Flashpoint Mayhem

by TrueHorror88

Another victory for the team, yet someone was unable to celebrate that and chose to make a world-shaking decision. Barry saved his mother from death, changing his past and his present, but it also affected others without him knowing. Seth and his family are just as affected, maybe more. The team faces newer threats, but they're not new to the Lethal Protector. They're threats.

16. Chapter 16: Dead Or Alive

Hey you all folks

Back again with another bedtime story for you. Great to see all your messages and reviews, love them!

Now to answer some Reviews:

rubeneliasrivera: Hey Rube, glad to hear you love the story. I understand why you feel this way about the Eliza-Joan relationship, but I will make it clearer in the upcoming chapters. It's my fault for making it seem forced, and for that I apologize. And analyzing stories or anything for that matter, means you like it.

hunter41963801: It'd make sense for the Superman & Lois to be set on another Earth, seeing as their kids are teenagers and none of the other CW heroes were involved when Ally Allston merged two Earths. A reaction to their meeting will be seen in this chapter.

Ka4tyna27: Glad to know you loved the Grievous line, really wanted that in the previous chapter. How Ruby is now here instead of Reuben affects Frankie's life will show itself in the later chapters, spoiler. Whether or not Reign is gonna reveal herself, is unclear at the moment. But know this, each Earth has their own varieties. One Earth might have Reign, another may not. Who knows what the future might hold. We can agree Caitlin's got a good pair of hands that can pull her out of a foxhole, don't you think? Glad to hear you're keeping the story close to heart.

guest: Thanks my friend, glad to hear. Only time will tell, right?

Ka4tyna27: I like your ideas. Please do write them to over a PM or two, I will respond immediately!

I'm sorry for the late update, guys. Time's been taken up by loads of things.

And now…

Without further ado…

ENJOY!

Chapter 16: Dead or Alive

Villains and criminals are often compared to cockroaches and insects. There are numerous reasons for that comparison. But the main one is always that they tend to hide in dark places. And in Central City, there is no shortage of any dark places for criminals to hang out and fester.

And it was one of these dark places that Eliza was walking down, being led by Rajeet Kumar.

"You said one of your friends might be of use?" Eliza inquired, the alleyway around them filled with trash cans that are filled to the brim with empty beer bottles. "And where are we gonna find your friend?"

"Ever heard of "Dark Side Bar"?" Rajeet looked over his shoulder.

That name made the lightning-symbiote bearer raise an eyebrow. "Dive bar for the not-so-good hearted folks of Central City. Drinks are outrageously high, and trouble here is practically good for business. Thought CCPD closed down the bar a while back."

"Load of bull." Rajeet exclaimed, breaking a bottle under his foot with ease. "I've been in jail the entire time and I know it's still around."

"So what? You wanna buy me a drink or something? Celebrate you becoming part of my team or something?" She questioned mockingly.

"Think I'm drink-worthy?" He chuckled. "But no that's not why I'm dragging you this way, Ellie. The second member I have in mind is a friend, might be good if you accept him."

"Got a name for him?" Eliza asked.

"Joey Rose." Rajeet answered. "He and I used to run in the same crew a while back, but we both called it quits sometime after. He's been working at this joint ever since. Figured he'd want an upgrade and blow this popsicle stand. We're here." He nodded to the bar entrance, a sign over the door.

"What makes you so sure of that?" Eliza asked with crossed arms.

Before either of them could even make a move towards the door, the entire entrance itself was launched off. The door and the doorframe hit the opposite street wall, the pieces of wood scattering everywhere and sending splinters in all directions. Along with the door pieces falling to the ground, the body of a middle-aged man also fell to the ground completely limp and lifeless.

The man didn't have a single bruise on his face, but Eliza and Rajeet quickly deduced that whatever launched him and the door into the wall led to the impact that made the man lose his place in the living plane.

"That guy ruined my mood."

Rajeet smiled. "There he is."

Eliza's eyes widened as a man practically forced his way out of the wrecked entrance. Though to call him a man seemed off the mark, the man bearing the hulking form of a titan. He is bald and has ghastly white skin, as though he's never been exposed to sunlight. Only color on his face is his red eyebrows. He's clad in torn black pants with a brown belt. His torso is covered by a blue shirt with multiple tears. Raising a fist to his face, the humongous man wiped his nose clean off blood with the rusty blood-stained brass knuckle.

Just by a single glance at that fist and his other one, Eliza was inwardly shocked by how heavily bruised his fists are.

What else stood out is the side of his right biceps, the words "RAW POWER" spelled in large, bold black letters.

"What's with you and him having tattoos? Sub for best friend bracelets?" Eliza asked Rajeet.

"Tattoos symbolize what we stand for, our ideals and beliefs." He answered strongly. "Mine represent my number of kills and Joey's-"

"They represent my absolute and steadfast believe in "Might makes Right."" Joey Rose turned his face, facing them both with a half smirk. "And absolute raw power…." He clenched his right hand. "It sets the perfect mood."

"Mood?" Eliza raised an eyebrow.

"Just my thing." Joey answered. The muscular man faced his old companion. "It's been a minute, Rajeet. Heard your ass was still rotting in jail until recently."

"Out on good behavior." Rajeet smirked. "Had some help from a friend." He said, pointing a thumb to Eliza.

Joey looked at her. "Oh I know that much. All about the danger and the screams that come with this one. The screams intensify with the bodies she drops. She sets the right kind of mood."

"Fascinating. So, this is the type that'd be called a bruiser." Scream noted.

"Bruiser equals all brawn and no brains." Eliza replied. "You know where this is going, Rose?"

Cracking his fists, Joey stated. "You here to offer me the same prize that busted Rajeet here out of the joint?"

"Rajeet is under the impression that you're looking for new job opportunities and would love to leave this… lovely establishment." Eliza noted the bar entrance as well as the people, regardless of the dead body, continued to enter the building. "Is he right?"

"After seeing the carnage you and my old friend got into, I'm more than happy to join your cause." Joey admitted. "It's the right mood for me."

"Good." Eliza smiled, knowing that this one person was suited for one specific symbiote. She pulled out a sphere, one similar to the one that was used on Rajeet. But this sphere holds a dark-blue symbiote. Like a kid in a candy shop, Joey's eyes lit up immediately. "But… Before I give you this Joey, I need you and Rajeet to do me a favor."

"A favor?" Rajeet asked.

"More like an errand. Don't worry about it, just some… "recruiting", is all." Eliza smiled.

Of course, the kind of recruiting she had in mind wasn't voluntary.

X

(S.T.A.R. Labs)

""The thing they never tell you about fighting villains is that nothing ever stays the same.""

At the console, Caitlin gave the Earth-19 native a sideways glance. Cisco, from his seat, gave a sideways glance with layers of slight annoyance. Julian looked between the team members rapidly.

""The harder you work to take down the bad guys, the more they up their game.""

Caitlin, Cisco and Julian continue to hear H.R. narrating his story. All the while the speedsters and the symbiote-bearers out in the field to take down criminals who're offering and buying high-tech weapons akin to the one that Plunder utilized.

H.R. continued his narrating. ""Fortunately, our team has a secret weapon of its own."" That sentence made the others glance in his direction. "A man of science, a man of action, and that man's name is H.R. Wells. "Look who has a vortex cannon. Ho, ho, ho!" Our hero announced his presence, followed up with a heroic laughter."

The others wondered if such laughter existed. Though they expected H.R.'s laughter to be maniacal at best.

"H.R.? H.R.?" Cisco called out to him, seeing that the heroes are on the move again.

H.R. continued his narrating. ""With a blast from my trusty vortex cannon, I dispatched the miscreant-""

"H.R.!" Cisco said much louder.

"Hey! Yup. Here we are." H.R. assured the team, jumping out of his chair.

Cisco told him. "Barry and Seth need help."

"Yeah, they need help!" Harrison exclaimed.

"Where is Kid Flash?" Caitlin asked him.

"He's on his way!" H.R. discreetly faced away from the team. "Are you on your way? They need you at Keystone Bridge."

Tapping Caitlin's shoulder, Cisco asked. "What about Frankie and the others? Can't they go to Seth's?"

"On their way." Caitlin answered, seeing the screen show her daughters rapidly moving towards their father's location. "Frankie, just to remind you, you're not use-"

"I know, I know! No Scrap Fist, or I'm grounded for life." Frankie answered impatiently.

"Well, that's the gist of it, yeah." Caitlin nodded. "So, don't do it! Also, you got number thirty-one on your chem work wrong."

"Mom! Not now!" Frankie shouted in embarrassment, not liking to be called out on her mistake.

Walking around the console, Julian had to ask in concern and fear. "Surely all your adventures are not this disorganized?"

"As you've already seen, Julian:" Cisco started. "There's a method to the madness, mate, watch and learn."

Caitlin followed the criminals on her screen. "The Electric Gang are split into cars and are headed in two directions, north and east."

"Barry, get the one heading north. You got to cut them off before they reach the freeway!" Cisco instructed the speedster.

"Seth, the one heading east is converging towards a populated area. Stop it before it gets too close." Caitlin told her mate.

X

"On it!" Seth replied, his eyes stuck on the rampantly driving jeep. The elemental kept running on all four like an animal, rushing after the Electric Gang on the street. He leapt from the ground, latching onto the side of a building.

The back window of the jeep was shattered by the two henchmen in the back, allowing them both an option to aim their high-tech rifles at the hero. A blizzard of energy bullets came his way, coming at full speed for the elemental's head.

Seth lashed out both of his arms, turning them into adamantium before launching them both, splitting them into tendrils. The tendrils lashed out, meeting the energy bullets and deflected them, sending them in various directions. As much as he could, he sent the bullets upwards into the sky.

With those bullets away, he retracted his arms. Venom snarled, jumping off the building. Neither of the gunmen could see the mutant, he was out of their field of vision. "Eyes up! Get ready!" One of them shouted, changing the setting of his gun to shoot sound waves.

"Where is that, bastard?!" The other one exclaimed.

PIERCE

The other one in the back didn't get to say anything else as a humongous clawed hand teared through the car roof and wrapped around his head. Even his screams were barely audible when the mutant literally tore him out of the car as though he was nothing more than weed being torn off the ground.

Venom, while standing on the roof of the driving jeep, clenched his other hand and punched the rifle out of the captured criminal's hand. The strike to his hand made the criminal scream, but it was completely muffled as his head was enveloped by the elemental's hand.

"Shut up!" Seth exclaimed, delivering a straight strike into the criminal's stomach and knocking him out. He realized that he was knocked out when the vibrations from his screams stopped emitting. The mutant callously threw him away, sending him into the side of a van. The side of it dented when he was thrown into it.

"Dad, let us take care of the rest." Seth raised an eyebrow when hearing Frankie ask him that.

"Alright." Seth said, jumping off the car. He watched it drive away at full speed. The criminals smiled and flipped him the bird, feeling victorious as they're under the illusion that they've won and outwitted the Lethal Protector easily.

But Venom returned with a smirk, one that was much wider than their smiles. And it continued to grow wider as three shadows passed over his form.

"Fuck!" The criminal in the back exclaimed when seeing the owners of those three shadows making their way to their jeep.

The first of the group is Magenta who's swinging with tendrils lashing out and sticking to buildings around them, allowing her to travel through the open air above the streets. Following behind her is Genysis, who's running on the side of a building at full speed. Eclipse remained on the rooftops, shadowporting from one to another with ease.

Coming to a stop at the edge of the rooftop, Evelyn pulled back an arrow and let her light cover it. Taking aim, she fired off her arrow. When released from her bow, the projectile flew like a blur and pierced into the left front tire.

As air escaped it, Eclipse informed her sisters. "Took out one of the tires. Should come to a stop soon."

"Frankie, Ruby, there's a school bus coming towards the jeep. Stop it before that." Caitlin told her daughters.

Narrowing her eyes, Ruby did indeed see an incoming school bus about to crash into the rampantly driving vehicle. "Genysis!" Turning her eyes downwards she saw Magenta on the ground. "I'll throw you!"

"Got it!" She accepted, jumping off the building and stretched out her arm. Frankie grabbed the outstretched arm and spun around quickly, instantly gathering up momentum. Seth watched from afar, intrigued and impressed by their teamplay. By now Frankie's spinning motion is akin to that of a purple tornado spiraling into being.

Getting enough momentum, Magenta stopped and threw her sister with tremendous force. She was sent flying like a bullet. And in a matter of seconds, Genysis had passed by the criminals' jeep. Using the tongue extending from her collar as an anchor sticking into the ground, she placed herself on the asphalt between the incoming bus and the criminals' vehicle.

Thrusting out her hands to both sides, each one pointing at one of the vehicles, Genysis releases invisible gravitational forces from her palms. Each wave pushes against each vehicle, decreasing their speed. Tires screeching on both sides, each of them slowly coming to a halt.

But the first to come to a stop is the school bus full of screaming high school students. With the innocent civilians coming to a safe stop, Genysis thrust her other hand towards the criminals' car and released another gravitational wave, one that pushes the vehicle down from above. With the gravitational pressure from two different sides, the criminals' car were immediately stopped.

"Damn you!" The remaining three criminals shouted jumping out of their vehicle. Each of them aimed their high-tech weapons at the gravity manipulator.

Dusting off her hands, Ruby gave them a dry look. "You guys really wanna pull something like that?"

"Oh, yeah, why not?" One of them questioned, setting the rifle fire lasers.

She didn't have to say anything, but merely smirked as a familiar purple electrical current coursed under the feet of the criminals who felt their weapons shake uncontrollably. They faced their high-tech rifles which were yanked into the air, all three rifles splitting apart into multiple parts.

The parts circled around in the air over their heads before traveling towards the person behind them. Magenta, with shining eyes, raises her arm and attaches the various pieces to it. The panels that were once on the sides of the weapons stuck to her forearm. The nuzzles attached to her knuckles and the upper receivers embedded on the back of her hand.

Magenta walked ahead, the remaining pieces of the rifles fell and scattered around her feet, till she stood in front of the criminals. One of them growled, reached into his back pocket and pulled out a hunting knife. Rushing towards her, he swung his blade. "Like we're gonna-"

PUNCH

Frankie didn't let him finish, her armored fist slamming into his stomach and knocking the wind out of him immediately. His body went limp and she removed her fist from his stomach. Magenta gave the remaining criminals a deadly glare. "You want the same treatment as your friend?"

The two criminals gave their answer in the form of raising their hands and getting down on their knees.

"That was easy." Genysis admitted.

"We're pros." Magenta showed a thumbs up.

A burst of shadows erupted over the car, and Evelyn fell out of it. She took a seat on the hood. "Mom, we handled it."

"Nice job, honey. Good job girls." Caitlin stated.

With a quick swipe of her tongue, Ruby knocked out the last two criminals. They fell to the ground. Her sisters gave her questioning looks in regard to her actions, to which she answered. "Can't be too careful."

Police cars came their way and immediately went to the downed criminals. "Boys." Magenta greeted them.

"Seriously, thank you!"

The three girls turned their heads to the school bus, where a bunch of football players came out. They all began thanking the heroes for saving their lives. Ruby looked annoyed at the high school students showering them with gratitude and appreciation. Evelyn nor Frankie had the same reaction, they didn't know how to react to the words they're giving them.

"Good job." The players' appreciation stopped immediately when they saw Venom appear behind the three girls. Without even looking at him, his daughters already knew he's emitting an ominous and demonic air around him, strong enough to scare the pants off anyone. Even some of the officers gulped.

He really had a way of keeping strangers, mainly boys, away from his daughters.

X

(S.T.A.R. Labs)

The next day at the facility, almost everyone was there. Cisco, Julian and H.R. were inside of the Cortex with Iris, the four of them awaiting Barry and Wally's arrival. Seth and Caitlin sat in the medbay, talking about the events of last night where they saw their daughters' teamplay.

"The girls are pretty much a team by themselves now." Caitlin admitted, her and her mate facing the computer screen showing their daughters dealing with the runaway car.

"Yeah, no kidding. They're incredible." Seth admitted, crossing his fingers. "Chances are those girls will be the ones to defend the city, and without any help from me or the speedsters."

"Oh I hope not." Caitlin said, leaning her head on Seth's shoulder. "I don't want our daughters to not need us… Though, I do know that will happen at some point."

"Thankfully, we got some time before that's happening." Seth assured her, taking her free hand and kissing the back of it. "But it's good they can fight together like this."

"When they fought Rajeet, that was incredible without a doubt." Caitlin said. "And they gotta keep going at that pace until we've finally stopped Eliza, her symbiote warriors and whatever else is thrown our way. And more importantly…" She looked into the Cortex, glancing at Iris. "Save Iris from her fate."

Seth stroked her hand. "We will, and you will too." He didn't want to remind her of the future fate has in store for her, but it'd be irresponsible to neglect it. Future's full of grim headlines that they have to change. "We're gonna save you both. No matter what the future throws at us."

"Yeah." Caitlin leant back, facing her mate with a serious look.

"What is it?" Seth questioned, seeing the look.

Caitlin started. "I think we should make an archive."

"Archive?" Seth asked.

"An archive with all your elements, the ones we think Eliza's symbiotes have now. We make an archive of that; we can include your elements' weakness and possible countermeasures." Caitlin explained. "This way, we're prepared and able to fight off the symbiotes and whatever elements they might possess.'"

"… Well, as Cisco said during our Lasher encounter, I am the sole expert on the team in all elements, so I think it'd be best for us to dive into a plan like this. So, let's do it, Cait. Let's make an archive." The mutant agreed, kissing her. Caitlin returned the kiss, happy that her mate agreed to this plan.

Hearing excited chuckling from the Cortex, the two separated and looked into it. Both Seth and Caitlin saw Barry and Wally walking into the Cortex, the senior speedster proudly patting the other speedster's back.

"Nice save!" H.R. stated impressively. "Could not have scripted it better myself."

"Thanks." Wally said, shaking hands with his mentor.

Caitlin and Seth returned to the Cortex. "You did good out there, Wally." The elemental stated.

"Thank you, man." Wally said, pointing a finger at Barry. "But Barry did most of the heavy lifting."

"Doubtful." Seth stated, the Scarlet Speedster hanging his head down.

"Yes, bravo, boys." Julian expressed. But then he showed them the screen on his tablet. "Although I did find at least six ways you could've done it more efficiently. Just saying."

The others gave him weird looks, wondering if he really knew how to give a compliment. Wally added. "I mean, the busload of hot cheerleaders seemed to like the way that we did things."

"So you guys got cheerleaders and my daughters got football players." Caitlin noted. "Weird coincidence."

"Speaking of your daughters, Dr. Snow,…" Julian swiped to a new chart, showing the parents. "I found at least nineteen ways for them to have done their job more efficiently."

"Nineteen?!" Seth exclaimed. "Bullshit."

"Actually, no shit." Julian countered smugly.

"We hate this guy already." Seth heard his "other" admit.

Caitlin rolled her eyes. "Be happy our daughters aren't here to hear that; they'd have had some words for you."

"Where are they?" Iris questioned, finding it strange that none of their children are amongst them at the moment.

Sheepishly, Caitlin scratched the back of her neck. "Frankie has to do make-up assignments to catch up on missing classes, Evelyn stole from their chemistry teacher, again, and Ruby may have been a little too rough on one of the boys in P.E."

"So make-up work for one daughter, detention for the others. Life's never boring with them, is it?" Iris quipped, and Caitlin nervously and sheepishly nodded her agreement.

"This is all good, it's all going in the book." H.R. commented. "You know what, I'm running low. Let me buy you a cup of coffee over at CC Jitters." He said, practically dragging the excited Wally West to the exit. "Bond, are you coming?" He asked Julian, faking an English accent in the process.

"No, thank you." The metahuman expert stated.

Iris, throwing her boyfriend a mock suspicious look, asked. "So, exactly how many "hot" cheerleaders?"

"I was a good boy." Barry assured her, holding up both of his hands in mock defense. "You know, he has just been looking forward to this for a long time. He's enjoying the moment."

"As long as he doesn't take after his mentor and kidnaps a random woman and incinerates her clothes, then he can enjoy as much as he wants." Seth pitched in.

"Okay, Felicity was not random nor was she kidnapped." Barry stated in his defense, his face red as a tomato, completely embarrassed by the reminder of that time.

Seth, seeing his flustered face, added cruelly. "Still doesn't make it okay to burn off her clothes, Barr. Count your lucky stars Oliver doesn't know about it, otherwise you're gonna be his next target when he plays Robin Hood. Again."

"It's actually a wonder how more people haven't lost their clothes with him speeding in and out of this joint with them in his arms." Venom noted.

"Be glad for that." Seth shivered.

"Well, I do hope that will not happen anytime soon, or ever." Iris said. "But…" She looked back at her boyfriend with loving eyes. "I'm glad you have his back."

"We have each other's back." Barry stated. "It's actually nice to have someone out there… Someone not violent and is actually nice." He sniped at the mutant who flipped him the bird, igniting flames around his middle digit, the sight making the metahuman flinch.

"Hey, I meant to ask you both…" Barry and Seth faced the reporter. "When you found the Electric Gang, did you see them meeting with anyone else?"

"I wasn't there until they made their getaway, so I didn't see anyone like that." Seth answered.

"Me neither. Like who? Who'd they meet?" Barry asked.

Iris answered. "Well, word on the street is, there's a new arms dealer in town with access to sophisticated weaponry like the gun that Plunder used."

"Like the ones that our guests used last night." Caitlin noted.

"Exactly." Iris said.

"Don't you think that's something for the police to handle?" Barry asked, thinking it might be too much.

"I'm still a journalist, Barry." Iris started. "I can't hide from the world because of what you saw." She glanced at Seth. "Also, Seth, I think I may have some leads on the whereabouts of the SS's location. I'll send you what I have." The mutant nodded his gratitude. She turned back to the speedster. "See you at home." She kissed him before making her way to the exit.

"Barry, it's gonna be fine." Seth said, seeing the fear beginning to douse the speedster. "We're gonna protect her and everyone else."

"I can't lose her, guys." Barry turned to face Cisco. "Cisco." He turned his chair. "Please tell me you've found a way to change the future."

"We found a way to change the future." Cisco said casually.

"He's lying." Seth casually pitched in.

"I know." Barry said, his head hanging down.

"Yeah, I'm lying. But Caitlin and I did find a way to map it." Cisco announced, getting back on his feet. "You're gonna love this. Follow me. You two, lovebirds-with-no-naming-sense."

"Cisco, you can't be angry with us because Frankie likes Scrap Fist better than what you came up with." Caitlin repeated her words, the same ones she used before.

"I'm just saying "Iron Fist" has a better ring to it." Cisco reminded them.

"Agree-to-disagree." Seth stated. "Plus, it sounds like the title of a Netflix TV show."

X

In Cisco's workshop, Barry and Seth were surprised to see that they had made…

A Lego platform?

"Julian suggested we make a 3D reconstruction of the scene from the future exactly as we saw it." Cisco said, moving around the Lego construction he and Caitlin have made.

"With… Lego?" Seth sent a questioning look to his mate. "This explains your sore fingers yesterday."

"Yeah, and the medium's not important." Caitlin said.

"Thank you." Cisco told Caitlin.

"Sure about it not being important?" Barry looked over the massive Lego platform with reconstructions of the buildings that surrounded Infantino Street.

"Eye on the ball, Barry." The viber instructed the speedster.

Picking up the red figure, Barry examined it. "Is this me? Why is he an astronaut?"

"Also, I know I wasn't there in this thing in the future, but don't I get a figure?" Seth asked, feeling slightly hurt at being left out.

"Eyes on the ball, guys, okay?" Cisco said, snatching the Lego figure and returning it to the constructed model of the future. He started his explanation. "Now, this diorama tells us you need to cover…" He pointed downwards, gesturing to the distance between the figures of him and Lego Savitar and Lego Iris. "…This distance… In less than 0.21 seconds if you wanna Iris from Savitar."

Barry looked around. "What do you guys think?"

"I think what you're proposing is impossible." Julian stated, entering the workshop. The others faced him. "Therefore, you will fail."

"Way to deliver the news, man." Seth commented.

"Why?" Barry asked.

"Multi-universes and mutants may be new concepts for me, but mathematics is not." Picking up a marker, Julian started. "Pay attention, Allen." Every member listened as he explained.

Julian made a graph, one with an X axis and a Y axis. "This is your speed timeline." Each of the axes is designated with a name. Y axis is "Speed" and the X axis is called "Time". He puts a dot on the chart. "This is your maximum velocity when you first acquired your powers." Not far from it, he puts down another dot. "This is your current top speed." He connects the two dots with a line. Julian draws another dot. "And this is where you need to be in May to cover that distance in 0.21 seconds. At your current rate of improvement, impossible."

Barry let that piece of information sink in. Cisco sees the effects they're having on the speedster and says. "Wow. Thank you for that rousing pep talk, Coach. Okay, why don't you take a knee, I think we got it covered here."

"It looks like it. I actually have to be back at CCPD." Julian stated. He gestured to Barry. "As do you. Cheerio." He tapped the blackboard on his way out of the way.

Caitlin said in his defense. "He really does wanna help, in his own snobbish, thoughtless way."

"True, but we can't argue with him, he's right." The mutant had to state.

"Yeah, you're right. I mean, he's kind of a dick about it, but you can't argue with his math." The speedster gestured to the board.

"Okay, well, then we'll find another way to make this work." Cisco assured the speedster.

"We need to. Iris isn't gonna die." Barry said, still saddened by the future he was forced to see.

"We're not gonna let that happen, Barry." Caitlin faced her mate. "On that note, Seth wanna get to that archive of ours?"

"Sure." He nodded.

X

(Klyntar Lab)

"Okay so we got ice, which can cause severe frostbite and slows down the user." Caitlin said, the bioengineer sitting on the table.

Seth nodded, the two of them are by the console on the platform in the Klyntar Lab. Both of them are facing the computer screen, showing a blue background with a white list of weakness that comes with the usage of ice. "Yeah. Choice of countermeasures should be focused on close-range physical attacks."

"Friday, you're still writing down?" Caitlin asked the AI.

"On it, Boss Lady." Friday replied, adding the countermeasures that Seth mentioned on the list.

Caitlin quickly added. "Friday, add "reduce use of flame- and fire-based weaponry so as to not alleviate the enemy's side-effects from overuse" to list of precautions." The AI added that sentence to the list. "Good, we're making lists of pros and cons too."

"Yeah," Seth nodded his agreement. "Okay, and one thing we should add to the lists are the elements' respective users."

"Yeah. Lightning element: Eliza Harmon AKA. Scream. Ice element: Rajeet Kumar AKA. Lasher." Caitlin listed off.

"Two elements down, two symbiotes down, and there's three more out there." Seth noted. "Three more hosts out there Eliza's been in contact with, and if they're anything like Rajeet, the city's in for one hell of a bumpy ride."

"And with the Sinister Seven too…" Caitlin trailed off, a look of inspiration coming over her. Turning his head, Seth looked at her and waited for her to finish. Her open mouth closed, and she stated. "I just remembered cellular dead zones."

"You mean, like the ones Earth-2 people like Harry and Jessie emit?" Seth recalled Harry using them to track down his daughter when she ran away. "What about them?"

"What if we had Friday search for the dead zones that Earth-616 people emit?" Caitlin suggests.

"But… Do we even know if 616ers emit those zones?" Seth asked, but definitely agreed to the plan.

"We don't, cause we've only had mutants, Ruby and Felica are the odd man out, so we haven't actually tested it out." Caitlin argued.

Catching her drift, Seth added. "Means we could test it out, see if there's any dead zones emitted by me and Ruby."

"It'd be difficult because of your internal biology affected by your elements and Ruby's Gravitonium." Caitlin stated.

"I think there's a way to track down the Sinister Seven, actually, Bosses. One that doesn't involve tracking cellular dead zones." Friday informed the couple.

"Well, don't keep us in suspense, Friday. Show us." Seth asked, intrigued by the AI's words.

Friday showed a virtual wormhole. "From what we all know, this is the type of gateway that brought the Sinister Seven to this Earth. The gateway emits energy with a unique signature and it appears to spread, latching onto whatever's close to them."

"So anyone passing through the gates would be covered in that same energy." Caitlin caught on.

"Means we can track them down." Seth smiled. "Friday, whatever idea you have, bring up the schematics. Let's begin working on it."

"Got it, Boss." Friday agreed.

"Sounds like you two are busy." Ruby chimed in as she entered the training area.

"How was detention?" Caitlin quipped.

"Fine, caught up on some homework." Ruby started. "Not to mention, me and the others managed to do some talking."

"Talking about what?" Caitlin raised an eyebrow.

Ruby started. "It's about one of the headlines from the future. Someone, that Riot, whoever it is, is gonna attack Central City High School. Me and the others talked about it, and with us being three and all, we figured we could spread out and check out some of the locations revealed from the future."

"You wanna take the one at Central City High?" Seth asked. Ruby nodded. "Okay."

"Really?" Ruby asked in surprise. "That easy?"

"I figured you'd be excited." Seth noted.

"Figured it'd take more to convince you two." Ruby admitted. "But we're all taking an area to survey and keep an eye on. I'll take CC High. Frankie's taking on some of those leads that Iris found, one of the SS possible locations. Evie's… She's gonna be doing something else."

"Okay." Caitlin nodded.

"Ruby." Seth got her attention again. "About your fight with Kumar last week…" Ruby turned her head. "The way you took command out there, it showed great potential and initiative, just like you're doing now. You're gonna be make a great leader out there. One of these days, you might be leading this team."

"Thanks, Dad. Means a lot." Ruby said with a widening smile. "But I'll be going now." She said, moving towards the exit with a smile.

Caitlin faced her mate. "You think Barry will be okay with them doing the other thing?"

"You think any of our daughters will actually listen to him?" Seth countered.

X

(CC Jitters)

While the heroes of Team Flash were doing their own things, CC Jitters were about to get a late-night visitor.

A bright light emitted from outside the glass doors, the light coming from a breach that quickly closed down after a certain someone jumped out of it. Seeing the glass doors she gave a fake smile before flexing her hand, releasing a red energy wave from her palm.

SHATTER

The glass on one of the doors completely shattered, falling into pieces on the ground.

Stepping through the entrance she made, the woman entered the coffee shop. Though she was alone in an empty shop, she was ready for a fight that might break out. The woman made her way to the counter.

She saw the gratuity mug, filled to the brim with customers' tip money. Reaching into it, she picked up one specific coin. Raising it up for her eyes, she looked at it intensely…

And then it… came… in flashing lights

…

The vibe…

X

A hand dropped off the coin…

…

It showed it was H.R. Wells who dropped off the coin…

…

He showed the barista a smile. "Thank you very much." H.R. expressed gratitude in an echoing voice…

…

X

Brought back to reality and out of the vibe, the woman stated confidently. "Gotcha."

"Freeze!" She heard shouting behind her.

Knowing what this meant, the woman dropped the coin, slowly turned around while raising her hands in defense. The woman stepped away from the counter, facing the two police officers.

Both officers have their guns pointed at the woman. "How'd you get in here?" One of them asked.

Resisting the urge to chuckle, she answered. "You know what they say, every time a door closes…" She flexed her hands, both of them releasing a red vibe blast. Each connected with the officers, sending one of them flying through the door glasses. The other was sent into the wall, knocking him out.

Unsurprised that the two officers were so easily knocked out, she finished. "… A window opens."

Flicking her fingers, she opened a breach in front of her. Having finished her business here, she entered the breach, disappearing without a trace.

X

"Central City High?!" Joey Rose shouted into the open night sky, feeling like he was king of the world after getting his "upgrade" from Eliza Harmon. Now he, Eliza, Rajeet and Taskmaster are standing on top of the rooftop closest to the building, looking down at the high school.

The humongous man placed his foot against the ledge, cracking his neck and his fists. "So, what… is the job again?"

"Seriously?" Eliza asked, wondering if this guy actually had brains in that head of his. She gave Rajeet a weird look. "Seriously, what's his deal? I've explained his job, like, twice by now."

"You wanted a bruiser, he's the best in the business." Rajeet said, nodding to their muscular friend who's flexing and posing like crazy.

"Probably the worst." Taskmaster walked up to Eliza. "You and me, talk. Now."

Eliza chuckled. "Sure, dear." She glanced at Rajeet. "Make sure this guy doesn't go off before my say so." Rajeet nodded his assurance.

Taskmaster and Eliza moved out of their hearing range. The master combatant turned around, facing his companion. "Why the rush on the time table?"

"Trust me, normally, I'd take my time and be sure of everything before executing… But…" Eliza clicked her tongue. "Think it's time we speed up our time table."

The mercenary turned his head, realizing what's going on. "Magenta and her power-up shake you up that much?"

"It did." Eliza lied. "It was shocking that the girl was able to power-up in that situation, form a massive appendage and then demolish Rajeet and tear off whatever armor he had. And if she had stayed on him… I'm sure she could have taken him down… With just one more blow. So yeah, we're moving up our time table and getting our recruits for the symbiotes quickly. Then when they're ripe and filled with knowledge…"

"They're mine." Taskmaster stated.

"And Venom's head ends up on a platter." Eliza playfully stated. "But to do that, we gotta speed up the army part. So while those two…" She stated loudly, to get both Rajeet and Joey's attention. "Get our third recruit, I will fetch our fourth one."

"Why does it sound like you're going far?" The mercenary questioned.

"Not far, but definitely not in the city." Eliza shrugged her shoulders. "I will go, these two storm the school."

"I would advise against that course of action." Eliza looked up, seeing Vulture slowly descend over her and Taskmaster.

"It happened?" The mercenary asked without facing the airborne villain.

While the engines on his back emit green energy, Adrian looks down. "As the doctor expected."

"Guessing Dr. Octavius had a theory that was just proved right?" Eliza deduced.

Vulture lowered himself on the ground, the wings on his back retracting. Joey saw the elderly man. "Oh yeah, you're that… Um… "Turkey" guy, right?" Adrian gave the muscle man a glare. "What a mood, right?"

"Dr Harmon, I'd advise against enlisting this simple-minded buffoon." Adrian stated.

"Maybe, but any team needs a bruiser." Eliza chuckled. "Maybe he'll make a good playmate for Rhino. Give each other some exercise."

"Perhaps." Vulture returned to the subject. "Dr. Octavius hypothesized that the certain locations you kindly provided us would be under the watch of the heroes. And it appears this school…" He walked to the edge. "Is no different."

"Who's the guardian then?" Eliza asked in interest.

"One of the child heroes." Vulture declared.

While alarm bells rang in Eliza's mind, hopes began to rise Rajeet's head. "Is it the purple one? Tell so, so I can go and put that girl on ice!"

"Unfortunately, Magenta's eventual permanent stasis will have to be saved for another day, Mr. Kumar." Vulture started. "The one guarding over this den of young-minded delinquents is the one who's bestowed with powers of gravity."

"Genysis." Taskmaster turned intrigued, recalling the fight with the gravity manipulator. "This might be interesting, after all. We'll wait then." Rajeet and Joey faced the mercenary. "With her around, it'll be difficult to get the drop on our third candidate. We'll stalk out the school, wait for the right time and then strike."

"Think that time will come?" Joey asked in excitement.

"Yeah, it will." Taskmaster stated confidently.

"Follow Tasky's orders, I'll be gone and take care of our fourth recruit." Eliza said, stepping towards the edge.

"Who is that, by the way?" Taskmaster questioned, already knowing the identity of their third recruit.

Eliza smiled. "A familiar face."

X

(CC Jitters)

The next morning, Barry was crouching by the floor of the coffee shop and examined the glass fragments on the ground. Having heard about the break-in at Jitters, the police force was dispatched and they took control of the shop, closing off the crime scene with tape and keeping civilians out.

And though the CSI scientist was able to conduct his investigation, it was getting harder to do so with Seth's constant yawning.

Barry finally faced the consultant. "Dude, what happened? You look like crap."

"Like you're easy on the eyes all of a sudden." Seth countered with a groan. With a gloved hand, Barry flipped him the bird. "Been up all night with Caitlin-"

"I don't wanna hear more." Barry cut him off.

With a chuckle, Seth tapped his back with his foot. "Wasn't like that, we spent the entire night on making an archive on elements and weaknesses and countermeasures."

"Oh, that's a good idea." Barry said, shocked it was what they spent their night on. "Could help us out a lot in the future, plus might help us with weapons Cisco can make."

"Precisely." Seth nodded his head.

"Barr, Seth…" Joe got their attention as he walked into the coffee shop from the side.

"What up, Joe?" Seth greeted his partner.

"Hey." Barry greeted Joe.

Joe looked at his partner. "You get a look around the place?"

Realizing what the question meant, Seth answered. "Nothing's missing, nothing's stolen. Registry's still full."

"Yeah, exactly." Barry agreed with a nod.

Gesturing to the other side of the counter, Joe added. "Safe's not touched." Barry stood back up, removing his gloves. Seth walked to them, leaning off the table. "I mean, seems like a lot to go through to get a late-night cup of coffee, right?"

"Not really, Jitters has been booming like crazy for a while now." Seth quipped. "But I think we all know what did this, don't we Barr?"

"Yeah, a meta. Definitely a meta." Barry nodded. "I'll have Julian look into his meta database, but I think this is someone new. New and dangerous."

"Well, It's nothing that the Flash and Kid Flash can't handle." Joe stated proudly. Seth crouched down; Barry smiled at the pride in Joe's voice. "My two superhero boys."

"He is doing great." Barry added.

"Speaking of my kids, Iris, she tell you guys about this arms-dealer story she's following?" Joe asked the heroes.

"Think it was yesterday, she mentioned it, yeah." Seth said, looking down at the shards at their feet.

Directing to Barry, Joe then asked, nervously. "Well, now that you're her live-in boyfriend, could you look out for her and maybe get her to back off a bit because this isn't something she should be doing on her own."

"I agree, I'm trying." Barry said.

"She seem okay to you otherwise?" Joe asked, having noticed a change of behavior in his daughter's usual behavior.

"Yeah, why? Do you not think so?" Barry questioned.

Joe accepted that with a nod. "If you guys got something going on, I hope you know you can talk to me."

Barry, maintaining the lie he promised Iris, stated nervously. "Yeah, I know, Joe. Thank you. We're both doing great."

"Okay." Joe nodded. "Okay. Talk to you guys later." The detective said, leaving the powered beings.

"He's gonna realize what we're holding back, you know." Seth told the speedster.

"I know." Barry said with a sigh. "Can't be easy holding the truth from your best friend."

Seth gave a sigh of his own. "Lying's the easy part for an agent, but it's damn hard when doing it to a friend." He rubbed his eyes. "But I just know… It'll end up biting us in the ass sooner or later." Groaning, he nodded to the shards. "See the shards here?"

"Yeah, what about them?" Barry asked, crouching back down beside the mutant. "I've checked them out."

"On Earth-2, I had fought against all of Zoom's metas. Mostly in groups, of course, none of those bastards were into one-on-one brawls." Seth pulled out the glove from Barry's hand, using it to pick up a shard. "One of them was able to use a unique kind of power, one that we're familiar with, and he was able to shatter anything close to him without even moving a muscle."

"You're talking about…" Barry trailed off.

"Reverb." Seth said, having seen the damage vibe blasts can do glass, much like the ones that are shattered in the coffee shop.

And he had a feeling it wasn't gonna be the last time.

X

(Klyntar Cave)

"Okay, Frankie, where are you now?" Caitlin asked her daughter over the comms system from within the Klyntar Cave that she, Cisco and H.R. are occupying.

Starting a loud and exaggerated sigh from the other end, Frankie stated. "For the last time, Mom, I'm just checking out the locations that Iris provided us with. Evie's joining me in a bit. Ruby said she's gonna get to S.T.A.R. Labs for a little break."

"Good. Also, your biology homework needs a rework." Caitlin stated.

"Mom! I'm signing off!" Frankie exclaimed.

Caitlin laughed at the turmoil she's causing her daughter. Seeing that, Cisco told her. "You're picking up more of Seth's bad habits."

"Well, I'm sure he'll pick up some of my good ones." Caitlin chuckled.

"Only time will tell." The viber stated with a chuckle. The two returned to the matter at hand, turning to the computer he's occupying. It's showing the footage from Jitters when the attack took place. "So, this is the footage from Jitters, it should help us ID our meta."

H.R. spiraled his drumsticks around, listening to the two talking. Caitlin saw the woman's features. "Brunette? That really narrows it down." She sarcastically said.

"I'll clean that up." Cisco said, getting into work.

The monitor on the platform behind the metahumans' backs showed new footage, one that showed a much clearer image of the person. H.R. saw that and noted. "Wow, look how clear the picture is on that screen."

Turning to it, Caitlin and Cisco stood up from the PC and saw the same footage, the same woman from the Jitters attack. "That's 'cause that's not from Jitters, that's our security footage." The viber stated.

As he had a drumstick pointing at the screen, H.R. walked closer to the monitor to get a better look at the person on the screen. After getting quite a look, he managed to see how it was. A very familiar person.

The woman pointed a finger at the camera pointing at her. "H.R. Wells, I know you're in there. Come quietly if you don't want trouble."

""H.R.?" How does she know you?" Caitlin asked the Earth-19 native.

"Talk!" Cisco demanded. "Who is this… gorgeous intruder?" He said, not able to stop gawking at the beautiful woman who… Might also be their next villain.

Nervously, H.R. answered. "Her name is Gypsy, and she's what's known on my Earth as a "collector.""

"What is she collecting?" Caitlin questioned, worried about this woman's target.

"She's come to collect, you know, me." Harrison gestured to himself with the drumstick.

Turning their heads back to the security footage, they saw Gypsy open a breach with a flicker of her hand. she jumped through it. A breach opened up again, this time in the Klyntar Cave. The metahuman jumped out of the spacial gateway.

It closed behind her, and she took a moment to look around. When finishing taking in her surroundings, she unholstered her energy stun pistol and lashed it out at her target, shooting an energy bullet at H.R. Wells, hitting him in the chest and sending him to the ground.

Caitlin rushed down to his side. Cisco faced the viber, thrusting out his hand with a grunt and released a vibe blast. The vibrational blast pushed her hand away, making sure it didn't point at H.R.. It surprised Cisco when his attack didn't knock the gun out of her fingers.

But it didn't stop him, making him run down the small stairs and came to stand in front of her with a hand pointing at her. Gypsy smirked, not at all fazed by the vibe blast from the male viber. She holsters her gun.

"Where does it hurt?" Caitlin asked H.R.

Groaning in pain, he answered. "Oh, everywhere."

Cisco glanced over his shoulder before looking back at Gypsy, whose smirk didn't seem to fade. "You can vibe? Oh, I like that." She admitted, intrigued by his powers.

"Slow down, there." Cisco started. "Let's just talk about this. Like two adults… Over coffee, or maybe dinner, if you prefer that. There's a great Thai place up on the road, if you like Thai." He held out his hand. "I'm Cisco, by the way. You must be Gypsy. It's nice to meet you."

Caitlin and H.R. faced the male viber with widened eyes.

"Are you asking her on a date?"

"Are you kidding me?"

The two of them stated in surprise and disbelief.

Cisco defensively said. "I am negotiating."

Gypsy held up her hand. "Well, you showed me yours, only fair I show you mine." She thrust out her hand to the side, creating a breach. She jumped into it, disappearing for a moment. The breach reappeared, Gypsy jumping out of it and released a red vibe blast and hit Cisco, sending him flying across the ground.

"Cisco!" Caitlin exclaimed, seeing her friend grunt and fall after that vibrational blast. Thankfully, his panting was a sign that he was still alive.

WHOOSH

A flash of lightning appeared, speeding into the Klyntar Cave. Kid Flash looked up at the female viber. "Ma'am, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave the building."

"Speedster." Gypsy didn't look to be at all fazed. "That's fun. I like to have fun, too."

Wally sped ahead, trying to tackle her. But Gypsy lashed out her hand, releasing a vibrational blast that somehow stopped the yellow speedster in his tracks. Her capabilities shocked every member in the training lab, her powers were somehow able to restrict Speed Force-powered movements. Her powers even pushed the speedster back.

Seeing the shock on Cisco's face, Gypsy stated. "I see you've got a lot to learn about your power."

"Yeah, like that." Cisco pointed a finger at the stopped speedster. "How do you do that? That's cool."

"This is cooler!"

Gypsy looked up, seeing a spiraling blade coming after her. With her other hand, she pushed the blade back with a red vibe blast. Recognizing the Chakram blade that flew back into its owner's hand, Caitlin smiled as Ruby stepped into the training lab.

"I leave the facility for five minutes and we got a crazy lady busting into our place like she owns it." Ruby complained. "Another problem needing to be fixed, of course."

Gypsy smirked, liking the girl's attitude. "Isn't it past your bedtime, little girl?" She released her hold on the speedster, letting him fall to the ground.

"Careful who you piss off, lady…" Ruby sneered.

"Ruby, careful she's a viber." Caitlin informed her daughter.

"Nice…" Ruby smirked. The smirk threw off her mother and the others. "Means I get a chance to actually take down a viber." She said, her skin releasing black symbiote miasma that's completely enveloping her form.

Gypsy looked up and down the girl's form, shocked to see her enveloped by whatever's coming out of her body. "Well, well, aren't you something else?"

"I'm Genysis." Ruby declared, her tongue swirling around her body before she charged the female viber.

Sliding backwards, she dodged a swing of the girl's Chakram blade. Gypsy smiled when seeing the girl using the serpentine tongue from her collar as a weapon, swinging it like a whip and trying to strike her. But the female viber, with her vast battle experience, wasn't unprepared for such an attack.

Thrusting both of her hands downwards, she released vibe blasts that hurled her backwards into a backflip, allowing her to avoid the tongue swipe. Landing back on the ground. Gypsy lashed out both hands, releasing two red vibe blasts that hit the girl, pushing Genysis back.

Using gravity to halt her slide, making her stop, Genysis looked back up with a vicious look. Raising her hand, she curled her fingers slowly. In her mind, she envisioned that with the powers of her gravity manipulation she was able to constrain the movements of that viber. She focused on Gypsy and her alone, imagining the weight of an entire planet is on her shoulders, forcing her to the ground.

Her clenching fists did just that, sending invisible gravity force on the viber's shoulders and affecting her with the force of gravity itself. Genysis saw that it was happening as she envisioned, Gypsy slowly getting pushed down to a knee.

Gypsy was shocked by this, her limbs and muscles gaining more and more weight. The invisible force increases the weight a lot. Though the force was impossible to fight against by normal people, the viber managed to shake herself back to control and fought back.

"What the…" Wally asked in surprise.

"How?" Caitlin asked.

"Nice job, kid." Gypsy clenched her hands, somehow, surpassing everyone's thoughts and expectations, when she released red vibrational energy from her entire body, encasing her in something akin to armor. Ruby's gravity wave is still pressing down on the female viber, causing it to give a TV-like static. But more shockingly, she was able to stand up despite the planet-like gravity supposed to hold her down.

"Seriously? How?" Genysis inquired in shock.

"Haven't seen this trick before, have you?" Gypsy quipped. She thrust out her hands again, releasing dual vibe blasts at the girl.

Genysis, releasing her gravity hold on the viber, jumped straight up into the air and stuck to the ceiling. She looked down at the viber with shock. "You're something else."

"Likewise, kid." Gypsy stated, dissipating her vibe armor.

"Sounds like a party." Seth shouted, jumping into the Klyntar Cave. He heard the commotion happening from Friday and he entered the training lab as quickly as he could.

Gypsy and him made eye contact… Something came over the two of them, making both of them stop and look into each other's eyes with… a sense of familiarity?

Like they've… seen each other before.

"Seth?" Caitlin called out to her mate in confusion.

Those words made the viber snap out of her trance and told the entire team. "You're harboring a fugitive from justice."

The female viber's words snapped Seth out of his trance, allowing him to question. "What? What do you mean?"

"I'm from Earth-19, same as H.R.." Gypsy said, looking around and facing the Earth-19 native. "And our world has a strict ban on inter-dimensional travel. He knew that when he came here." She pointed at H.R..

"So, you tracked him here?" Cisco questioned, holding his shoulder in pain.

"Honestly, it wasn't that hard. Not when he's beaming "H.R. Wells' Adventures in The Multiverse" back chapter by chapter." Gypsy confessed.

"Seriously?" Genysis asked, detaching from the ceiling and landed on the floor. "The things we let the Wells get away with…"

"Yeah, you should start putting them under 24/7 surveillance." Reap stated.

Wally stated. "You know what, whatever H.R. did, you can't just come here and take him by force. Not without going through us."

"If I really wanted to "go through" you, you would all be dead." Gypsy stated matter-of-factly.

"You've only dealt with one of the best…" Seth gestured to his daughter. "Against all the all-stars, you'd be toast."

"I'm the kinda gal who enjoys a challenge, I'd welcome it anytime, but now…" She sighed with disappointment. "But I'm on a job now." She turned her gaze, facing her target. "I've got a lock on you now. There is no getting away. You've got an hour to get your affairs in order, and then you are coming back with me."

She turned her head, facing the male viber of this Earth. "Adios, Cisco." She said flirtatiously. Utterly left in awe, Cisco waved his hand. Gypsy opened a breach, jumping through it and leaving the facility.

"What an accent." Cisco said impressively.

"…" Seth thought of saying something, but he didn't know what to say though. He felt like… This wasn't the first meeting with that woman.

X

Having assembled the entire team in the Cortex, Cisco demanded to see the story that H.R. had written for the entire team to see.

Or to… read.

""As Francisco threw back his lustrous locks and laughed, I outlined my plan for neutralizing the rampaging creature…"" Having read a sentence of H.R.'s book, Cisco looked up with dry eyes. "It goes on like this for pages. He's been broadcasting this, without our knowledge or permission, all the while making himself… the hero."

Harrison, in his defense, stated. "Yeah, every book needs a central protagonist that the audience can invest in." He said, picking up the tablet with his story.

Caitlin, walking past the author, stated honestly. "I would've gone with Seth."

"Seth?" H.R. asked in surprise.

"Thanks, babe." Seth said with a smile, looking down at his mate from the ceiling.

Caitlin blew him a kiss, her three daughters on the ceiling grimacing at the loving gesture, before turning to Cisco with a pair of stern eyes. "Cisco, what was that back there? First Golden Glider, and now her?" Caitlin told him with a pout.

"Wait, wait, wait, Cisco fell for another deadly woman in black leather?" Seth threw the viber a hyena-like smile. "My, my Cisco Ramon, you certainly do have a type."

Scoffing at the couple's accusatory words, Cisco stated. "I can't help who I'm attracted to, even if it is the sexy, intense, deadly ones." Caitlin cutely turns her head; Seth gives off a sick hyena-smile like he's waiting for an opportunity to make fun of him.

"Well, fun to know good ol' Cisco's got a unique type." Ruby quipped. "But don't we have to return to the matter at hand."

"Yeah, Ruby's right." Barry nodded, facing the Earth-19 native.

Frankie faced H.R. from the ceiling. "So, she takes you back to Earth-19, and what, you pay a fine?"

"Considering her lethality, I doubt it's that easy." Evelyn referred to Gypsy's actions when she breached into the Klyntar Cave and fought her sister.

Harrison nodded. "The punishment for non-authorized "breach travel" on my Earth… It's death."

Detaching from the ceiling, Seth asked. "Hold on, death?"

Once again H.R. nodded. "Yeah, about 24, 25 years ago, a neighboring Earth invaded our planet through a breach, and almost destroyed the place, so to prevent it from happening again, they banned all inter-dimensional travel." That news shocked the heroes, but then more shocking news came their way. "And then they put the collectors in place to punish those of us who violated the ban. I didn't think that she'd track me down."

Caitlin faced him with a concerned look. "So, why would you risk your life by coming here?"

Twisting and turning his head, H.R. stated. "I'm gonna get packing." Everyone noticed how he practically dodged the question. Or rather, avoid answering it altogether. "It's time for H.R. to face the music." He makes his way to the exit, fully intent on packing his things and heads back to Earth-19 and lies in the bed he's made.

Caitlin looked between her teammates. "Guys, I know H.R. can be annoying, but he doesn't deserve to die."

"Agreed, he's part of the team. We protect our own." Seth said.

Julian then added. "Different Earths, different mortality."

"Doesn't we mean we just let him walk into his death, all hunky-dory." Ruby countered, not okay with the collector coming to take their teammate back to Earth-19.

"But he doesn't go back, I saw him." Barry got their attention. "In the future, with me and Iris, and Savitar, he was there. I mean, that must mean we don't let her take him back."

"Maybe we do." Julian stated, sounding cynical as ever.

"Come again, Albert." Frankie asked.

Julian explained. "Maybe by letting him go back to his Earth, it changes your future and prevents Iris' death."

That piece of information shocked the speedster, making him think about what Iris would do with this information and what she'd want. "I got to go see her." He stated, making his way to the exit.

Caitlin turned to Seth. "Babe, why did you stop when you saw that woman?"

"Don't know… But something felt off about that woman." Seth shook his head, correcting himself. "No, not off. More like familiar."

"Like you've seen her before?" Ruby asked.

"Yeah, but… I can't put my finger on where." Seth admitted, stroking his chin in thought. "I feel like I've seen her before…"

"Maybe on 616?" Frankie inquired.

"I don't think so." Seth admitted with a shake of his head. "I'll figure it out at some point. But for now…" He looked at his daughters. "How'd your assignments go?"

"Nothing happening at Central City High." Ruby noted.

"I've looked, stalked out and got nothing at Iris' SS leads." Frankie replied.

"Mine is boring." Evelyn admitted.

Caitlin chuckled. "Okay, Ruby continues taking care of Central City High. Call your dad if something does happen. Frankie, keep Evelyn company on her assignment. Just try not to cause havoc or property destruction on either of your assignments. And yes, that includes you too, Ruby." She told them.

"I'll help them out in a heartbeat, just give me a call girls if there's any trouble." Seth told them and they nodded their agreements. Evelyn shadowported herself and her sisters. Julian walked away, leaving the couple alone.

Knowing there was an excerpt of Cisco, Seth's curiosity took over and he launched a tendril and grabbed the tablet off the table. Caitlin watched the mutant run his eyes over the screen, taking in the page in front of him.

Caitlin narrowed he eyes on her mate's face, but surprise came over her when she saw his eyes widen and his cheeks began to glow red before smoke began coming out of them. "Seth, what's wrong?"

Rather than show her, he chose to answer her. "Having returned from another heated battle with the vile criminals of the city, Seth, master of elements, still stained with the blood of his enemies, closed the gap between him and his beloved Caitlin. The ice-cold façade she displays to others melted in her mate's presence, even more so when he wrapped an arm around her and dragged her away, away from prying eyes. The two of them enjoying a passionate moment that'd last hours, a dance of fire and ice."

Diverting his eyes from the screen, he looked at his mate and saw that now her cheeks were bright red.

"It's not that badly-written." Seth admitted, smoke and fire beginning to emit from him.

Coughing to herself, Caitlin nodded her agreement. "We… Could… Take a few looks at his book. Just to see what else he's written about us. In details, of course."

"Absolutely, I agree. One hundred percent. Wholeheartedly." Seth immediately agreed. This time Caitlin's curiosity took over and she walked over to see the next pages of her and Seth's…

Dance of fire and ice…

X

(Speed Lab)

After having a talk with her boyfriend at CCPN, Iris made her way to the Speed Lab to visit her little brother who's still going at it in the tracks, running around and around without showing signs of stopping.

"Don't you get tired of running?" Iris asked in a shout.

The gate to the track opened up, Wally speeding out of it and came to a halt. "That's the thing, running just sort of keeps my mind off of things, I guess."

Putting her hands on her hips, Iris nodded. "Must be an amazing feeling."

"It is." Wally confirmed as he took a towel, wiping off sweat from his face.

"You know, cracking a big story gives me an amazing feeling, and I think I'm on to one." Iris stated vaguely.

Having seen his time on the track course, Wally turned his head to face his sister. "Oh, that, uh, arms dealer thing?"

Iris turned shocked. "How do you know about that?"

Wally fully turned around to face his big sister. "Because both Bad and Barry want you to lay off of it. The phrase "death wish" got tossed around a lot… by them."

"Okay, I do not have a death wish." Iris corrected his little brother. "I just want to see justice done, like everyone else in this building."

"I get that, but it is dangerous, Iris." Wally inched closer to his sister.

"Wally, how dangerous could it be?" Iris started. "I don't die till May. Barry said that in Flashpoint, you and I were a brother-sister crime-fighting team." Wally crossed his arms, looking with a mixture of intrigue and interest. "I saw we make that a reality again."

Wally looked skeptical. "Shouldn't we ask Barry first?"

Iris shook her head, arguing with her brother. "No, this is just between us, Wally. We can do this together."

By now… the gears in Wally's head were turning rapidly, thinking of what this idea could bring forth.

X

Inside of his room, H.R. continues his packing and gets his orders in affair as he prepares himself for his home departure. Which would also be the last interdimensional travel in his life, the collectors walking him towards the guillotine.

That thought pained his heart, as he wouldn't be able to…

Cisco entered the room, something H.R. noted and stated. "Do you know what I'm really gonna miss about this Earth?" He checked the status of one of his belongings, shaking it and hearing its rattle.

"I don't know…" Cisco shrugged.

"Soap operas." Harrison admitted excitedly. "I mean, a long winding story served up daily in hour-long chapters?"

Turning the focus to their subject, Cisco reminded him. "You never answered Caitlin's question."

"Oh about why I put mustard on my fries?" Harrison asked.

"Why did you risk your life to come here?" Cisco reminded him dryly, but with complete seriousness.

"Oh… That." Harrison formed a smile while showing his teeth. He confessed. "I looked in a mirror."

Cisco looked around in confusion. "I don't follow."

Harrison faced him, stating. "Look, on my Earth, I had fame, I had power, I had respect. I was… "H.R. Wells…"" He imitated a crowd cheering and screaming his name, much like they had in the past on Earth-19. Cisco listened as he continued. "But when I looked in the mirror, I knew the truth. And the truth was… I didn't matter."

Cisco's attention was undivided, listening to every word from the Earth-19 native. "I was a fraud." H.R. continued. Barry entered the room, leaning against the doorframe. Seth followed as well, entering as he crawled on the ceiling. The three of them listen. "That is why I came to this Earth. So I could rewrite my story, both literally and figuratively."

"Isn't there something you can do, Wells? Come on, there's gotta be something." Seth asked in slight frustration.

"There's not." H.R. said.

"You can't hire a lawyer, appeal the case?" Barry asked, walking closer to his friend.

Forcing another one of his items into his backpack, H.R. shouted. "There's nothing I can do, B.A.!" He sighed, turning to the speedster. "I don't mean to snap at you. I just… I don't have any options here. All right? Unless, of course, I appeal for trial by combat."

"Trial by combat?" Seth asked, landing on his feet after letting go of the ceiling. He narrowed his eyes in interest, seeing an opportunity for answers.

"You wanna take advantage of this?" Venom asked his host after hearing his thoughts.

"Best course of action, gives me a chance to interrogate that woman, fight her and maybe get some answers, see if there's any connection between us." The elemental stated.

"Let's take it." Venom stated.

The PA system chimed, followed by Caitlin stating. "Guys, Gypsy's here."

H.R. chuckled. "Always so punctual."

X

H.R. pushed open the doors, Cisco, Seth and Barry following him into the open outside the facility.

Outside of the facility they found Gypsy standing there, ready to retrieve and bring back H.R. Wells to Earth-19 for his crimes. The collector briefly looked at Seth, feeling the same level of familiarity that the elemental felt when they first encountered.

Schooling her expression and suppressing the strange familiarity sensation, Gypsy told the criminal from her home Earth. "I'm impressed. I thought you'd try and flee again. Time to go."

H.R. cleared his throat, walking towards the collector. "All right, Gypsy." He put his hands on her shoulders. "Take me home." Pushing his hands away, she readied himself.

"Wait." Seth stated. "Sorry Gypsy, you wasted a trip. You're not taking him anywhere."

"What?" Harrison said, completely shocked as he was ready to face the music.

"Why not?" Gypsy inquired.

Seth opened his mouth, about to state his intentions and about to take her on in a trial by combat. But someone else had other thoughts.

"Because I challenge you to trial by combat." Cisco spoke up, stepping towards the collector.

"What are you doing?" Barry asked, he himself, much like Seth, had the intent of taking on the trial.

Cisco gestured to the female viber. "I'm challenging her to trial by combat."

"No, no, he isn't, okay? I am. I'm gonna fight you." Barry stated.

"Wrong again, I'm taking her down." Seth cracked his fists.

Gypsy chuckled at the heroes, each of whom wanted a crack at her. "Sorry boys, but that one spoke first." She pointed a finger at Cisco.

"What? That's, like, a real rule?" Barry questioned.

"Great, feels like 6th grade." Seth flapped his face when hearing that.

Cisco stepped closer to the collector. "By the laws of Earth-19, I hereby challenge you for possession of H.R. Wells. If you want, we can solve this another way." He gestured into the far direction. "There's a great spot for drinks."

"You realize trial by combat is to the death?" Gypsy asked the male viber.

"Ergo, you don't just get a date from this, man." Seth

"Yeah… For the loser." Cisco countered smugly and confidently. Gypsy scoffed at his confidence. "Listen, you want him, you have to come and claim him." She hummed impressively. "It's Arwen. It's fun."

Gypsy stepped closer to the other viber. "I take it you also want the customary 24 hours to prepare?"

Cisco chuckled, facing his friends. "Do I want the customary-"

"Yes, you do!" Seth, Barry and H.R. chanted at the same time.

"I would love to take advantage of the customary 24 hours, if you don't mind." Cisco accepted.

Gypsy nodded. "Very well. One day."

"One day." Cisco nodded.

The collector leant closer. "See you then." She turned her fist to the side, opening a breach and jumped into it.

The breach closed behind her and Cisco turned to his teammates. "She's gonna kill me, isn't she?" He stated rather than asked hopelessly.

X

In the basement level floor of S.T.A.R. Labs, the team rewatches Gypsy's appearance in the Klyntar Cave as well as her fights against Cisco and Ruby. They've rewatched it a few times by now. After watching it so many times, Julian admitted what everyone was thinking.

"She's good."

"She's great." Harrison admitted with a laugh. "Gypsy is a legend on my Earth."

Hearing that did nothing to ease the concerns that Caitlin's harboring. "So why exactly did you agree to fight her?" She directed to the one who challenged it.

"I don't know." Cisco said, still in a state of hopelessness.

"Calm down, Cisco." Seth nudged the viber. "You did what any of us would've done. It's admirable, standing up for one of our own."

"I might not have done it, just being honest." H.R. confessed.

Caitlin gave him a dry look, elbowing the Earth-19 native's arm. "He did it, for you."

"Probably also to get this lady's number." Seth added cheekily.

Normally Cisco would have chuckled himself, but now he was not in the mood for jokes. "Okay. All right. Lay it out for me. What are my chances here, scale of one to ten?"

"She's gonna kill you." Harrison stated.

"It's a pretty solid "one," mate." Julian said.

Seth opened his mouth but Caitlin slapped her hand over his pie-hole, stopping him from uttering a single word. "Don't you go there, pal." She sternly said. He gave her a dry look at that.

"You have the same powers Gypsy does, right?" Barry reminded the viber. "I mean, she's not doing anything you can't do."

Harrison stated matter-of-factly. "Much better, I mean, she's doing it just much better."

"You know you're not helping, right?" The elemental had to ask him. Caitlin had similar thoughts as her boyfriend.

"You can do this, okay?" Barry encouraged him. "You just need a little practice and a little coincidence, and we're all gonna help you with that, right?"

"Barry's right, with our help we can whip you into shape." Seth patted the viber's back confidently.

"Yes." Caitlin nodded.

"Uh, sure." Julian hesitantly said.

"Yes." H.R. said.

"Hey." The speedster put his hands on Cisco's shoulders, the two of them making eye contact. "I believe in you, all right? You can beat her." The viber nodded.

"Plus, you got me and Barry." Seth gave a thumbs up. "Perfect sparring partners."

"Oh, thank God. I thought for a second you were gonna include your daughters too." Cisco said with a look of absolute relief, even putting a hand on his chest.

Caitlin raised an eyebrow at his exaggerated and dramatic reaction. "Why's everyone so afraid of my daughters?"

Barry walked away. Julian informed. "Listen, I have some ideas for a training regimen I can set up here. Caitlin, why don't you get the medical bay prepared in the meantime."

"What? Why does she need to set up the medical bay?" Cisco asked in shock and fear.

"For when you beat her." Julian answered. "When you beat her, she's gonna need medical attention. Cause you will beat her. I have every faith that you're gonna beat her." The viber looked more worried than convinced from the metahuman expert's "encouragement."

Seth looked at his mate questioningly. Caitlin nodded her head, agreeing to his expression before escorting Julian away. "We need to work on your interpersonal skills."

"I was really trying." He defensively said.

Seth took a seat on the platform. From this short distance, he was able to hear the questions Cisco's directing to H.R. "Has anyone ever beat her?"

"Yeah." Harrison easily said. But then he confessed honestly. "No. Oh."

"Okay." Cisco turned around, walking over to the platform stairs. "Well, I've officially reached a nice, comfortable level of just straight-up panic." He sat down on the steps.

"It's understandable, Cisco. Anyone would feel panic in this kind of situation." The mutant asked.

"Like you've felt panic." Cisco chuckled hollowly. Seth narrowed his eyes at that comment.

Harrison snapped around, facing the viber. "You don't even like me. Why would you risk your life for me?"

"Well, you heard Barry and Seth, it's what we do around here." The viber reminded the one he stood up for.

"Come on. Why?" H.R. demanded the real answer.

"You're not like the other Wells-es." Cisco clarified.

"Yeah, so you keep reminding me." H.R. waited for the wave of insults.

"No, I mean, those two, they were geniuses, we depended on them." Cisco started. "But with you, the roles are reversed. You depend on us." H.R. didn't argue with that. "Harrison Wells was always there for me, so, I guess, in some weird way, I just wanna be there for Harrison Wells. Anyway…" Cisco moved away from the two of them.

"Cisco's a brave one, isn't he?" Harrison said to the mutant.

"Braver than most would give credit for, yeah." Seth admitted.

H.R. scratched his head with his drumstick. "I couldn't help but notice that… dear Francisco's comment had some effect on you."

"You think the same?" Seth questioned, looking up at the Earth-19 native.

"No." H.R. stated. "Everyone feels panic, fear and nervousness. Sometimes, if not most, all of them at the same time. And I'm sure you've felt them before, and perhaps even now."

"That obvious?" Seth scoffed.

"Quite, if you observe that is." H.R. took a seat beside the mutant. "Seeing as I may or may not be escorted to my death, I can provide a good ear. Authors are synonymous with "good listeners.""

Chuckling at that, Seth admitted. "I know your situation's pretty dire, for sure, but… I hate the fact that I'm forced to keep Iris' possible future death from Joe. I can't stop thinking about it. Plus, Caitlin might be Killer Frost permanently? My daughters fighting against someone named Hybrid? Anti-Venom slaughtering someone? It's freaking too much."

"Aw, right." H.R realized. "While we're preoccupied with the thoughts of Iris' death and whatever fate has in store for me, you are the sole member of the team that focuses on multiple headlines of the future. Granted, it is understandable, various members of your family are involved in the future."

"Yeah, I have no idea how to deal with this, really." Seth scratched his head. "It's awful." He stood up, raising his hand and had his palm face the ceiling. A flame ignited in the middle of it. "Whatever's coming my way, I will stop it. If the future's an untamable flame…" He closed his fist, extinguishing his own flame. "I will put it out no matter how chaotically it burns."

"Even wildfires have their limits." Harrison patted the elemental's back. "I'm sure you will be the one to stop this one."

"After…" Seth pressed a hand against H.R.'s chest. "We've made sure you're still alive and on this Earth to make sure you witness that happening firsthand."

Harrison smiled widely at that, loving how these heroes have his back and willing to fight for him.

X

(CCPD)

"What are we doing here?" Wally asked his sister as the two of them are in an elevator rising up to the police department's lobby. "I thought you didn't want Dad to know we're going after this arms dealer?"

"Oh, yeah, no, I don't…" Iris confirmed his thoughts. But then she admitted. "But actually, I need you to swipe his file on the case, photograph the pages, and then put them back. Thanks." She said, forcing her phone in his hands.

DING

The elevator reached the lobby floor and the doors opened up, the reporter rushing out as Wally let her plan settle in. "What?" When they did, the speedster quickly rushed out himself and grabbed his elder sister. "Iris, have you lost your mind? Dad will kiss us." He pulled her to the side, away from any prying eyes and any long eared officers.

"No, no, Wally, he won't." Iris assured her little brother. Patting his arm, she quipped. "He won't even know that Kid Flash was there."

"First, you have to tell me why." Wally inquired.

Hearing his tone, Iris knew it was more of a demand than a question. "Okay, look, I know everyone is working really hard to prevent Savitar from…"

"Yeah." Wally nodded, glad she trailed off at the end of the sentence.

"But, honestly, these could be my last few months on Earth." Iris said, dealing a low blow to her baby brother.

"Can you not talk like that?" Wally pleaded, feeling the full effectiveness of the blow.

"I'm just being realistic, Wally. I get to do that." Iris said, though it felt another low blow had been dealt to him with just her words. "Look, I want my life to mean something, more than just as a daughter, or as a sister, or as a girlfriend, but as a reporter. This story can do that, it can say that, I, Iris West, mattered."

Giving her a serious look, a mock one at that, the speedster patted her forearm. "You know, my life was a lot easier before I had a sister."

Retaliating his serious look with a smiling face, Iris reminded him. "But it's a lot better now, isn't it?" She playfully punched his shoulder with a smirk.

His sister turned around, walking towards the desk area. "Okay." Wally muttered, reluctantly accepting the plan his sister had concocted.

X

Inside of the desk area, by his desk, Joe and D.A. Cecile Horton continued discussing their matter.

The two of them facing the open file folder, and Cecile stated. "I can get you the no-knockout warrant, but, Joe, but this guy is armed to the teeth with God only knows what." She gestured to the picture of the criminal. "You're gonna have to move in there fast and hard."

Both burst into laughter, the innuendo not gone over their heads at all.

""Fast and hard," okay, I kind of walked into-"

"Hey." Iris jumped into the conversation, cutting off the District Attorney. "Sorry." She told Cecile.

"Hey, sweetheart." Joe hugged his daughter.

"Hi." Iris returned the hug.

"Hey, Iris." Cecile greeted the reporter.

Iris turned to her. "Hi, good to see you, Cecile." She pulled back from the hug, turning back to her father. "Um, Dad, can I borrow you for a second for a little father-daughter talk?"

Joe, before nodding or shaking his head, turned to Cecile and wanted her permission. "I need to go catch up with Captain Singh, so I will be back in a little while, yeah?" Joe smiled, liking she'd be back. "It was good to see you." She told her boyfriend's daughter.

"Good to see you, too." Iris told the attorney before she walked away.

"So, what's up? How can I help you?" Joe asked, leaning against his table.

Gesturing to the side of the table, Iris whispered. "Can I talk to you for a second over here?" They changed locations, making it so the detective wasn't facing his open folders. Clearing her throat, she started. "Yeah, so, um… I wanted to speak to you about me and Barry."

Joe nodded his head slowly at that statement. "You and Barry?" He asked nervously.

"Yes." Iris nodded.

"Okay." The detective accepted.

Starting her distraction, Iris said. "So, there comes a time in every couple's relationship when you realize that there is… too much love for two people." A discreet blur of lightning sped into the area and snatched the open folder. "And, uh, when that happens, you know in your heart that the only solution is to make your family a little… bigger." She continued.

Getting the wrong ideas as to the direction her words are leading, Joe began sweating bullets. "Okay, I'm gonna need a second-" He went to sit down.

But Iris stopped her father, fearing he might see his missing folders. "Oh, Dad. Hey, hey, listen to me very closely, this is so important to me."

"Oh, God." Joe really didn't like where this situation would take them. Or rather he didn't know how to deal with it.

"Um…" Iris discreetly glanced at the desk, which thankfully went unnoticed by Joe who's still sweating like he's been running a marathon. "Uh…" She let out. Thankfully, the discreet lightning blur of her brother returned and dropped off the folder. When that happened, the reporter finalized her distraction. "Is Barry a dog or a cat person?"

"What?" Joe asked, shocked by the question.

"Yeah, what kind of animal does he like, because I was thinking about getting him a pet, and I don't really remember him having a preference." Iris stated.

"Oh, man, you had me going there for a second." Joe admitted, all of his fears alleviated in a second.

Curious by the reaction and the thoughts in her father's mind, Iris asked. "What did you think I was talking about?"

"Nothing, nothing." Joe answered, not wanting to get thoughts whirling inside of him again. "You can get him any kind of animal you want as long as it has four legs."

Iris looked away, seeing her brother signal her with a hand gesture. His mission was complete. "Good, great advice. Four legs, copy that. Thanks for the chat. Okay, bye." She quickly moved away, rushing to her brother.

Reaching inside of his inner pocket, Joe took out his handkerchief and wiped off the sweat. Relief filled him like water pouring into an empty glass. "Damn…"

He was so happy he didn't have to deal with grandkids now.

X

"Cisky!"

Caitlin, Julian, Barry and H.R. wondered if Seth really had to go this far, especially to this extent.

When the training began, the others were immediately surprised when Seth volunteered to be the sparring partner, using himself and his tendrils as targets for Cisco to shoot down. And now, awaiting the viber's return from a breach jump, the elemental kept calling out to Cisco repeatedly.

"Come and get me! Come and hit the wiggly tendrils!" Seth called out, struggling to keep his laughter contained. The tendrils spouted from his back kept wiggling and flailing in the air, trying to get the viber to target them.

A breach opened up and Cisco jumped out of it. With a grunt, he fired off a vibe blast from his hand.

…

Unfortunately, the vibe blast hit a completely different wall… One far from Seth.

"Oh. Yeah, facing the wrong way again." Cisco realized.

"Yeah, you know I'm here, right?" Seth sniped.

Laughing demonically, the tendril with Venom's head stated. "If the walls were your targets, then you've hit the bullseye." He laughed again.

"I still don't get why both of you are out, acting as my targets." Cisco stated, he was really annoyed by this, especially as both of them are constantly mocking him to get a rise out of him.

"I've fought Reverb, ergo, I've dealt with more vibers than most have in this facility. I've got experience." Seth stated.

"And we can annoy and get a rise out of anyone." Venom smirked, continuing to wiggle the tendrils from his host's back. "Come on, Cisky. Try and hit us!"

Cisco put his hands on his hips. "How many have I missed?" He asked Caitlin and Julian on the platform.

"Three." Caitlin answered.

"Nine." Julian corrected the bioengineer who tried to be nice.

Cisco's head hung down. Seth tapped his head, making it perk up again. "Heads up high, ready for another round, Cisco." He tried to encourage him.

"You'll get there." Barry encouraged him as well.

Julian checked his watch. "Yes, hopefully in the next 21 hours and 46 minutes."

Cisco's head returned to hanging down. Seth rubbed his eyes at the metahuman expert's bluntness. The speedster tried another strategy. "All right, look, whenever I'm out there, I'm in a tough fight, I think I don't have it, I just take a deep breath, trust my instincts."

"Trust my instincts, that's good. That helps." Cisco said, though it did not sound convincing at all.

Seth then stated. "Along with that, use your surroundings to your advantage. They can help you a lot. And remember, move fast and strike quickly."

"Okay. Seth…" He huffed, taking a deep breath. "Try hitting me with quick jabs. No elements, though. I'm no speedster."

"I like that proposal, let's go!" Seth lashed out three tendrils.

"Wow!" Cisco exclaimed, jumping away from a tendril trying to strike him from above. Jumping out of the way made it pierce the floor. Another came for his head. This time the viber retaliated with a vibe blast, knocking it off its trajectory and.

The third one came much faster than the previous ones. Seeing its speed, Cisco acted quickly and opened a breach and jumped into it. The breach closed just in time before the tendril struck the ground.

"Quick decision-making, nice judgements under pressure and fast reflexes. Impressive all-around, Cisco." Seth praised the viber's choices. "It's the first time he's been training seriously, and he's doing great."

"Yeah, you're right." Barry walked down the stairs, looking around in search.

Getting up from his chair, Julian asked. "Where'd he go?"

"I don't know." Barry answered. "Though, honestly, Seth, wouldn't Evie have been a better opponent for Cisco to spar again? Her shadowporting and breaching are sorta in the same area."

"Initially, that was my idea, too. But… She's got a job going." Seth vaguely said.

Hearing a familiar energy swirl into being over their heads, making them turn their eyes upwards to the ceiling beams. "Guys, up here!" Cisco called out, waving his hand.

As Barry and Harrison went to walk away, Seth clapped his hands. "Nice job, Cisco. Way to escape, buddy."

"Thank you, Seth. But you know…" Cisco held onto the beams closest to him. "Mind helping me down from here, Seth?"

"Oh right, yeah." Seth realized, shooting up tendrils.

X

"So Tasky, what's the plan and when are we striking?" Rajeet asked, crouching down by the ledge and looking down at the high school from the rooftop of the building on the opposite side of the school.

"We strike now and crush them all!" Joey exclaimed, punching his fists together.

"No." The mercenary instructed the newest member of his team. "We strike tonight, under the cover of the night. Or rather…" He turned his lenses to face them. "You two strike."

"What?" Joey asked, not really listening to him.

Rajeet stood back up. "Thought the plan was to attack altogether and retrieve our recruit."

"It was." Taskmaster looked in the direction to the left. "But Genysis stands in the way. Someone has to stand back and stop her."

"Sounds like you're the man for the job?" Rajeet rhetorically asked. The master combatant didn't answer, the answer was so obvious. "Sounds good. But what if those two others come? Magenta and Eclipse? Or the big bad Venom? Or even the speedsters?"

"Getting cold feet, Kumar?" Taskmaster asked. Rajeet narrowed his eyes threateningly at that, not liking to be called a weakling. "If that happens, I'll take care of Genysis, you take care of the target and Rose deals with whoever's coming."

"Why not reverse our roles? I've actually fought the big bad." Rajeet questioned his decisions.

"Precisely, he knows how to counter you. But a new target will throw him off his games." Taskmaster said, checking his firearms and their current states. "Rose's is perfect for that."

"Smart." Rajeet nodded.

"I like that plan." Joey said, finally hearing the plan. "I get to bust some heads. That'll set the mood."

Joey flinched, fearing to even swallow when Taskmaster pressed his energy sword a mere inch from his throat. "Only if you can hold them off long enough for Kumar to snatch our prize. So instead of talking about your "mood," you fight for your life against whoever's coming. Cause you can be sure of one thing, unlike the speedsters… The symbiote hosts on the other side, they'll go for your throat and your life instead. Trust that, and remember that."

"O-Okay. Fine. I'll take down whatever's coming." Joey said. He exhaled in relief when the blade removed from his neck. "Christ."

"Trust me, he ain't gonna help you if you fail." Taskmaster said.

Rajeet gulped to himself, realizing his mistake in underestimating the mercenary. Eliza might be willing to forgive them for making a mistake, seeing as she recruited them for her team with Taskmaster. But the combat chameleon himself, he won't be so forgiving. If anyone fails to accomplish his missions, he will not act out of some monetary duty like other mercs, he will act out of his own free will.

When nighttime happens, they'd better do this right… Or risk losing their lives.

X

(S.T.A.R. Labs)

Having heard what Barry and H.R. did behind the entire team's back, Cisco couldn't believe it. The two of them didn't believe in him and his training and tried to catch Gypsy, hopefully to get their viber out of this deathmatch.

But Gypsy turned it around and put power-dampening cuffs on Barry. She ordered the speedster to relay a message to Cisco, there's no backing out now. And to make sure the team keeps up their end, the collector took Harrison with her as insurance.

Cisco, after letting the news settle in, turned to face the Scarlet Speedster. "She took H.R.?" Barry hummed his confirmation.

"Can she do that?" Caitlin questioned the collector's choice. "I mean, I thought this whole trial-by-combat thing had rules."

"And I'm guessing…" Seth sent the speedster a glare. "Said rules were broken when Barry and Wells tried to get the drop on our not-so-nice collector. Right, Barr?" His silence was all the answer the team needed.

"Well, that wasn't very clever, was it?" Julian commented. Caitlin gave her a look. "A deal's a deal, it should be honored."

Snapping around, Cisco pointed a finger at the expert. "You know what? You're right, Julian." He turned back to face Barry. "A deal is a deal, and our deal was that I would train so that I could fight Gypsy, but I guess you two wanted to go behind my back and try to sub in?"

"We didn't go-" Barry struggled to defend himself. "We just thought maybe you could use some help."

"Yeah?" Cisco scoffed. "What happened to, "Cisco, you can beat her"?"

"You can." Barry assured him.

""I believe in you.""

"I do." Barry tried to assure him.

""Trust your instincts."" Cisco threw back every single one of Barry's sentences at him, each of the sentences of encouragement he received and believed in but the speedster didn't. "Well, right now, my instincts are telling me I should be writing my last will and testament, so, please excuse me."

"Cisco, come-" Barry's words never reached the viber's ears as he rushed out of the Cortex.

Caitlin looked in the direction of her hurt friend. She faced her mate. "Should we go talk to him?"

Already knowing the couple was willing to try and help and rectify his mistake, Barry had to stop them. "No. I- I got it."

"You better make it work." Seth stated. "Cause of your little side act, Cisco's doubting himself, H.R.'s kept as insurance and you and I can't jump in and take Cisco's place in this fight no matter what we want. Cisco's our last shot to save our friend, and he's feeling like crap now."

"I know." Barry nodded.

"I hope so." Seth stated as the speedster walked after the viber.

"Looks like I'm not the only one who has to work on their interpersonal skills." Julian muttered.

Caitlin and Seth gave him dry looks. Turning to her mate, she asked. "Seth, you think Cisco can defeat her?"

"I was gonna ask you the same, Cait." Seth admitted. "Right now, Cisco Ramon's Harrison's last hope right now."

X

Barry entered the workshop, finding Cisco in there and checking the contents of a box.

When seeing the speedster at the door frame, Cisco snapped. "Oh, hey, I'd be careful if I were you. Last thing we want is for me to touch a button and blow your head off, right? Cause I don't know what I'm doing, right?" He laughed hollowly.

"Actually, the Boss wouldn't be against that outcome." Friday quipped.

Cisco dropped his hands and stopped laughing, giving the ceiling a dry look. "Friday, deactivate your "Commentary"- function." He walked to the chair.

"You know I don't think that." Barry told him.

Cisco scoffed. "Yeah, well, you have a very, very strange way of showing it.

Barry walked into the workshop standing in front of the viber. "You're right, man, I'm sorry. I don't know, I just…" He walked past the Lego 3D model of the possible future event on Infantino Street. "Guess this whole not-getting-faster thing, it just has me rattled." Cisco faced the model himself. "I was always able to do it before, you know? I mean, against Reverse-Flash, and then against Zoom, but Savitar's on a whole other level. And knowing what he'll do to Iris if I fail…"

"I'm afraid just thinking what's gonna to H.R. if I don't beat Gypsy." Cisco admitted. "But you, Seth, Frankie, Evelyn and Ruby, you guys are the heroes. I mean, how do you guys handle all this pressure all the time?" He asked while hugging the gauntlets to his chest.

"Seth and I may be different in both powers and experience, but I think we all just lean on all of you guys, you know." Barry said. "I mean, you're always in my corner, helping me face my fears. And it is okay to be afraid, trust me. And when you are, I'll be there, in your corner."

"Yes, lovely little speech, Allen." Julian bluntly said, entering the workshop. "But what Mr. Ramon needs to defeat his interdimensional adversary is a practical stratagem. Lucky for you, I found one." He took a seat at a nearby computer, opened it up and revealed the footage from when she breached into the Klyntar Cave. "This is Gypsy's signature move; I call it her "breach and blast.""

"Oh, yeah, that move." Cisco remembered that move when put into use. Barry walked up to watch the screen as the footage played.

The footage showed Gypsy opening a breach and jumping into it. "You see…" Julian started. "Just before she comes in and out of a breach, her feet come off the ground." The expert paused the footage, just in time for them to see the collector's feet hovering off the ground.

"So, for that split-second she's off the ground, she'll be off-balance." Barry noted.

"Yes, and vulnerable." Julian stated. "It might behoove you to use this during the battle." He told Cisco.

"This is great, Julian." Barry praised him.

Julian hummed. "Just glad I could be helpful."

Chuckling Cisco said hopefully. "This is more than helpful. I got to work on this. Thank you."

The viber was hopeful once again, feeling like he finally has a shot at saving H.R. Wells from execution on his home Earth.

X

The old abandoned stock house had all the traits of a sketchy hideout. One that's perfect for criminals to make sure of, especially for their nefarious purposes. Like distributing advanced weaponry.

Iris and Kid Flash came close to the stock house. The speedster, after taking in the building, questioned his sister. "You sure this is the place?"

"Positive." Iris assured him, looking at her screen with the photo of the same local as the one in front of her.

Kid Flash nodded. "All right, you ready to bust an arms dealer, get me a front-page headline?" He excitedly asked.

"Wally, wait." Iris pocketed her phone. "CCPD's been looking for this guy for months. He might have some sort of secret tunnel network that helps him slip out and get away."

"I should do a quick recon." Wally deduced.

"Yeah, thorough." Iris said. "We don't wanna miss anything, okay?"

With a smirk, he said. "Be back in a you-know-what." He stepped back before speeding away.

Iris smiled, looking around before making her way to the entrance door, a lock and chain keeping it shut. Picking up a rusty pipe, she used the end of it to break it apart. A single strike caused it to shatter.

"That's not a good sign."

"Ya think?"

Iris pushed the slide door open before entering the building.

"That's a worse sign."

"Again: Ya think?"

X

Discreetly and as silently as she could, Iris moved through the doors of the abandoned stock house. But when she entered the much larger room, she was easily able to see that this establishment wasn't as abandoned as she and her brother initially thought.

There are numerous crates within her field of vision. Walking closer towards one of said crates, she looked into it and saw a metal case. Opening it, she saw that it contained another gun exactly the same as Plunder's. Having found evidence of what she needed, she pulled out her phone and took a photo of the high-tech rifle in the case.

"Hope you like what you see…" A thug got Iris' attention. Much like the gun in the case, he's wielding the same gun. "'cause this sneak preview's gonna cost you your life."

Facing him, Iris shook her head and said casually. "Yeah, I don't think so."

The thug looked confused and baffled. Both of his emotions intensified when the reporter walked towards him casually. "Are you crazy?" He started. "This will rip a hole right through you."

Glancing at the barrel, the same one which could very easily rip a hole through her, she shrugged it off. "Everyone's got to go sometime, right?" She stepped even closer. "And I am pretty sure today…." The rifle rattled when the nozzle was pressed against the reporter's chest. "…just isn't my day."

The thug's hands shook, causing the weapon to tremble.

WHOOSH

But before he may or may not have accidently pulled the trigger, Kid Flash appeared, knocking the rifle out of his hands. With the gun out of the thug's arms, the speedster delivered a quick strike with his fist that knocked the thug out.

"What the hell, sis? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Wally exclaimed at his sister.

"God, okay. Look, we got to get you out of here before CCPD sees you." Iris told her brother.

"CCPD's coming?" The siblings turned around, seeing five thugs with the same advanced rifles as the one the speedster has knocked out. "Thanks for the warning, some good at the end, right?" One of them said, aiming his gun at them and his fellow members doing the same.

Kid Flash was about to move, but a voice stopped him.

"Whose end? Theirs or yours?"

A smog of shadows burst in front of the thugs… And out of it appeared Eclipse, holding up an light-infused arrow on a symbiotic bow. Beside her is Magenta… Both of her arms donning harpoon guns made of scrap metal she had gathered outside.

"Boys, you're out of your league." Magenta quipped, seeing the thugs lower their rifles. Raising her arms, her eyes began shining with magenta colors as are the veins of her makeshift weaponry. She clenched both hands and fired off her loaded harpoons. An array of harpoons made of scrap metal flew their way, traveling towards them with high velocity.

The thugs and the siblings behind the symbiote-clad heroes covered their eyes, fearing they'd see Magenta's definition of human pincushions. Of course, very deadly and manically large spears would substitute very innocently and miniscule pins.

Eclipse was the only one who had her eyes open and watched the massive weirdness her sister brought upon the thugs.

After having fired her harpoons, Magenta lowered her arms. Her eyes widened at her handiwork.

Uncovering their eyes, the West siblings and the thugs looked around and saw that none, not a single one of the harpoons had hit the criminals. They hit… everything else around them. The ceiling, the floor, pipes and even the criminals' crates.

"Wow, saying you're a bad shot wouldn't even do you justice. You straight-up suck at shooting." Evelyn stated bluntly.

"Oh fuck you! And yeah, should have just done this." Magenta said, thrusting out her arms and launching the makeshift guns like projectiles. They launched into two of the thugs, knocking them out. Two thugs raised their firearms, but much like their comrades, they were knocked out very quickly by two purple tendrils shooting out from Magenta's back.

The last one raised his rifle, but Eclipse raised her bow quicker and took aim. "No you don't, buddy!" She fired off an arrow. Though to her sister's surprise, the light-infused arrow cut his belt and made his pants fall down to his ankles…

Revealing a very unflattering pair of SpongeBob underwear.

"Nice undies." Wally teased the thug who turned bright red when caught bare in his underwear.

"Fuck you!" He took aim again.

"Language!" Evelyn shouted, lashing out her serpentine wings and thrust all four of them into his stomach, knocking him out and into the ground. "Criminals have such bad manners."

"Why are you two here?" Iris asked.

"Patrol." Frankie lied.

"Shadowing." Evelyn obliviously honestly said. Frankie slapped herself in the face at her sister's honesty.

"Shadowing me?" Wally questioned.

"Wrong West." Evelyn corrected him.

"Me?!" Iris exclaimed. "Wait, forget that. We gotta go before CCPD comes and see us."

"Don't worry about that, Dad's, like, my biggest fan now." Wally confidently stated. "He's totally cool with me doing stuff like this."

X

(S.T.A.R. Labs)

"Hell, no, I ain't cool with this!" Joe shouted, totally not cool about his children's actions. He stood in the Cortex, arguing with his three children. He pointed a finger at Wally and Iris. "You two almost compromised a major CCPD sting operation that took the DA's office months to assemble!" He had a finger pointed at Wally.

"You still got the guy, right?" Iris argued.

"That is not the point, Iris." Joe counterargued. "The point is, you had you and your brother out there in danger, and for what? A story? And where the hell were you?" He directed to Barry. "Thank God, Frankie and Evie were there to save Iris and Wally."

"Dad, this is more than just a story for me." Iris stated in her defense.

Wally added. "Yeah, which you almost got shot for."

Joe turned shocked, gaping his mouth in response. Barry rolled his head, knowing why it was "almost." Iris gave her brother a glare, disbelieving he actually told on her.

The detective turned his head, facing his daughter again. "What?" Iris sighed to herself. "Iris, what is going on with you?"

Seeing that Iris hadn't said anything, or rather couldn't say anything, Barry told Joe. "Joe, I'm sorry." He turned then to Iris. "Can I talk to you for a second?" He took her hand. "We'll be right back." He pulled her away and towards the exit.

Joe turned to the side, seeing Seth leaning against the doorframe to the medbay. "Sorry I didn't jump in, felt like it was more of a family situation."

"Considering your daughters saved my kids, you were more than permitted to hop in." Joe admitted.

"Speaking of…" Wally got out of his chair. "Why exactly were Frankie and Evelyn there?"

"Considering how persistent Iris was on this entire arms dealer thing, figured she might head dive straight into danger, knowing the West family and their patterns." Seth scratched his nose sheepishly. "So, I had Frankie and Evie shadow Iris for a while. Was about to call them back, before I heard this mess going on. Guess I owe those two an allowance raise."

"Yeah, and tell 'em Uncle Joe's paying for Big Belly Burger." Joe smiled. "What about Ruby? Another session of detention at school?"

"Nope, just out… Patrolling another area." Seth told him.

"Okay." Joe nodded.

"Seth." Cisco got the mutant's attention. "Gypsy just vibed me her location."

"Let's do-" Seth stopped talking, his phone chiming loudly and vibrantly. Pulling it out, he checked the notification. "Scratch that, Vibes. I got something to do."

"Like what?" Cisco asked.

Seth stopped, turning his head. "Keep my daughter safe."

X

(Central City High… Three minutes ago…)

"So… So…. SO GLAD we brought donuts." Reap told her host while slithering in her fourth chocolate-glazed donut. "Stakeouts are boring!"

"You know you're acting like a kid, right?" Genysis asked, her eyes never leaving the big high school. Even as she's taking another big gulp from her energy drink, her eyes never left the building.

"I was born a few months ago, I AM A KID!" Reap shouted.

The sudden shout from her "other" made Ruby cough on her caffeinated drink. Coughing a few times, she countered. "Jackass."

"Dick." Reap sighed. "But seriously, don't you think we should call it quits for now? Look, we know this school will be attacked by… Whatever a "Riot" is. But it could happen any time between now and until May 23rd."

"Means it could happen anytime soon, either now, tomorrow or even a week from now on." Ruby argued. She stood up, the empty energy drink slithering into her partner's pocket dimension. "Let's swing around, stretch our legs for a bit."

"Sounds less boring." Reap noted.

"I'll fetch you a chew toy at some point." The host said, stepping backwards before rushing towards the edge-

EXPLOSION

But the young hero came to a halt, sliding to the ledge, when hearing a loud explosion and seeing an expanding plume of smoke at the side of the high school, giving away its origin location at the alleyway beside it.

"An explosion." Genysis jumped into the air, passing over the streets.

"Watch out!" Reap shouted in her host's mind. Taking control of Ruby's body, the Klyntar used her host's hand and grabbed the thrown object, which is a flat spherical object with a large object in the middle of it.

Ruby widened her eyes, recognizing the item in her hand. "Wait this-" Before she could react, the device shines with a red light before the spherical object ejects bolas that wrapped around her body. "AARRRGHHH!" She screamed as electricity burst through her, electrocuting her with an intense lightning-like current.

But fighting through the intense pain, she looked down and saw she was descending rapidly. Exhaling deeply, she released a gravity wave from her body pushing against the ground she was about to meet. The force slowed her descent, causing her to slowly land on her feet.

A crowd gathered around her, seeing the gravity manipulator on the ground and tearing off her restraints with the force of her gravity powers. Fans began snapping photos of her immediately, but that didn't even faze the girl.

After seeing the plume of smoke continuing to come out of the alleyway beside the school, Ruby turned her eyes upwards and saw the person behind the device that restrained her. "Taskmaster." She commented when seeing the master combatant on the ledge of a building. He didn't stand there for long, stepping off the ledge and casually fell from it.

The cheering fans turned their heads to the side, seeing the falling mercenary. His fall turned to a descent when he released a grappling hook from his right gauntlet and attached it to the rooftop of the building he got off of. Releasing his hold on the rooftop, Taskmaster landed on the ground.

The cheering immediately turned to screaming, making the fans run away in various directions. "Been a while… Genysis."

"Taskmaster… Didn't you hear Halloween's already over?" Ruby sneered, her right hand clenching onto the handle of her Chakram blade. Using her tongue, she gestured to the building where students are running out of here. "Is this your doing?"

"Would the answer actually make a difference?" Taskmaster said, pulling out his circular metal shield in his left hand. In his right hand, he holds his photogenic energy sword. "But the location fits…. Cause you're about to get taken to school… Again."

"Guess you didn't get the memo." She cracked her neck. "I'm not the same as before."

"I've noticed." He rushed towards her, swinging his shield for a melee attack. Lashing out her tongue, she wrapped it around the combatant's left arm. The serpentine tongue tightens, putting him in a hold and making him stop in pain.

Continuing to strengthen her tongue's hold on him, up to the point his arm will break, Ruby glared at him. "Some moves you can't learn."

Facing the gravity manipulator, Taskmaster gave her a casual look. "A lot more you can counter." He opened his left hand, revealing a bunch of small black pellets rolling out of his palm.

Remembering the fight he had with Barry, Ruby knew what to expect from the pellets and she released her hold on his arm before jumping backwards in a flip. When landing on the asphalt again, she looked up and watched as they connected with the ground, releasing a thick black smoke that enveloped the mercenary.

"Black?" Ruby noted, thinking it was strange as the one she recalled from Barry's fight was reddish in color.

Red energy bullets came flying out of the smoke, almost hitting Ruby but she avoided them with another series of backflips. "You didn't think I was just carrying gas, do you?" Taskmaster said from within the smoke.

"Solid beats gas." Ruby said, holstering her Chakram blade on her back before lifting up a hand, forcing a bike up and compressing it, morphing it into a ball. Snarling, she hurled the ball into the smokescreen. The metal sphere blew the smoke completely away, revealing that the mercenary was nowhere to be found.

"Reap, contact Dad. Get him here ASAP." Ruby told her "other."

"On it…" Reap stopped talking. "Look out!"

A tendril sprouted from Ruby's back, shooting out and sticking to the high school building. The tendril pulled her back, just in time to avoid the metal shield that came out of nowhere. Genysis looked down, seeing that the shield dug into the wall.

"Nice reflexes." Taskmaster praised, appearing from behind a car and had two high-tech firearms in his hands. Pulling both triggers, he unleashed a hailstorm of energy bullets after her.

Genysis, focusing all of her gravitational powers on two cars on the ground, lifted up both cars and used them to block the incoming array of bullets. "With the school behind us, we're gonna have to stick to defense."

"I know, which really ties our hands." Ruby flinched, a part of one of her vehicle shields came off. "Energy vs Metal?" She launched both of the cars towards the mercenary.

The master of numerous fighting styles and martial arts, not to mention the dozens of skills of countless heroes, easily saw a way through the incoming vehicles. Running towards it, he jumped off the asphalt and used one of the cars as a springboard, leaping off with the jumping force of a spider.

Landing on the trunk of the second car, he jumped off of it and took out his bow and arrows. When touching the ground, he rolled before pulling back two arrows and released them after the gravity manipulator.

Genysis leaped off the high school wall, raising her Chakram Blade. Using her gravity powers to spin herself and increase her velocity towards the mercenary, she used her blade to knock the arrows off their trajectories and into the air.

Putting his bow away, Taskmaster replaced it with his shield and held it in front of him with both hands. Genysis slammed into him like a hammer, the force of her attack pushed him back. With ease, he pushed her off his shield. "You forget… I've gone toe to toe with the Avengers." He said, pulling out his sword next.

Ruby landed on the ground, on all four limbs. "You're forgetting something else…" Genysis raised her eyes, giving the mercenary a deadly glare. "I've gone toe to toe with Venom. You're nothing!" She exclaimed, charging him in a predator-like manner.

X

"Wow!" Rajeet let out an exaggerated manner. Before and after the explosion that Taskmaster and Dr. Octopus lent him and Joey going off, the ice-wielder kept watching the fight erupting in front of the high school. "Sorry kids, but you can forget all about studying tonight."

"What kids want to study?" Joey asked, facing the second wall with a black stain on it. remains of the explosion that tore down the first wall. "Also, what kind of school has two walls?!" He shouted his confusion. "Ruins my mood."

"Heard rumors about lots of important buildings being reinforced. Schools, hospitals and City Hall were reinforced with a second wall protecting the first one. Think it happened after that black hole mess or when some chick shouted at a building and tore it down." Rajeet nodded to the inner wall. "Still freaky seeing the real thing."

He raised his hand, icy mist emanating from his palm. But Joey put his hand in front of his companion, halting him from taking down the wall with his ice element. "No. I wanna do this." He clenched his hand. "I wanna try this power out…"

Knowing the feeling he's experiencing right now, Rajeet wasn't one to argue and closed his own fist, stepping away so Joey could let loose.

Exhaling deeply, Joey's clothes began to change and release something else. His torn black pants and his blue shirt changed into something strange, becoming a strange darkish blue miasma that's spreading over his hulking figure. And somehow, even his large form enlarged. The blueish mass engulfed his smirking head, forming a face that was much like Venom's…

But while most of his body remained darkish blue, most of his chest and his entire head was crimson red. Opening his maw, he revealed a jawline with ravenously large fangs that'd scare off a shark. Flame-shaped pseudo eyes revealed themselves. Pulsating all over his body are red veins, originating from his chest are red veins popping up.

Joey Rose, now clad in a symbiote-armor, faces the wall with a malicious glee. "This is gonna so… So much…" He clenched his fist, turning his entire arm into metal. The symbiote flesh and the human arm underneath, all became adamantium when the fist had finally closed. "Fun!" He said, reeling his arm back.

"Knock yourself out." Rajeet stepped back just as the fist was swung.

SMASH

"WOW!" Rajeet exclaimed, jumping backwards as the inner wall practically smashed into pieces and scattered them, sending them everywhere. One explosion was all it took to demolish the first wall, one single strike from a steel fist was enough to destroy the second wall into a high school.

The kids on the other side of the torn-down wall began screaming, running amok at the sight of the Venom-like villain.

"That'll set the mood." Joey stated.

"You remember the plan?" Rajeet asked.

"Of course." Joey chuckled.

"You wanna share with the class?"

Joey snapped his attention to the alleyway entrance, followed by Rajeet, the two of them coming face to face with Venom, the originator of their symbiote armors. One faced with intrigue, the other looking with glee.

The mutant stepped forward, looking at the ice-wielder and the new symbiote-bearer, one bearing the element of Adamantium of Earth-616. "What are you doing here, both of you?"

Rajeet faced Joey. "Hold him off, while I snatch our prize horse." He ordered, walking through the wall.

"Got it." Joey stated, walking towards the elemental. "For a long time, I've wanted to meet you, Venom. Wanted to challenge you, trade blows with. For a very long time."

"Have we met this guy before?" Venom asked his host.

Knowing why his "other" stated that question, Seth agreed. "Something's familiar about this guy, yeah. We've met him somewhere."

"But he hasn't met us?" Venom deduced after hearing the Adamantium-wielder's words. This is truly the first time they've met.

Seth felt a familiarity come over him when coming face to face with the muscular adamantium wielder in symbiote armor. But that didn't matter now, now he had to focus on the target in front of him. "Stand down, we won't play nice."

"Nice is for kids. Rough play sets the right mood." Joey snarled, licking his fangs.

"Who are you?" Seth demanded.

That question perplexed the criminal, making him stroke his chin in thought. "Name? My name, huh?" He realized he couldn't use his real name, and had to hide his real identity. "Never thought about it, till now." he stopped brainstorming when seeing Venom pull out a large crystal sword. "This… Is gonna be a riot."

Inspiration hit him like a freight truck. "Riot? Riot! That's my name! My name's Riot." The adamantium wielder declared. "The strongest man in all of Central City. And I challenge you!" He said, charging Venom with a hand morphing into a sledge-axe.

Growling the mutant reeled his blade back before swinging it. Riot retaliated with his sledge-axe, the two weapons meeting each other in a collision. When they met each other, a shockwave was released and it caused the asphalt under them to crack.

Turning his other hand into adamantium, Riot slammed his fist into the elemental's face. To his surprise, Seth unhinged his jaw and opened his mouth wide, similar to a serpent about to devour a gazelle, and actually grabbed the incoming metal fist with his fangs alone.

Flames ignited around his foot before Seth raised it, kicking Riot in his guts. Bile came out of his mouth and forced him back. But the elemental didn't give him a chance to recover, wrapping tendrils around his neck. Venom roared, swinging his arm and hurled the adamantium-wielder into the wall.

The red flames around his foot dissipated, black flames erupted around his entire right arm before Seth sent it flying. Riot saw the fist flying towards his chest, and he quickly reinforced his entire form with adamantium before the strike met his flesh. Though the metal flesh reduced the damage, the force of the strike pushed Joey into the wall.

More bile came out of Riot's mouth. Seth wrapped his claws around his throat, choking him with adamantium claws. "Amateurs shouldn't mess with elements. Now…" He tightened his grip, pulling his head out of the wall. "Who are you?!"

But to Seth's surprise, Riot smiled at the level of animosity that's oozing from the elemental. Joey couldn't contain his chuckling which quickly evolved into laughter and a world wide grin. He couldn't stop the sensation of excitement coming with the fact he's finally facing a worthy adversary.

"Now, that's a good punch." Riot admitted gleefully. "I am happy, Venom…. No one, not a single soul in this city, has ever… been able to do this to me before." Despite the claws digging into his neck, Joey managed to twist it still. "I am happy!"

Having finished his speech, the adamantium-wielder tore his arms out of the wall and grabbed Seth's head. Having an idea of what's coming, the elemental did the same as Joey, both turning their heads into adamantium before they moved at the same time, slamming their foreheads into one another.

With both of their heads turned into metal, a metallic clanging echoed throughout their battlefield. "This is great!" Riot shouted, jumping out of the wall and charged the elemental again, raising an adamantium arm.

With the tendrils shooting out and wrapping around the crystal blade that he retrieved from Earth-2, Venom used his sword to block the incoming adamantium strike. This time the opposing adamantium fist pushed Seth back much further and out into the streets. Digging his claws in the ground, he stopped himself and looked back up with surprise.

"He's stronger now?" He noted with surprise.

"Look out!" Venom had his host turn his head, seeing his daughter, Genysis flying towards him.

Seth thrust out an open hand, his daughter screaming as she flew into his grip. Feeling the fingers wrap around her body, Genysis looked up and into her father's eyes. "Thanks for the save, Dad."

"Didn't see the no-fly zone sign?" Seth quipped.

Genysis rolled her eyes at the lame joke, jumping out of his hand and onto his shoulder. "What the what?" She let out when seeing a guy with the same exact form as her father's alter-ego popping out of the area of the explosion. The features on this one shocked her, but also when seeing him donning adamantium skin. "Great, a guy with something-stronger-than-metal skin on our asses now. Why did I hope we'd actually get lucky at some point?"

"Central City doesn't know that word." Venom said, narrowing his eyes at the person walking up to Riot's side. "Looks like you got a chance for revenge quicker than expected." He noted when seeing Taskmaster spin his sword around.

"Christmas came early." Ruby smirked. "Taskmaster's mine, Dad."

"Better yet…" Seth looked at his daughter. "We deal with them both together."

"Fine with me." Ruby accepted.

Taskmaster faced the heroes with a cold glare. "How's Kumar doing? He finish yet?"

"Don't know." Riot shook his head. His eyes glanced at the "side entrance" that he and Rajeet made into the side. "Must be having trouble. Bit of a sour mood that one, if you ask me."

"I'm not." Taskmaster looked at the heroes. "We need to stall these two…. Don't do anything stupid."

"Yeah, yeah!" Riot stated, running towards the mutant and his daughter with tremendous speed. His entire body turned into adamantium as he rushed towards the heroes.

Jumping off her father's shoulder, Ruby spun around before slamming back down on the ground. With the momentum she gathered and the gravitational force in her hands, Genysis channeled all of it through the ground and sent it towards the incoming symbiote-bearer who's coming like a freight train.

However when the gravity wave hit his feet, Riot tripped and fell to the ground. He stumbled and rolled on the ground, his head slamming into the ground and caused pavement to scatter around. Genysis jumped into the air, spinning again, gathering momentum and gravity. Having gathered enough of both, she lowered herself with an outstretched leg and delivered a downward kick into the middle of his back.

Before Joey found himself embedded into a wall, now he found himself embedded into the ground.

Taskmaster charged next, using both of his sword and shield to strike. His target: Genysis. The gravity manipulator looked at him with unfazed eyes.

The reason for those unflinching eyes came in the form of numerous black tendrils shooting past her, traveling towards the mercenary. Seeing them coming his way, Taskmaster readied himself with his blade. The energy blade in his right hand swung, cleaving down a black tendril. Looking back up, four others came for his head.

Blocking his covered head with his shield, the mercenary was pushed back by the four tendrils. Grunting, he pushed them a bit back and grabbed them all with his left hand. Swinging his energy blade upward, he cut the four tendrils off.

Taskmaster turned back to the heroes, only for seven adamantium tendrils cloaked in lightning to slam into his body, each one hitting with the force of a rampart. A grunt came out of his mouth before the mercenary was lifted off the ground and slammed into the asphalt.

Venom didn't give him the chance to recover or stay down, his tendrils ensnaring Taskmaster and pulling him towards him. Ruby jumped away, almost hit by the mercenary her father's pulling into his clawed hand. Tightening his hold on him with adamantium claws, Seth then slammed him down on the concrete floor under them.

Ruby, and Riot who got back up again, watched as Seth raised his foot and slammed it down on Taskmaster's face without any hesitation or delay. The two of them flinched at that action, both repeating that a few times when Venom repeated his attacks and repeatedly slammed his foot down on his face.

Stopping his attack, Seth yanked him out of the concrete and brought him closer to his face. "Where is Octavius and Eliza?" He demanded to know.

With a cracked eye lens and cracked side of his face, Taskmaster panted as he responded. "Forget their address."

"Good thing we're a doctor." Seth smirked villainously, raising his sword. "We'll jog your memory."

"Gotta reschedule, Doc." Taskmaster said, managing to slip out both of his arms and open his hands. Once opened, every single one of his smoke pellets dropped out of his palms. Hitting the ground, they exploded and released a massive plume of black smoke that enveloped themselves.

"Wow." Ruby said at the display. She smirked; her senses spread to the limit picking up a presence from behind her. Turning around, she used both of her hands and grabbed the incoming adamantium fist from Riot. "You? Not so wow."

"Oh yeah. Bet I could change your mood, Little Gen." Riot said, putting more and more force into his blocked adamantium fist, trying to push her back to strike back. He reeled back his other fist.

"Doubtful." Genysis stated bluntly. The adamantium-wielder swung his arm, punching the hero with his other hand. But the blow didn't push her away, it merely made her head turn. She turned back with a blank expression. "You hit like a girl. My turn!"

PUNCH

Riot was barely given a chance to react when suddenly Ruby thrust her fist, gathered with gravitational forces, and sent him flying and rolling on the ground like a stone skipping across a body of water. Taskmaster followed, flying over her and falling onto the adamantium-wielder.

"Interrogation, is that any fun?" Ruby asked her father who walked up to her side.

"Not for them." Seth told his daughter.

Riot threw Taskmaster off him, facing the heroes with a vicious and happy smile. "I'm gonna-"

"Can it, we're leaving." Taskmaster cut him off. Together with the heroes, the three symbiote-bearers face the mercenary with surprise. "They got bigger things to worry about."

SCREAM

Ruby and Seth turned their heads to the school, each window glass within their field of vision becoming enveloped by ice from inside of the high school. "School is in trouble." Venom noted.

"Fuck." Ruby noted. She turned her head back to the villains. "Double fuck!" She shouted when seeing that both villains had disappeared. "If I had a nickel for every Houdini act these dumbasses pull out their asses…"

"We'd be millionaires." Venom commented. "Less talking now, focus on school." He instructed his daughter who followed him into the school, entering through the entrance that Rajeet and Riot made.

X

(Meanwhile…)

As the father and daughter were dealing with the two villains at the high school, at the waterfront Gypsy paced back and forth, awaiting the native viber's arrival for their deathmatch… and while waiting she was forced to listen to H.R. Wells ramble on and on.

"I don't think the literary critics on Earth would know a real sci-fi, romance bestseller unless it bit them in the-"

"Time's up, Wells." The collector told her target, thankfully putting an end to his possibly endless rambling. Harrison gave her a look. "Looks like your so-called friend is a coward after all."

"He's not a coward." Harrison started. "He's one of the finest men I've ever known."

Gypsy was unconvinced.

"Oh, you're right about that!" Cisco shouted, garnering the attention of both Earth-19ers. Francisco Ramon stands in front of them both as Vibe, donning his suit's that's made of a leather-like material. Aside from his usual Vibe Goggles he's adorned in his black, yellow and red jacket on his torso and black pants of the same material. "I'm fine as hell." He quipped.

Laughing in both joy and relief, Harrison stated. "There he is."

"Didn't think you'd show." Gypsy said, stepping closer. "Didn't think you'd show."

"Oh, I wouldn't miss an evening with you, even if it is for a showdown." Said Cisco.

"I will kill you, Cisco." Gypsy warned him.

Vibe countered. "We'll see who dies tonight."

Knowing there was nothing she could do to deter him, Gypsy stated. "To the victor goes H.R. Wells."

"May the best vibe win." Cisco said.

With a softened expression, the collector admitted. "Part of me was hoping you wouldn't show tonight."

"How do you wanna do this?" The native viber asked. "Westworld style, back-to-back 10 paces, turn and shoot?"

"No." Gypsy thrust out her hand, releasing a red vibe blast that knocked Cisco off his feet. It sent him flying to the ground with a big thud.

"Ooh!" Cisco groaned, returning to his full height again. "Ooh, girl, you done did it now!" He thrust out his hand, retaliating with his own blue vibe blast. Gypsy used her own, both vibe blasts clashing against each other.

H.R. covers his eyes, the immense shine from the two colliding vibe blasts almost blinding him. But even though his eyes were shielded, he could still see the two vibers putting everything into their respective attacks, trying to win this match with all of their might.

But the two reached their limit after what felt like hours of releasing vibe blasts. Both fell to the ground, both panting out of exhaustion.

The first one to return to her full height is Gypsy. "You're stronger than I thought."

Panting, Cisco returned to a standing position. "I'm just getting warmed up." He boasted.

"Yeah, maybe not do that." H.R. told the viber of this Earth.

Hardening her expression, Gypsy stated. "Time to turn things up to 11."

"Spinal Tap." Cisco pointed a finger, recognizing the reference. "That's, like, one of my favorite movies." He grunted, not noticing that Gypsy tackled him into a breach behind him.

H.R. looked around, trying to find the vibers when they popped out of a breach. He should have expected the vibers' fight wouldn't be confined to just one single Earth…

Their battlefield… It extends to all Earths.

X

(Earth-2)

The two vibers were launched out of the breach… Once it opened on Earth-2.

Both panted out of exhaustion, Cisco used that moment to look around and take in everything around them.

"This is Earth-2." He realized.

Gypsy continued their fight, striking his stomach with her fist. The first blow to his solar plexus made him arch, allowing her to strike his face. The blow to his head made him turn around. "You're cute, but you talk too much." She told him.

Cisco chuckled hollowly. "Oh, you wanna play dirty, huh…" He laughed. "Let's play dirty."

Snapping back to face her, he lashed out his hand and opened a breach behind the collector. He tackled her into the breach, taking their fight to another Earth.

X

(Earth-38)

On Earth-19, the home world to Supergirl, lies CatCo Worldwide Media in National City, the media conglomerate founded by Cat Grant.

Her office was mostly white, the wall in the back behind the office desk was filled with numerous TV monitors. Eve Tessmacher, the media mogul's assistant, finished picking up the files and folders she needed.

She moved towards the exit, but came to a stop with a gasp by what showed up behind her. A breach opened up in front of the sofa table. Another gasp emitted from her mouth before Eve ran out of the office and hid behind a chair.

Vibe and Gypsy came out of it, falling on top of the sofa table and crushing it to pieces. The two returned to their full height, the male viber holding onto the collector's shoulders. Holding his hands in place, Gypsy lashed out her leg and slammed her knee into his crotch.

He groaned in pain, his hands sliding down to hold on to his sore private parts. "That hurts." He admitted, feeling as though he's been dealt a massive blow to his entire body and not just the most sensitive parts of it.

Eve watched as the collector slammed a fist into his windpipe, making Vibe hold onto his hurting larynx. "That, too." He grunted.

Gypsy opened another breach, one behind the couch behind her. She grabbed him by the collars of his jacket before hurling him over the couch and into the breach. She followed shortly, jumping over the couch and into the breach.

When it closed, Eve looked around, worried another fight would erupt in the office. Wouldn't be the most unusual thing to happen in National City. "Is it me, or is this city getting weirder?"

X

(Earth…)

The breach opened up again, this time over the smog-covered skies of an unknown Earth that appears to be fundamentally made of magma. Cisco was the first one to experience that when he fell out of the breach, landing on a cliff.

He felt his entire body heat up from external sources, even felt it was harder to breathe and that the air he was inhaling was unbelievably scorching hot. Even the ground under him felt hot to the touch. Cisco looked to the side, seeing a pool of magma over the cliffside. He pushed himself away from the edge, making sure he didn't fall into a fiery and melting death.

He was almost positive; it wouldn't look or be as good as they make them out in the movies.

The breach closed after Gypsy came out of it, landing over him and keeping him pinned. She looked down and in his goggles. "Well, this is hot." She quipped, referring to something other than the scorching hellfire around them.

"I think you're flirting with me to distract me 'cause you're afraid." Cisco said, mentally he totally agreed with her.

She laughed at that statement. "My collection record is flawless. In these trials, I am undefeated."

This time Cisco laughed, despite being so close to death by magma. "Oh, please, everybody's got a weakness. Even you."

X

(Earth-1)

On Earth-1, a breach opened up at the same location and Cisco came flying out of it, hitting the grassy grounds with a grunt and a groan. Gypsy jumped out next, the breach closing behind her.

H.R. looked between them with surprise, surprised that they're back.

"Says the man afraid of showing everyone how powerful he can be." Gypsy counters. "You and I resonate on a similar frequency, I can feel it, yet you allow your fear and insecurity to hold you back." As he was on a single knee, she could see the male viber was being stabbed by each of her words as though they're daggers. "That's why you're gonna lose."

She opened a breach, jumping into it for one of her strategic surprise attacks, one that's bound to stop and take down Cisco.

But even though she was nowhere to be found, it was though he could feel that frequency she was speaking off. The same frequency she was referring to, he could feel it and feel Gypsy through it…

He could feel her…

He turned his head, his instincts taking over and he followed them. He looked behind him, and a breach opened up. Gypsy came out of it, but not touching the ground yet. Vibe thrust out his hand, releasing a powerful vibe blast that connected with the collector's body. The force of the blast sent her rolling on the ground.

Cisco kept the vibe blast going, keeping her pinned to the ground. "Does this look like holding back to you?" Gypsy panted, surprise showing itself on her face. "I could do this all night."

"How did you…" Gypsy still surprised that he actually managed to attack her, someone actually got the drop on her.

"You might wanna work on your balance next time, girl." Cisco advised her smugly. He closed his hand, the collector released from the vibe blast. He took off his goggles. "Admit it, I won."

Pushing herself up to a knee, Gypsy admitted defeat. "By the laws of Earth-19, prisoner of yours for the taking… As is my life."

"Oh, no, no, no." Cisco shook his head. "We don't roll like that around here." He held out a hand for the collector to take. "Come on."

She accepted the hand, letting herself be pulled back to her full height. She admitted honestly with her full attention on the other viber. "In all the multiverse, I have never met anyone like you, Cisco."

"Please… Call me Vibe." Cisco told her coolly. Gypsy raised an eyebrow. "Or you can call me Cisco, that's also allowed." She chuckled. "Just a regular guy, just a regular single guy." At that subtle note, Gypsy smirked.

At the native viber's subtleness, a voice remarked.

"Smooth, Cisco." Cisco paled; his face drained of color. He looked to the side, seeing both Eclipse sitting on a branch and Magenta standing under the same tree. Both of them showing hyena-like smiles, a trait they've inherited from their father. "Real smooth."

"Oh God." Cisco paled, knowing that neither of them would let this go.

"There's more of them?" Gypsy asked herself, seeing the same traits that Genysis has in those two.

X

(S.T.A.R. Labs)

Inside of the medbay, Caitlin checked over Cisco after his deathmatch with Gypsy. She was smiling widely as the viber had defeated him. Throughout the checkup, she and Seth had continued to shower him with his praise and compliments, immensely proud and happy that he won his fight.

"So, guess beer's on us since Cisco won his rights to H.R." Seth quipped.

"Gotta say, after hopping through universes for an epic throwdown with Gypsy, I could go for a couple of drinks." Cisco gave the mutant a glare. "You better not make me drunk breach you anywhere, or breach something our way, okay?"

"It's so cute you think you'll remember that when we're done, man." Seth smirked like a hyena.

"Great." He faced Caitlin. "You may rethink his influence on your daughters, Caitlin."

"Ah, don't worry about him, he's a teddy bear." Caitlin winked at her mate who held his heart with both hands.

"Yeah, if they filled them with razor blades." Cisco commented and Seth smiled widely. "Speaking of you, heard you and Ruby had a violent father-daughter tag battle with Taskmaster and another one of your unfriendly twins."

"Same time you tangoed with our collector friend. Half expected you to ask her out on a date, again." Seth quipped. "But yeah, new one's Riot and has adamantium."

"These names…" Cisco hummed to himself, hearing the names in his head. "They're good, for now."

Barry looked at the mutant. "But they attacked the high school?"

"Yeah, well, Rajeet did while Taskmaster and Riot held me and Ruby off." Seth shrugged. "Don't know why they attacked the school but they did it."

Caitlin asked. "Did you find out anything from inside of it?"

Ruby crawled inside of the medbay on the ceiling and answered. "A huge-ass, long-ass ice tunnel through the school floors and all the way down into the sewers underneath. Just to stall for time, Kumar froze students to the walls, floor and ceiling. Dad and I spent more time breaking them free than thinking of tailing that icicle-bastard."

"Buckle up Barry, tomorrow we've got a big job to work at CCPD." Seth told the speedster.

"Yeah…" Barry nodded.

Caitlin unstrapped her device from Cisco's arm. "It says you're totally fine."

"So what happens now?" Barry directed to Gypsy. "Go back to your Earth, tell all your superiors that you were bested in battle, all the charges against H.R. are dropped?"

"No, I tell them I killed him." Gypsy surprised them with that response.

"Wait, what?" H.R. exclaimed.

Gypsy explained. "If I return empty-handed, they'll know I failed, and I never fail… until today."

"Sore loser." Ruby commented.

Gypsy glanced at the girl's parents. "Your daughter's got an attitude."

"Well, most former assassins have one, so nothing new there." Seth quipped.

"Wait," Harrison got their attention. "but if you tell them that you killed me, then I-"

"You'll never be able to go back to Earth-19." Seth deduced.

"Ever." The collector finalized. She could see H.R. struggling to deal with the conditions. "Do we have a deal?"

With a sigh, H.R. nodded his acceptance. "Yeah, I guess we have a deal. I don't really have anything to go home for."

"You'll always have a home here, H.R." Caitlin kindly told him. Harrison smiled and walked closer to her, who gave a hug.

Seth gave him a pat on the back. "Welcome to the family, Wells." He walked past him and towards the collector. Once again the two made eye contact, both pairs having strange veils of familiarity in them. "Gypsy, something I need to ask you."

"Yeah, If I'm right, I think we're thinking along the same lines." Gypsy crossed her arms.

Seth leant closer to her face. "Have… Have we met before?"

"You felt the same?" Gypsy rather stated than asked. "Had the same feeling when I saw your mug."

"Feeling's mutual then, good." Seth nodded. "But that all brings us back to my question, have we met before? And on that note, have you ever been to Earth-616?"

"616?" Gypsy asked. Seth nodded. "No, never. I mean, I don't even think there's ever been a collector going to a triple-digited Earth. That's where you're from."

"And my daughter with the sharp tongue, but yeah." Seth gestured to his child on the ceiling. "But weird, I definitely feel like we've met before."

"Same." Gypsy nodded. "Well, think it's time I take my leave." She turned to the chair beside her, two large bags of hers placed in it.

Cisco walked up to her next, taking note of the Jitters logo on both bags, realizing the contents and noting. "Listen, I know there's no coffee on your Earth, 'cause of the whole blight thing or whatever, but this is an absurd amount of coffee to be bringing back to your Earth." Gypsy chuckled. "That can't be legal."

"I mean, I won't tell if you won't." She countered.

The native viber narrowed his eyes. "You know, for someone so fixated on enforcing the law, you sure seem oddly at ease about breaking it."

The collector said. "I guess some laws are worth breaking for the right person."

With a chuckle, Cisco asked worrisomely. "So, it's goodbye, then?"

"For now." She said, leaning up close to the other viber. Cisco instinctively closed his eyes, turning his head to meet her incoming lips.

But she opened a breach behind her, one that practically swallowed her. Cisco opened his eyes, gasping in shock when he didn't feel her lips on his. "Wow. What an exit."

Frankie chuckled. "Cisco, she's gonna eat you up."

"Yeah." Evelyn laughed.

Cisco's face turned bright red at their words. "Cisco?" Seth got his attention, patting his back. "You did really well."

"Thanks. But I'm holding you to the beers, man. Could use a round or two." Cisco said, walking to Barry and Julian.

Caitlin took his place next to her mate, leaning against the console railing. "You look like you've got something on your mind."

"I do." Seth nodded. "And… It's about you, actually."

"What?" She asked in surprise.

X

(Snow-Fury Residence)

Lot of things have surprised Seth in his lifetime, but what's happening in front of him definitely took the cake as Caitlin's downing her third vodka drink. For their talk, they decided to move back to their home for a private talk.

Even their daughters were shocked by their mother effortlessly gulping down her third tumbler of ice-cold vodka. Of course, it's a pretty good reaction to hearing that Anti-Venom has looked into her, even hacking into a computer to dig up everything on her.

Putting down her tumbler, Caitlin exhaled and rubbed her hands together. "Okay."

"What? "Okay?"" Seth asked. "That's all we're getting, "okay?""

Ruby chuckled. "Yeah, figured we'd get something a little more exciting than that."

This time Caitlin laughed at her daughter's words, reminding her. "Sweetheart, I've been kidnapped twice and also been mind-controlled by a telepathic gorilla."

"One that really likes her." Frankie added.

Evelyn faced her mother with a worrying look. "Mom, you attract all kinds of crazy."

"Thought that was obvious." Caitlin smirked, nodding to her boyfriend who raised an eyebrow at that comment, but didn't deny it. "But the point is, after everything that's happened lately, I guess I'm not that surprised by the thought of a villain going after me."

"But is that all Cisco said?" Frankie asked, worried about what this villain would do to her mother.

Seth informed his daughters. "Anti-Venom dug up everything on your mother, her favorite show, her liking funnel cakes, the number of doctorates and her PhD, her family history, her liking puppies. Also her school history, leading her high school debate team to championships, med school even."

"Seriously?" Caitlin asked. "Wait, you said my family history too. Does that mean he searched for my mother's location?"

"You're thinking he might go to Tannhauser? Pay dear ol' Mom a visit?" Seth asked.

"I'm not sure. But honestly, since he got my family's information, yeah, and, my relationship with my Mom's rocky, to say the least, but she's family. I wanna make sure she's okay." Caitlin admitted.

"You sure about this?" Seth asked, their last visit to her mother's workplace didn't work out so well. Caitlin nodded. "Well then…" The mutant faced their daughters. "Ready to meet Grandma?"

"No."

"Maybe."

"Don't care?"

As the parents expected… They all had different reactions.

X

(…Star City…)

Star City… Thriving metropolis, home to important businesses and corporations such as Queen Consolidated, Palmer Technologies… But despite such housing important enterprises like them, it is still rife with poverty, crime and corruption….

The state of the city hadn't improved much, practically worsened after Damien Darhk's H.I.V.E. initiative… Many lost their lives during that, falling to the gas chambers that he made….

Many lives were lost because of them…

Eliza walks up the side of a building, casual as ever, uncaring whether or not she's seen by any civilians walking on the streets. She reached the top, sprouting tendrils from her back and latched onto the roof. With a dramatic flair, she pulled on the tendrils and they yanked her onto the rooftop.

"Marvelous view." Scream noted, watching the same cesspool of a city as her host. Mentally inhaling, the Klyntar added. "The air's rich with the filth of the city. Truly fascinating that such a city exists, rampant with corruption and crime."

"Yeah, it's a shock that no one's decided to level the entire damn thing." Eliza stopped, realization dawning on her. "Oh yeah, someone did. Forgot about Merlyn."

"A wizard did this?" Scream questioned seriously.

"Dammit, no. A man with a tragic backstory and a head turned the wrong way more than once, not a creepy old wizard with a bedazzled walking stick." Eliza crushed her "other's" hopes. She sighed, exhaling air. "Where is that mummy-faced excuse of a bad guy?"

Behind, on the rooftop of the adjacent building, a figure was shown. The figure wears a suit, one that bears a design similar to the one adorned by the Green Arrow of the same city. But this one has an overall darker shade of green. Two straps on the suit, one for carrying a scabbard and the other for a quiver, a sword and arrows held by them respectively. The figure, bearing a mask that covers his entire face, pulls off two arrowhead-shaped shuriken from the sides of his abdomen.

Pulling back his right hand, he took a stance.

"Your friend got poor manners."

"Yeah, he could at least buy us a drink before attacking." Eliza chuckled.

The figure swung his arm, hurling his throwing stars towards her. Each of them flew towards her with quick velocity.

But lightning erupted around her body, her hair strands turning into those of her "other's" and lashed out. The tips of them sharpened into blades, cutting the throwing stars in two and with ease. The cut pieces flew and landed around her feet.

Turning around, Eliza faced the villain of Star City. "You know, backstabbing a girl, that's more third-date material. Wow, Adrian, you gonna be single for life at this rate." She stepped closer towards the edge of the rooftop she's on. "You wanna come over, talk business… Or you wanna pee in your pants from a distance?"

"Talking like I'm afraid of you." Prometheus noted, speaking with his voice filter. He pulled out his sword from his scabbard. "Want me to prove you wrong?"

"Aw cute." Eliza mock cooed. "Little boy, feeling tough and big in his Halloween costume. Daddy must be so proud of you. Oh right, he already bit the dust."

"Wanna join him in the afterlife?" Without letting her give a response, Prometheus rushed towards the edge of his rooftop and jumped off of it. He spiraled in the air, pulling off two more shuriken and hurled them after the symbiote-bearer.

Thrusting out her right hand, Eliza released a lightning blast. The two throwing stars were immediately melted from the intense and powerful lightning. But the thunderous blast didn't stop there, it continued onwards and hit Adrian Chase, the man behind the mask.

He screamed in pain, the force of it sending him into a doorway. The continuous lightning stream forced him to let go of his sword. Eliza continued her attack, inching closer to him with slow steps, continuing the other villain's agony. She stopped after reaching him and crouched down in front of him.

"So how about you and I discuss what we intended to discuss, and you bring over the person we talked about?" Eliza corrected herself. "And by that, I mean you don't do anything other than accepting what I'm saying and you bring out your little sharpshooter?"

"Who says she's not here already?" Adrian countered.

Expanding her senses to their limit, Eliza nodded her head and found the person. "You know…" She stood up, looking to the side. "You could stop creeping and just look at me face-to-face."

The person stepped out….

And the face really, truly shocked the Central City native….

To be continued…

The renowned collector of Earth-19 Gypsy have breached to Earth-1, intend on taking H.R. back to his native Earth and sentence him for his crimes of interdimensional travel. But to prevent that from happening, Cisco took up arms and fought her.

Two powerful vibers took each on in a heated battle in a trial by combat for H.R. Wells's life.

Their battle raged across the multiverse, but despite the incredible struggle it was to stand up against Gypsy, Vibe emerged victorious and assured H.R.'s survival and his stay on Earth-1.

Before the heated battle took place, Iris and Wally tried to get the scoop of a weapon smuggling ring. But her knowing of the future made her confident enough to stand in front of a firearm without an ounce of fear.

But the fear hit her little brother instead, forcing him and Frankie and Evelyn to act and jump in before Iris could get ventilated.

Meanwhile that happened, Eliza's plan were set in motion. Having recruited the humongous musclehead Joey Rose of Earth-1, bestowing him with the Riot symbiote, she has him and Rajeet fetch their third recruit from within Central City High.

It erupted into a fight between Venom and Genysis versus Riot and Taskmaster. Meanwhile that happened, Lasher made his entrance and iced his way through and into the building.

And while that happened…. Eliza was in Star City, finding her fourth recruit…

Let us see what else the future has in store for the heroes of Central City…

Stay tuned and until next time, peeps!