In case some of you have noticed, or not, Wally and Jesse's names have been removed from the summary. I've noticed that I haven't written much about them, but to tell you the truth, I only used their names to keep the solution of the "Crystal Frost" mystery from being spoiled. Although, since it was pretty much obvious who Crystal Frost is in this story, I thought I might as well add her name to the list above. If there if a 4th character vital to this story, it's Lisa Snart/Golden Glider.

Leave a review after reading, please.

Special thanks to jessicabiggs16, Steve993, NeoTyson, and Guest for reviewing the previous chapter.

Tracy Brand is almost finished with the Speed Force trap for Savitar. However, there is one problem. The Speed Force Bazooka needs 3.86 terajoules of energy in order to trap Savitar in the Speed Force. Cisco spends his time in the lab twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, looking for a power source to power the Speed Force Bazooka, to no avail.

Seconds ticked by. Hours passed by quickly. The days come and go in the blink of an eye.

While Team Flash is equally focused on stopping Savitar and saving the one person who has been helping Barry cope with his grief, Barry is more focused on saving said person than stopping Savitar, especially since he is the only one of the team who knows Crystal Frost's true identity.

Meanwhile, Wally and Jesse continue trying to regain control of Central City from the Rogues. With Lisa Snart operating in behind the scenes because Caitlin told her to, it was slightly harder for the Rogues to keep the speedsters in check. Fortunately for them, Lisa has a wild card. Her name is Black Siren. On October 16, Black Siren hits Jesse Quick with her sonic scream, causing her to crash into an unstable building. Kid Flash saves her, but not before half the building comes down on her.

According to Crystal Frost, it will take, hopefully, a week for Jesse's wounds to recover, so long as she stays in bed. Until then, Team Flash is down to two speedsters.

October 22, 2017
11:57 PM

Caitlin Snow couldn't sleep. With the knowledge that her death at the hands of Savitar comes in twenty-four hours, she couldn't rest peacefully tonight. So, she stayed up and reads a novel called Story of Your Life. It was one of her favorite books. She even watched the movie based on the book, which was called Arrival. She loved it as well.

Her reading was interrupted by a knock on the door. It was Barry, holding two cups of coffee.

"Isn't it a little too late for coffee?" said Caitlin.

"Coffee. Pretty much the drink of our lives," commented Barry.

"Come in, then," said Caitlin.

The two sit down on the couch and drink coffee together.

"So, any luck?" asked Caitlin, referring to Cisco's search for a power source.

"Not as much as the last three weeks," said Barry.

"I'm not scared, Barry," said Caitlin.

"But I am," said Barry. "I just got you back, and now... soon... I have to face the possibility that I might lose you again."

"What happened to the optimistic Barry Allen I knew?" asked Caitlin. "Did I take that away from you permanently?"

"Of course I'm still holding on to hope," said Barry. "But that doesn't mean I don't have to scared. I should be. And I am."

"You'll find a way, Barry. You always do," said Caitlin. "I trust you with my life, you know that."

"I guess after everything you... Killer Frost... put me through, it's hard to feel completely hopeful," said Barry.

"I still can't believe you're still referring to Killer Frost as if she's not me," said Catilin. "Barry, she 'is' me."

"You would never want to kill me or Iris," said Barry.

"Is this your way of coping?" asked Caitlin.

"No," said Barry. "I'm just seeing the way I always see things."

"You haven't told anyone, have you?" asked Caitlin.

"No, I haven't" said Barry honestly.

"Good," said Caitlin.

"Have you decided if you want to stay or leave?" asked Barry.

"I think I'd rather wait until October 24 to make my decision, assuming I live through October 23," said Caitlin.

Barry holds Caitlin's hand. She looks at him. He was wearing a smile on his face.

"I will save you," said Barry. "I'll do whatever it takes."

Caitlin didn't know if she was hallucinating or not, but she can see Barry slowly leaning towards her. She was about to back away, until his lips met hers. She didn't retreat. After their lips parted, Caitlin looked more confused than ever in her life.

"What was that for?" asked Caitlin.

"That was my way of saying, well, what I told you back at S.T.A.R. Labs was no lie," said Barry.

Caitlin wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say. She blinks rapidly, trying to see if she was dreaming. She can still see Barry right in front of her with a smile on his face. He just kissed the woman who killed the girl he loved, she thought. Why would he do that?

"I think you should go," said Caitlin.

"What?" asked Barry.

"Leave, Barry," insisted Caitlin.

Barry didn't argue and left the house. Caitlin remains sitting on the couch, trying to process what just happened.

At the following morning, Cisco calls Barry, telling him that he found something that could power the Speed Force Bazooka. It was at A.R.G.U.S. They contacted Lyla and asked her to meet with them. They arrived to see Lyla standing outside the building, waiting for them.

"Any reason why we can't talk inside?" asked Cisco.

"Every square inch of that building is bugged," said Lyla. "It's better to talk out here

"Well, I love the breeze," commented Cisco.

"But you're gonna have to run me through what you need again," said Lyla.

"Okay, so, uh, you know that Savitar's back, right?" started Cisco.

"Yes, Cisco, I'm aware that A.R.G.U.S. is missing a metal suit of armor that belongs to someone with that alias," said Lyla sarcastically.

"Well, we found a way to stop him," said Cisco. "We're building this bazooka."

"In order to power it, we need something extremely powerful," said Barry.

"So, I programmed our satellite to look for something that has our specific energy requirements," said Cisco. "And, wouldn't you know, we found what we need. It's right there in your building."

"I don't think you should be spying on me, Cisco," said Lyla.

"Is it spying if we're friends?" asked Cisco.

"But he's right, isn't he? You have something in there, don't you?" asked Barry.

Lyla was silent for a few seconds before she spoke. "It's a power source from the unidentified flying vessel found two months ago."

"The alien spaceship that crashed outside Central City?" asked Cisco.

"Yes," comfirmed Lyla.

"Any reason A.R.G.U.S. hasn't warned us of an invasion?" asked Cisco.

"The ship was empty," said Lyla.

"Oh," reacted Cisco.

"But it's powerful, right? Something along the lines of... 3.86 terajoules of energy?" asked Barry.

"3.91, in fact," said Lyla.

Barry smiles, feeling his hopes lifting.

"You can't have it, Barry," said Lyla.

Barry's smile drops.

"Why?" he asked. "Is this because of baby Sara?"

Lyla's slack-jawed expression is a clear "yes" to Barry.

"Look, I'll admit, it's been hard not to wonder what it would've been like to have a daughter instead of a son," said Lyla. "But this is less about what happened than why it happened."

"I made a big mistake," said Barry.

"Exactly my concern," said Lyla. "This is the kind of technology that wars are fought over. If it gets into the wrong hands, people will die. And frankly, I don't know if I can trust you to have it."

"Director Michaels," a military general called.

"I got to go," said Lyla to Barry and Cisco.

"Lyla, if we don't use this, Savitar will kill someone I care about. Tonight," said Barry, pleading Lyla to change her mind.

Lyla seemed moved, but her words sounded the opposite.

"I'm sorry, Barry," she said.

Back at Mercury Labs...

"Are you serious?" asked Joe.

"Yeah," said Barry. "If Lyla won't let us have the alien technology, then Wally and I will break into A.R.G.U.S. and we're gonna steal it. Wally and I will phase through the walls. We'll be in and out before anyone even gets off a shot."

"Uh-uh, no you won't," said Cisco.

"What?" asked Barry.

Cisco shows an image of a device he scanned within A.R.G.U.S., via satellite.

"What is that?" asked H.R.

"A metahuman power dampener," answered Cisco. "It's all over the building, so, well, you know."

"There goes that plan," said Wally sarcastically.

"Guys, I have a suggestion," said H.R. "Why don't we put Ms. Frost on a plane to Paris or..."

"There's nowhere on Earth that Savitar wouldn't find her," said Barry. "This alien technology is the only thing that can power the Speed Force Bazooka. We don't have another option."

"Barry, we're talking about A.R.G.U.S.," reminded Wally. "Think of the Pentagon's security times a hundred, plus power-dampening tech. How are we gonna be able to steal the tech?"

Cisco shows the blueprint of A.R.G.U.S. Headquarters' interior. He enumerates the kind of security they're dealing with. "Surveillance cameras. Eye scans. Palm prints. Heat sensors. Laser sensors," he said.

"They really thought of everything," commented H.R.

"And that's just the first floor," added Cisco.

"So, you're saying this is the most fortified structure in the history of fortified structures, they can't use their superpowers, and we have less than 14 hours to steal the thing?" asked Joe, recapping every problem they're facing.

"And none of us are experts in the art of theft," added Crystal. "I have to turn myself over."

"No, Crystal, you can't," said Barry.

"I'm just a psychologist from next door, Barry. I'm nothing to you," said Crystal.

"No, you are something to me," said Barry. "You're not just a girl who is helping me move on from Iris' death. You're my friend. I'm not turning my back on you."

H.R. whispers to Cisco, "If you ask me, he's moved on already. Can you see the love in those eyes?"

"Not now," whispered Cisco.

"I'm gonna call Felicity," said Barry, grabbing his phone.

"Why?" asked Joe.

"I need her to send a message to someone," said Barry.

Barry leaves the lab as he calls Felicity.

Barry, wearing his Flash suit, runs to a forest located miles away from Keystone. He arrives just in time to see the Waverider appear in the sky. It lands in a wide-open space in the forest, close to where Barry is standing. The cargo bay door opens and two individuals come out of the time ship. They were Sara Lance and Leonard Snart.

"Hey, guys," greeted Barry.

"Hey, Barry," greeted Sara, giving Barry a hug. "Good to see you back in red."

"Don't expect a hug from me, though," said Leonard.

"Good to see you too, Leonard," said Barry.

"We got Felicity's message," said Sara. "What do you need?"

"I need Snart to hlep me with a mission," said Barry.

"I'm already on a mission," said Leonard. "I assume you've heard about Jurassic Park in Los Angeles. Well, that kind of temporal mess is everywhere."

"This won't take long," said Barry.

"Why exactly me, and why only me, Allen?" asked Leonard.

"Well, you have a... particular set of skills," said Barry.

"Great movie," commented Leonard, referring to Taken. "Why exactly do you need my expertise in thievery?"

Barry scratches the back of his head, trying to find the right words in order to explain the situation.

"Sometime today, Flash," said an impatient Leonard.

"We need to break into A.R.G.U.S. and steal an alien power source," answered Barry.

"The Flash, a thief, hmm?" Leonard smirked. "That's my kind of mission. One condition: my rules."

"Your rules," agreed Barry.

"Mind explaining why the Flash, all of a sudden, decided to become a thief," asked Sara.

"Savitar's back," said Barry.

Sara responds with a shocked look on her face.

"He's going to kill someone love at midnight. The trap we're building for him, it's in A.R.G.U.S.," said Barry.

"And considering the fact that you're planning to steal this power source, I assume Lyla said no on giving it to you," guessed Sara.

Barry nods.

"If Savitar's back, then we're staying," said Sara.

"No. No, you can't," said Barry. "I don't need any more deaths on my conscience. I created Savitar. He's my mess to clean. I just need Leonard's help in stealing the one thing that can stop him."

"Just be sure you bring him back in one piece," said Sara.

"No problem," said Barry. He sees a ring on Sara's finger and says, "Congratulations."

Sara looks at the ring on her finger and smiles at Leonard, who smiles back at her.

"You should've seen the way he proposed," said Sara. "It was so... him."

"You guys planning the wedding yet?" asked Barry.

"As soon as we're finished repairing every crack in the time, we will," said Leonard.

Back at Mercury Labs, Team Flash just relaxed while they wait for Barry to return. The only one who isn't relaxing are Cisco and H.R. H.R., because he keeps going on about his plan of putting Crystal on a plane to escape from Savitar. Cisco, because he is the person H.R. is discussing his plan with.

"I know we don't have a plane. We steal a plane. We'll put it back, all right? Then we parachute out of the plane, and land on the roof, gotta land on the right roof, and then, whoosh, right down air ducts Mission: Improbable style. Easy," said H.R., spreading his arms like the wings of a plane.

"Easy? What about the counter-terrorism missiles?" Cisco pointed out.

"Whaaat?" H.R. was confused.

Barry returns to the lab with Leonard Snart.

"Hello, Joe. Cisco. H.R. Wally," greeted Leonard. He then lays his eyes on the girl who looks like the one who killed his partner in crime. "And you must be Crystal Frost, Barry's friend/psychologist with a prophecy of death hanging over her head. Name's a bit of a coincidence, isn't it?"

"Yeah, pretty much," said Crystal.

"And where's Kid Flash's girlfriend?" asked Leonard.

"In the medical bay," answered Wally.

"My apologies," replied Leonard with sincere sympathy.

"Snart, what the hell are you doing here?" asked Joe.

"Snart's gonna help me break into A.R.G.U.S. and get the power source," answered Barry.

H.R. started spluttering, baffled by Leonard's presence and the reason for his presence. "Huh?" he asked.

"Awkward," replied Leonard. "If anyone needs me, I'll be busy planning our heist. Ms. Frost, mind accompanying me?"

"Um, sure," said Crystal.

Leonard leaves the lab with Crystal.

"Barry, are you sure about this?" asked Wally.

"Snart's not a criminal anymore," said Barry.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean he's all of a sudden the humble Mayor Snart of Earth-2," said Cisco.

"Snart's a mayor on Earth-2?" asked Joe.

"Yeah, I watched the news while we were there," said Cisco.

Leonard called Team Flash to the other lab as soon as he was. He had the blueprints of A.R.G.U.S. Headquarters pasted on a glassboard.

"My guess is that the power source is most likely 'here'," said Leonard, pointing at the lowest floor.

"Why there?" asked Joe.

"Because it's the deepest part of the facility," answered Leonard. "If it's as valuable as you say it is, then the deepest recesses of any facility are usually the most secure."

"Smart, Snart," replied Cisco. He started laughing at his own joke.

No one was amused, including Leonard.

"I'm gonna, uh, keep trying to hack in A.R.G.U.S. systems," said Cisco, removing himself from the awkward moment.

"Now, there are four rules you need to remember," said Leonard. "Make the plan. Execute the plan. Expect the plan to go off the rails. Throw away the plan."

"Just one thing, though. Do you have a plan for how to get in?" asked Joe.

"As a matter of fact, I do have one," said Leonard.

"What is it?" asked Barry.

"We use me."

The chilling voice came from who appears to be Killer Frost, standing by the door. Haunted his past memories triggered by the sight of her, Barry runs towards her and pins her to the wall, his arm pressed against her throat.

"Barry!" Leonard shouted.

The woman pulls off her white wig, revealing herself to be Crystal Frost. Barry releases her, feeling ashamed of what he did. The others sighed with relief, glad to know that the white-haired woman wasn't who they thought it was.

Crystal had applied make-up to make her lips blue and her skin a bit more pale. She wore icy white contact lenses to make her eyes appear like they're glowing. She was able to mimic Killer Frost's ice-cold voice with a voice modulator.

"Sorry," apologized Barry.

"I suppose I should've knocked first," commented Crystal.

Wally looks at Leonard and asks, "That's you plan? Trick A.R.G.U.S. into believing that Killer Frost is alive?"

"I would've used myself, but I'm an engaged man," said Leonard. "My fiance wouldn't like it if I threw myself back into America's Most Wanted."

"Oh, well, congratulations then," said Wally.

H.R. and Tracy arrive at the lab. Tracy was holding two cups of coffee. When H.R. saw Barry in his Flash suit with his cowl off, he covered Tracy's eyes.

"Uh, Flash, cowl on. We got civilians in the house," said H.R.

"H.R., it's okay. We're trusting Tracy with our lives. We can trust her with my identity," said Barry.

H.R. removes his hands from Tracy's sight. Tracy sees who the Flash really is.

"Oh, uh, hi," greeted Tracy.

"Barry Allen," said the Flash, introducing himself. "I'm Detective West's adoptive son."

"Well, nice to know the real you," said Tracy.

H.R. and Tracy walk along. Joe, Cisco, Wally, and Leonard leave the room. That just leaves Barry and Crystal (or Caitlin) alone together.

"I can't believe you did that," said Caitlin, referring to what happened earlier. "You already know who I really am."

"I'm really sorry," Barry apologized again. "I mean, I knew who you are, yes, but this is the first time I saw all of Killer Frost. Last time 'Crystal' dressed like her, she only put on a white wig."

"Well, Snart's plan is to make me look like the real deal, so 'Crystal Frost' has to really look the part," said Caitlin.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Barry.

"You heard Leonard. He can't just pretend to be a criminal again with him being engaged and all, so someone else has to play the Trojan horse," said Caitlin.

Meanwhile, in the Rogues' warehouse, Lisa was lying down on a rusty old couch while listening to some hip-hop music. The only other person in the room with her is her wild card, Black Siren, who was currently drinking a blackberry smoothie.

"You look bored," said Black Siren.

"Obviously," said Golden Glider. "Good thing today is October 23. Once Savitar is gone, I can finally get out of here."

"True, but you also have to deal with the Flash's inevitable return to Central City," said Black Siren.

"We'll be ready," said Golden Glider.

"No, you won't!"

The familiar voice echoed through the walls. A streak of white lightning zooms in and knocks out Black Siren. It was Savitar.

"Hello, Lisa," greeted Savitar.

"I thought Caitlin got you to leave the city," said Lisa.

"She did, but after weeks of searching, I have come to the realization that I have been fooled again," said Savitar. "After all, why would Caitlin, disguised as you, let a security camera catch you leaving the city unless she wanted me to think you did?"

Savitar grabs Lisa by the throat and holds her against the wall.

"Our business is not yet finished," said Savitar.

"You only have a few more hours before you're gone forever, tin man," said Lisa.

"And so does Caitlin Snow," said Savitar.

Well, what do you think? Leave a review and let me know. Don't hesitate to ask any questions if you have any.