It's time to put more focus on Savitar. Believe me, I'm not gonna follow the canon storyline exactly how it went down.
Leave a review after reading, please.
Special thanks to Steve993, NeoTyson, Superior Tennyson, and godspeed 251 for reviewing the previous chapter.
Savitar paces around the warehouse, keeping his eye on Barry.
"What do you want to talk about?" asked Savitar.
"You remember me talking to Caitlin last night. You must've figured out why I'm here," said Barry.
"You want to help me," said Savitar. "You're wasting your time. Look, Barry, if I wanted to talk to myself, I could've done it back in my lair."
"Caitlin Snow worked with you. Crystal Frost saw your pain. She knows that you're not completely lost," said Barry. "Even I can see it, when you first revealed yourself to me."
"You wouldn't understand my pain unless you've been through what I have," said Barry.
"I may not know how much pain you're suffering, but I know what it feels like," said Barry. "I lost my parents. Friends. Iris."
"I'll give Caitlin credit. Whats he did to you, far worse than what I had originally planned," said Savitar.
"You must feel really proud of her," replied Barry with a pinch of sarcasm.
"Too bad she's gone soft," said Savitar. "She could've been a goddess, feared by all."
"Why'd you reveal the truth about Crystal Frost?" asked Barry.
"I think it's obvious," said Savitar.
"But I want to hear it from you," said Barry.
"I remember how you felt when she died, or at least when you thought she did," said Savitar. "It's more than just grief. You felt like you failed her because you couldn't save her."
"And that's why you want to kill her?" asked Barry. "Because you want to feel like I failed her again?"
"You'll figure out on October 23rd," said Savitar.
"I can't let that happen," said Barry. "I came here to help you, and I will."
"And what makes you think I'm redeemable?" asked Savitar.
"Because you're me," said Barry. "I know myself and I know that no matter how far into the darkness I've been dragged to, I'm never lost. My future self seemed broken beyond recovery, having lost almost everyone he cared about, but in the end, he chose to become the Flash again. If I can recover from that much pain, you can to."
"And what makes you think I can trust you?" asked Savitar.
"Like I said, you're not completely lost," said Barry. "Deep down, beneath the scars and the pain, that part of you must still remember what it's like to have family, to have friends. You can have all that back. If you're just gonna keep trying to be a God, then you'll always be lonely. We both know you don't want that."
Savitar looks away from Barry, refusing to listen to him any further.
Barry decided to take a different approach.
"I remember when I was 6 and I begged Mom and Dad to take me to the Science Expo in Midway," started Barry. "We got a flat tire on that dirt road, no spare, so we were towed to that garage in a tiny, little one-street town. Of course, we were stuck there all day. Then we got ice cream and french fries with gravy at that little diner. And then that night, we watched the local fireworks show. It actually turned out to be a great thing. It's my favorite memory of Mom and Dad."
As he listened, Savitar began flashing back to that very day. Instead of feeling the pain of missing his parents, he felt something else. Reliving that memory was giving him a warm feeling inside. He remembered how happy he was that day, how much he enjoyed spending time with his parents, how much he loved them. Barry can see it in his eyes.
"What was the name of that town?" asked Barry, trying to make sure Savitar remembers.
"Masonville," answered Savitar.
"I'm still in there," said Barry, smiling.
Later that evening, Barry and Savitar arrive back at S.T.A.R. Labs, or what's left of it. Waiting for them there was Caitlin. She turns around as soon as she felt a gust of wind blow behind her. At first sight of Savitar, Caitlin felt a little uneasy, especially since he was planning to kill her. But instead of keeping her distance, she walks towards him. She slowly reaches for him and gently lays her hand on the scarred half of his face.
"Hey," she greeted him.
"Hey," greeted Savitar softly. "Why are we here?"
"I thought the three of us should meet somewhere familiar," said Barry. "Baby steps. When you're ready to accept our help, we can take you to see the rest of Team Flash."
"And you think this is the right first step towards my redemption?" questioned Savitar. "The city I love in flames."
"I'm really sorry about that," said Caitlin.
"Maybe, but it doesn't matter," said Savitar. "I didn't want to destroy Central City. I just wanted Barry to suffer, to become me in the event my ascension doesn't come through."
"I'm no mere lackey, Barry," said Caitlin.
"My name is not Barry," growled Savitar.
"Hey, calm down, both of you," said Barry, standing in between his friend and his future self. "Look, I know you both have reasons to dislike each other, but let's not forget why we're here."
Caitlin and Savitar avoid eye contact as they tried to relax.
The three of them walked towards the rubble that was once S.T.A.R. Labs.
"I remember," said Savitar. "When I discovered that my powers came from the particle accelerator, I came to Dr. Harrison Wells for help."
"You two worked together?" asked Caitlin.
"More than. We were friends," said Savitar.. "He was like a third father to me."
"What about Cisco and Caitlin? We're they there?" asked Barry.
"No," said Savitar. "In my timeline, Cisco Ramon and Caitlin Snow never worked in S.T.A.R. Labs. Cisco ended up working for Kord Industries. Caitlin, well, she worked as biochemist for Mercury Labs."
"There's something else, isn't there?" asked Caitlin. "I can hear it in your voice. Did we still know each other?"
Savitar looked at Caitlin.
"You were 'her'," said Savitar. "Killer Frost. You were affected by the particle accelerator. We were enemies."
"What was I like before?" asked Caitlin.
"The same, really," said Savitar. "You were powerful. Dangerous. Smart. You always plan ahead. Every time we fight, someone ends up dying. But I had Wells and my wife to help me conquer my guilt."
"Iris," guessed Barry.
"You saw the article," said Savitar. "She was my world." He looks at Caitlin with slight anger. "And you took her away from me."
"There are no words to make up for what I did," said Caitlin.
"I remember that day," said Savitar. "I was on my knees. Powerless. Helpless. You forced me to tell you how much Iris meant to me. Then you drove a shard of ice through her heart and made sure I saw it."
Caitlin hangs her head with sorrow and regret as her mind flashed back to that horrific day.
"I know that wasn't really me," said Savitar. "But I can still feel the pain from that day. I can't shake it off. Every time I think of Iris, I think about you and what you did."
"Hey, look at me," said Barry.
Savitar turns his attention to Barry.
"She took her away from me too," said Barry.
"And yet, your anger for her didn't last long," said Savitar. "Why is that?"
"Because she was... is... my friend," said Barry. "What she did is impossible to forgive, but now that she's back, I get a second chance."
"And you deserve a second chance too," said Caitlin to Savitar. "But only if you let us help you."
Savitar walks towards the damaged sign that says "S.T.A.R. Labs" and puts his hand on it. Barry and Caitlin can tell that he reminiscing the old days where he was once the Flash.
"So, how are we gonna do this?" asked Savitar. "Where would I live?"
"What?" asked Barry, surprised by the question.
"Are Wally and I gonna be bunkmates?" asked Savitar. "Am I supposed to join Team Flash, fight some rogues, be a hero?"
"We haven't thought that far yet," said Barry. "But if you let us help you, we'll figure it out together."
"No," said Savitar. "Not together."
"What do you mean?" asked Caitlin.
"You really haven't figured it out, Barry?" asked Savitar.
"Figured out what?" asked Barry.
Savitar chuckles.
"What's so funny?" asked Caitlin.
"So caught up on Iris and Linda and Patty and Kara and Felicity, that you never see what's in front of you," continued Savitar, looking at Barry and then back at Caitlin. "I know I'm not your Barry, but I remember meeting you at S.T.A.R. Labs after I woke up, going into the pipeline with you, singing with you... falling in love with you. And you're gonna spend the rest of your life with..." Savitar points at Barry. "... him."
Caitlin looks at Barry, who looks at her as well.
"Why are you telling me this?" Barry asked Savitar.
"Because unlike you, I can't ignore the feeling," said Savitar.
"Savi... Barry, I can see how this is difficult for you, but we're serious about helping you," said Caitlin. "You don't have to be a God. You can have a family once again. You can be happy."
Savitar looks at Barry and says, "What about the Speed Force trap? Tracy Brand worked so hard on it, and yet, here you are, telling the person the device is designed for that he doesn't have to keep wallowing in the darkness. If you really want to hep me, you'd take it apart."
"As much as I want to, I can't," said Barry. "We both need to know if you're all-in first."
"Can't say I blame you," said Savitar.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Central City, Black Siren was holding Savitar's blade in her hands. A force was pulling her somewhere. She just followed it. The blade pulls her towards an abandoned warehouse. Inside, she finds an old friend, tied up in the corner of the room.
"Someone looks worse for wear," she said.
Lisa turns around and sees Laurel.
"Hey, Lance," greeted Lisa.
"Snart," greeted Laurel.
Laurel uses Savitar's blade to cut the ropes, freeing Lisa.
"What are you doing here?" asked Lisa.
"Frosty sent me," answered Laurel.
"Snow?" guessed Lisa.
"Yup," said Laurel.
"Why?" asked Lisa.
"She and Flash are keeping Savitar busy, so someone had to come here and save you," said Laurel.
"And you agreed to this?" asked Lisa.
"Not at first," said Laurel. "She's gone soft and I didn't want to be part of her 'path to redemption'. But then she made me an offer."
"What offer?" asked Lisa.
"Let's talk after we get out of here," said Laurel.
Suddenly, the blade flies out of Laurel's hand and reattaches to Savitar's armor.
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs, Savitar flinched and looked away from Barry and Caitlin.
"Something wrong?" asked Caitlin.
"My armor," said Savitar. "It's complete."
"What?" asked Barry.
"The blade you cut off, it's returned," said Savitar. "My armor is whole once again, but how?"
Savitar looks at Caitlin, who looked like she was hiding something. He immediately leaves, using his super speed.
Savitar arrives at the warehouse he operates in. He can see his armor, still hanging from its chains. He looks at the corner where Lisa was tied up and sees that she's not there anymore. All that's left was the rope.
Savitar lets out a scream of frustration.
Savitar returns to S.T.A.R. Labs, wearing his armor, only to see that Barry and Caitlin are no longer there. He then runs towards Keystone City. Before he can enter the streets, he saw the Flash coming towards him. Flash was about to punch Savitar, but the God of Speed grabs him by the throat and slams him to the ground.
"Caitlin tricked me," said Savitar angrily.
"And you think I knew?" asked Flash.
"No, you didn't," said Savitar. "If you did, I would know, but I didn't."
"What did she do?" asked Flash.
"She took advantage of your plan. Golden Glider is free," said Savitar.
"You held her prisoner?" asked Flash.
"It doesn't matter," said Savitar. "I will find her again."
"Why do you need her?" asked Flash.
"That's my business," said Savitar.
"I meant what I said when I said I wanted to help you," said Flash.
"I don't care," said Savitar. "This is the last time Caitlin has made a fool out of me. When the time comes, she will die, and I will make sure you watch."
Savitar throws Flash towards a rusty old trailer before running off.
All Flash can think about now is talking to Caitlin about the stunt she pulled.
If you're asking, "Why did I move the 'helping Savitar' part BEFORE the Speed Force trap was complete?", my answer is that it's part of my tinkering with the final episodes of Season 3. The Savitar storyline will be both familiar and different in this story.
Plus, while I enjoyed the finale, I kinda thought the "helping Savitar redeem himself" part was long overdue. I thought I'd push it a little earlier. I'll leave you to figure out why.