gun there," the Mind Magician pointed to a large and long assault rifle lying in the grass with no owner.

Barry nodded once and retrieved the gun in a matter of two seconds.

"Very good," the Magician purred, "now, Flash," Paul looked around in dark amusement, "on your knees."

There were shouts and screams that protruded from the crowd. Joe's jaw dropped and Iris looked on in horror at the sudden turn of events. Caitlin cried and hugged Cisco and Jay watched with a stoney-eyed expression. Barry Allen was the one who was going to die; he was the one who was to be assassinated.

"Stop!" the Captain yelled along with everyone else's cries of protest and fear, "Drop the weapon!"

"Stop talking," Paul's wild eyes focused on Singh who immediately zipped his trap and looked ahead without expression. His officers tried to shake him out of it, but Paul's words were his words, there was no denying them.

As I was saying," the Mind Magician turned to Barry, "on your knees."

"Why?" Caitlin shouted, "Why are you doing this?!"
"To show you all that this hero of yours is no god, he is no one you should praise or help you! He is like me, and he has betrayed his fellow brothers and sisters! The Flash must die!"

"NO!" Iris screamed and ran forward but Joe caught her in his arms as Paul looked at her with warning. She dug her face in his jacket as tears fell from her cheeks.

"Stop this," Jay came forward a step, "you don't want to do this."

"And who is going to stop me? You?"

Hunter Zolomon's eyes were on fire but he didn't dare move, he would show his secret if he had to but not yet. Barry was his key to speed, he wasn't going to let him die yet.

"Flash, you were so helpful in giving me this gun," Paul cackled as Barry lowered himself to his knees willingly.

There was something inside Barry, deep deep down, when he was ordered to go this knees. The screams of the Central City civilians reached his ears and actually traveled down to his obscured conscience, the horrified expressions on his family's faces.

"Everyone, watch as your mighty hero falls!" Garrison Paul was overjoyed as all eyes looked at the scene in terror. He cocked the gun in his hands and pointed it at Barry's skull, no way he'd survive that one.

Consequences are consequences, he thought slyly.

"Flash!" Cisco was the only one who could defy the Magician's power but a demanding migraine started in the base of his skull and his eyes started to burn, "run away! Don't let him do this!"

The defiant spark in Barry started to grow brighter and brighter but it was like that spark was trapped inside a large, cold, metal cage.

"Any last words, Flash?" The cool barrel was placed an inch away from his temple and he didn't move a muscle, obeying Paul's words.

He didn't have any words to say-he couldn't say, he wasn't allowed to talk. But his eyes focused on one person; they turned to Iris who was watching with tear-filled eyes and a despondent look on her face. She was going to be gone, he would never see her again if he died now if he obeyed this command.

Don't move, don't move, don't move, an overwhelming part of his brain ordered him, but a small and rebellious part of his resisted.

Everything moved in slow motion for Barry. He saw the finger press down on the trigger and the sparks fly as the chamber clicked and released the black and orange bullet. The meta-bullet, oh no, there was definitely no way he would heal from this now.

The spark grew brighter, more demanding, white-hot as every molecule in his body told him to run away. All he could muster was a tilt of his head as the bullet made contact with his skin along with a earth-shattering migraine and stinging eyes that made pouring acid in them seem mild. The bullet pierced his exposed skull dead-on a squirt of blood poured from his wound as the world started to fade. His brain felt like it was exploding and his neck felt disconnected from his body. Barry's eyes began to close and he felt his body go limp, disobeying the commands of his master and his central nervous system. There were screeching sounds like screams from down below as his head hit the roof and he was out.

Chapter 10 will be released soon!