S1, E2: The Aftermath

At S.T.A.R Labs

Cisco and Wally dragged the unconscious body of their newest patient through the labs and finally threw it onto a gurney. They both stretched after doing so, annoyed at how heavy this Meta was despite them being so skinny. Worried what chaos would be unleashed when this guy woke up, Cisco and Wally both grabbed some chains and locked their new patient safely to the bed.

"Guys come on; we need to check you both for injuries." Caitlin wearily called out, she already patched herself up. A few bruises and scratches that thankfully didn't need any stitches.

The atmosphere was different than usual. They had been handed their fair share of defeats, they knew what losing was like and how it affected their morale but this time it was strange. Losing in such a way wasn't normal to say the least, it was weird that their opponent had more powers than usual.

"I'm just going to say it. Today sucked. Okay? What was up with that guy? He had powers! Not one but like multiple, I mean last time I checked we all got one power and like we use it differently like Cisco with his portals and vibe blasts and me with phasing and stuff, but he messed with Frost's head and flew using fire!" Wally exasperatedly vented as his arm was had a disinfectant being applied.

"Maybe he's one of the new Meta's? We did see that a new surge was appearing but how are they appearing?" Harry asked as he disinfected Cisco's cut rather amateurishly causing Cisco some discomfort.

"Well, what do we do now?" Cisco asked pulling away to redress.

"DNA, plus research on this guy. Whoever he is, we need to know about him, and we need to know now. Me and Caitlin will take the DNA sample, you and Wally need to be ready for a late-night Meta call. Get some rest for now." Harry instructed to them, receiving nods in response.

Meanwhile

"I request that you arise Bartholomew. I was beginning to question whether you were dead with how long you were slumbering." A voice harshly called out.

Barry groaned throatily, scrambling to his feet. His body ached. A lot. His eyes felt tired but soon that faded, he was surrounded by whiteness. And in front was himself?

"Wh- Why do you look like me?" He spluttered out, feeling very confused, very sure that it wasn't a mirror "And where am I?" Barry yelled looking around himself.

"Simply put? I'm apart of you. Something that's been here for some time, but you never took notice. This visage is due to my connection with you, and because it may be easier for you to comprehend me in this form. And as for why we're here I haven't the foggiest notion." He concluded looking around "Call me Zarathos." He declared whilst surveying their surroundings.

As Barry slipped up onto his feet, he heard a voice from behind? No- it was next to him- or maybe it was in front? He thought spinning around to see the white room disappear and a simple park to appear in its place.

"Sweetie, welcome. I see you two finally acquainted yourselves, how nice." A familiar voice called out to Barry.

"Mom?" Barry croaked out turning, following the sound of the voice to his mother standing before him.

"Don't fall for the illusion Bartholomew. That is not your mother before us, it's an entity merely posing in her form." Zarathos instructed, warning Barry "What business have you with us?" Roared out Zarathos.

"Now, now. There's no need for such aggression. I have right to speak to my child now don't I Zarathos?" The entity replied softly speaking, "And for someone such as yourself to even be in my presence seems quite off-putting, yet we allow you to stay because you're necessary for the conversation. But don't entertain the notion we will not cast you out during this conversation if you proceed to undermine us." Stated the entity.

"What is happening? Why do you look like my mom? Who are you?" Barry desperately inquired, uncomfortable at the cryptic conversation unfolding, finding himself being torn to shreds but the mere hysterical panic running through him begging to find out what the living heck was happening.

"I've brought you here to warn you, ominous clouds are forming, they are casting shadows, shadows that loom over you Barry. Be careful, be wary of friends and enemies. They are two sides to the same coin; so, you must find out who is gold and who is gold plated. Nothing is as it seems, so look carefully." The spirit cryptically explained to Barry, their voice strained and hesitant when explaining as if something prevented them from directly telling Barry the truth.

"What the fuck does that mean?!" Zarathos yelled, frustration etched on his face as he struggled to compose himself. The message itself was understandable but told nothing of what was to come, it was worrying and annoying. Very annoying.

"You must leave now. Run Barry, Run!" The Spirit yelled, though the voice loud as it was faded out slowly as the surroundings burst forth with a deafening light.

He writhed against the chain, feeling too distressed to figure out what to do and instead opted to panic and cause a ruckus. But that didn't last long as a few faces soon appeared. They seem shocked, surprised and distant.

Barry was jostling before he leapt up, the lights blinded him, music that seemed elongated and echoey was discordant, almost alien to him. If it hadn't been for the chains restricting him, keeping him tied to the gurney he may just have fallen onto the floor. He breathed heavily, beads of sweat trailing from his forehead to his messy hair making them stick ever so close to his face. He struggled to understand anything that happened. He couldn't help but shake the doubt, the doubt that said it wasn't real. It felt too damn surreal to be a just a dream.

"Oh my God!" A voice yelled in surprise.

"Where am I?" Barry asked hoarsely to the strangers.

"He's up." Chimed in another voice.

"Dr Wells get down to the cortex like right now." The previously surprised voice said.

Only now was Barry able to gather his bearings, he was in a strange place with two people watching him. One of them was holding a phone, that seemed to be on an outgoing call while the other was currently shining a light into his eyes, muttering medical assumptions. The light singed his eyes, forcing him to blink repeatedly. Unable to quell his fight or flight instinct, Barry began writhing against the chains using as much of his strength as he could to break free.

"Look at me. Look at me." The supposed doctor stern voice instructed to Barry, her tone d ever so subtly but sadly failing to make him comply.

"Hey, hey, whoa whoa relax. Everything's okay man, you're at S.T.A.R Labs." A voice calmly told him, Barry slowed down at the new information. Looked away from the light, the doctor that was shining it seemed to retract the torch upon the new person's arrival.

"S.T.A.R Labs? Wh- Who are you?" He asked incredulously, his face contorting slightly at the idea of being held inside a famous research laboratory just before it paled slightly as he began to conjure thoughts that frightened him making him fear the worst.

"I'm Cisco Ramon. She's Caitlin- Dr. Snow." Cisco informed, stopping suddenly only to correct himself. Caitlin wasn't doing great as of late, it seemed anything that made her seem human like her own name she refused to acknowledge. She retreated to her work, only resting when Frost seemed to want to appear, which seemed to happen more often as of late. Maybe Frost is popping up more because she wants Caitlin to rest mused Cisco. As Cisco was informing Barry, Cait- was still busy running rudimentary tests on Barry, taking some readings and inspecting his ears to which Barry put up no more resistance.

Cisco gave a nod to Caitlin, the signal to move away as Cisco creeped forward. He was hesitant to unlock the chains, this man although he didn't know it, is a threat and currently could be acting as a ploy to trick them. Cisco looked into Barry's eyes, something about him seemed a bit too genuine and against his doubts, he unlocked the chains. He freed Barry.

Cisco began unchaining Barry, he needed Barry's trust. Now was a good a time as any to begin earning it. Barry as best as he could slumped the chains off his shirtless body. Bangs, Booms and Blink's peppered the air as the cold chain and cold chain links contorted and grinded amongst themselves and the surrounding whilst Barry and Cisco worked to remove the chains and throw them to the floor.

Free from the chains tight grasp Barry sat up to stand, the sudden weight shift caused his knees to buckle thrusting him into Cisco.

"I need you to pee in this." Dr Snow abruptly mentioned as she shoved a specimen cup into Barry's face.

"Not this second." Cisco stressed pulling the cup away from Caitlin to which he received a disgruntled look.

"What is happening? What is going on?" Barry squeaked out frantically, pushing out of Cisco's and Caitlin's way to a less crowded area.

"You were struck… in the back by an energy rifle blast…" Cisco slowly said, worried how Barry would react but simultaneously worried about the risk of Barry lashing out.

"Your body should have scar tissues, burns hell! You should be dead." Caitlin began explaining as he began feeling Barry's back "But instead they're in a chronic state of cellular regeneration."

"I was shot?! How am I alive?!" He yelled, asking them both with a look of disbelief etched onto his face.

"Come here. Have a seat." Cisco said, gently moving Barry to sit on the gurney.

Cisco grabbed a nearby remote and pressed a button. Barry turned around to see a few images, they were of him, more specifically his back. The images flicked across the screen, time snapshots showing what looked initially like severe second- possibly third degree burns that healed in just a few hours. No burns. No scar tissues.

"You were in a coma." Cisco softly said.

"H-How?! Why?!" Screamed Barry, his hands clutching his head before he flung them to point at the screen. How was he shot? Why was he shot? How did he heal so quick? Cisco's last words dawned on him; he was in a coma…. "For how long?" He hoarsely inquired.

"For 9 months." A voice stated.

Barry's head snapped to the direction of the voice; he recognized it as Harrison Wells. But supposedly Harrison Wells had been crippled when the particle accelerator exploded, yet here he was standing warily in front of them all.

"Welcome back, Mr Allen. We have a lot to discuss." Wells slowly and lowly enunciated, his eyes never leaving Barry. Something about his presence currently invoked a sense of fear. He was to be feared, without a doubt.

AN: So! How did you guys find it? I haven't checked over this yet but I'll be giving it a re-read soon but I couldn't wait to release episode 2 and 3. Once again I don't own the Flash nor do I own Ghost Rider, or anything else within this fanfiction.