Inside Barry’s lab, he was compiling all the data at superspeed.
He completed the work within minutes, the only limitation being the hardware.
After processing the evidence, he sat back eating a burger while looking at the results.
“This is all your fault,” Barry heard as Iris stomped into his lab.
“I could have taken European folklore to cover my sociology requirement, but no.
You said, ‘Take journalism, Iris.
Reporters have all the fun.’ Guess what, Barry?
Reporters have none of the fun.
Journalism is boring.
I’m bored.
I blame you,” Iris rambled, dumping her frustration onto him.
“You do know when I said ‘take journalism,’ it was meant as advice,” Barry countered.
He knew she’d make a fine reporter—she was just as curious as a cat.
“Don’t make me hit you,” Iris grumbled, stealing some of his chips.
She was dressed up, reminding Barry of something he nearly forgot.
“Where’s your suit and tie?
Did you forget?
We’re going to be late for the award.”
“Simon Stagg getting an award—you wanted me to explain the technical stuff.
I remember.
Just let me finish this up and then I’ll get changed,” Barry said.
It wouldn’t even take him a minute to run home.
“What are you working on?” Iris leaned over his computer.
The screen displayed the dust analysis from the scene.
“About a case we encountered today,” Barry said simply.
“Hey, Allen.” Another voice entered, this time Eddie.
“Joe asked me to see where you’re at on the evidence from the gun store shooting.
Oh—hey, Iris.” He tried his best to look serious.
“Detective,” Iris acknowledged him, her face lighting up.
Barry shook his head.
“No, he didn’t.
You just wanted an excuse to come here and talk to Iris.”
Eddie flushed, embarrassed that Barry saw right through him.
Iris chuckled, covering her mouth.
Barry let him off the hook.
“I already know.
You two are lousy actors anyway.
Go ahead, don’t mind me.”
Eddie sighed in relief.
He and Iris hugged and kissed.
“Thanks for being so cool about this, Barry.
I know it’s not easy keeping a big secret,” Eddie said.
“I’m used to it,” Barry muttered, shaking his head.
“It’s not a big deal, but you two need to be careful.
If Joe finds out, I’m pretty sure he’ll come after you with a shotgun,” Barry joked, wiping the smile off Eddie’s face.
“Don’t worry, babe, I won’t let anything happen to you,” Iris reassured him.
Then, turning to Barry: “And stop messing with Eddie.”
Barry lifted his hands.
“Alright, I’ll leave you two alone.
I need to go suit up for the award ceremony.” He picked up the report.
“Also, here’s the analysis: our perpetrator is probably working in a chemical plant, or at least has access to medical-grade chemicals.
There were trace amounts of industrial compounds on his shoes, meaning he either works—or worked—in some kind of industry.”
“Thanks, Allen,” Eddie said, taking the report.
“I’ll go get changed, Iris.
Meet me at CCU,” Barry told her, before heading out to suit up.
Central City University
Barry and Iris stand among a crowd as they listen to Simon Stagg give his speech after receiving his award.
“I find it quite remarkable—having once been a timid freshman at Central City University—to be standing before you now, the regent’s choice for Man of the Year.
While I very much appreciate the award, the real honor for me is knowing that my work in organ transference helps give people a second chance at life.
Thank you all very much for coming,” he says, lifting the award before stepping away from the podium.
Back with Barry and Iris, Barry begins explaining the science behind Simon Stagg’s work.
“All right, first things first… Simon Stagg’s work in cellular cloning has led to huge advancements in the future of organ replacement,” Barry says just as a waiter approaches, offering glasses of wine.
Iris takes two and hands one to Barry.
“Are journalists even allowed to drink on the job?” she teases.
“Okay…” Barry smirks, taking both glasses from her, setting one aside and keeping one for himself.
“If you’re bored already, just wait till we get to the science behind cellular regeneration,” he says, sipping the champagne.
“Why are you drinking?” Iris asks, raising a brow.
“I’m not on duty,” Barry shrugs casually, taking another sip.
“I missed this, Barry.
I feel like we haven’t really spent time together since you woke up from the coma,” Iris admits softly, linking her arm with his.
“Yeah… during my absence, a lot of work piled up.
Took some time to catch up,” Barry says—only partly true.
Before Iris can reply, a voice cuts in.
“Barry?”
Barry turns, surprised, then breaks into a smile.
“Sapphire?”
The blonde woman grins and rushes forward, hugging him.
“It really is you!
I heard about the coma—I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.”
“Don’t mention it,” Barry assures her.
“When did you get back?”
“Just last week.”
Iris cleared her throat.
“Oh—sorry.” Barry stepped back.
“Iris, this is Sapphire Stagg.
We met at Hudson University.”
Sapphire smiled.
“We were tablemates.
Barry was always sleeping I had to cover for him”
Barry chuckled.
“The lectures were boring.”
Iris smiles politely.
“Nice to meet you.
Iris West.”
“Sapphire Stagg.
Same here.
Barry’s mentioned you before,” she says warmly, before Iris catches the last name.
“Stagg?
As in…”
“Yes,” Sapphire nods knowingly.
“He’s my father.”
Right then, Simon Stagg finishes his speech and exits the stage.
He notices his daughter, gives her a small wave, and keeps walking.
Iris seizes the chance.
“Mr.
Stagg!
Could I get a quick quote for my article?”
“Not now, miss,” one of his security men says firmly as they hustle him away.
Iris mutters under her breath, “I’ll just make something up.”
“You don’t have to,” Sapphire offers with a smile.
“You can ask me instead.”
“That’d be great—thank you,” Iris brightens, already pulling out her recorder.
Barry steps back, letting them talk.
He knows all too well how strained things are between Sapphire and her father.
Simon Stagg only cared about profit; Sapphire wanted out from under his shadow.
He and Sapphire had been planning something for a while—waiting for the right time.
Barry is mid-thought when his eyes sharpen—six armed gunmen enter the hall.
He pulls Iris and Sapphire behind cover just as—
BANG!
A gunshot tears through the air.
Panic explodes.
Guests scream, crouching in terror.
Six masked men storm the hall, guns raised.
Security goes down in seconds.
“Quiet down!
All of you!” one of them barks, silencing the crowd.
Another laughs darkly.
“How thoughtful.
All dressed up, wearing your finest jewelry—almost like you knew we were coming!”
“Now everybody line up!” the leader orders, sweeping his gun across the room.
Everybody did as they were told and lined up, and the robbers began taking everyone’s jewelry, especially the ladies’.
Barry, along with Iris and Sapphire, was in the back.
“Give me all of your jewelry,” Barry whispered to them.
With him, he could store them in the space of his mark.
Iris and Sapphire didn’t hesitate and handed him their jewelry.
Barry secretly hid them.
He contemplated whether to take action, but right now none of them were in immediate danger.
He had already alerted the police; they would probably arrive in a few minutes.
He noticed something odd—each of the gunmen had the same height, build, and eye color.
They were all wearing identical clothes and shoes, and even their subtle mannerisms matched, as if they were identical copies of each other.
The robbers finished collecting everything and were about to leave when a security guard rushed in, pointing his gun at them.
“Freeze!” he shouted.
The robbers turned around, and all six of them aimed their guns at the guard.
“D-D-Drop your weapons!” the security guard stammered, but instead of listening, all six opened fire without hesitation.
BOOM.
Six bullets flew toward the poor guard.
Barry saw them in slow motion.
Immediately, he entered superspeed and the bullets froze mid-air.
He dashed toward them, catching all six, then rushed to the guard, carrying him outside through the exit.
He tossed bullets into a trash can before returning to his original spot, unnoticed by anyone.
The robbers looked confused when they saw the guard suddenly vanish, and they bolted with the stolen goods.
“Iris, Sapphire, I’ve called the police.
I’ll go identify their getaway car.” Barry stood, but Sapphire and Iris both grabbed his arm.
“No, stay here,” Iris tried to stop him.
“Barry, it’s not safe,” Sapphire insisted.
“Don’t worry, I won’t confront them,” Barry reassured them.
He followed the robbers at normal speed, and just as he turned a corner, away from prying eyes, he entered superspeed and instantly caught up with them outside.
He wasted no time, delivering a light chop to each of their necks, knocking them all unconscious.
Barry pulled off their masks and found they all had the exact same face.
Clones?
Barry thought.
A meta-human.
He snapped a picture with his phone.
But then, to his shock, the bodies began to decompose into dust right before his eyes.
“Okay… didn’t expect that,” Barry muttered to himself.
Hearing police sirens, he knew it was time to leave.
He vanished from the scene and reappeared inside the building.
At a normal pace, he returned to Iris and Sapphire. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
“Did you get their getaway vehicle?” Sapphire asked—it had barely been a minute since he left.
“No, they suddenly disappeared,” Barry lied.
He couldn’t tell them he’d punched clones to dust.
“Thank God you’re safe,” Iris said, relieved.
The police arrived within minutes, swarming the university building and taking statements from the victims.
Sapphire left with her security team, though reluctantly—Barry promised to contact her later.
Joe found Barry and Iris standing in a corner.
“You two okay?” he asked.
“We’re fine, Dad,” Iris answered.
Joe looked at Barry, who just nodded.
“I thought I was dead.
I saw the gun go off, and then—boom.
Suddenly I’m outside.
I have no idea how I got there.” The security guard’s statement carried across the room.
Joe caught Barry’s eye, knowing exactly who was responsible for saving him.
“Let me talk to you for a second,” Joe said to Barry, when Eddie suddenly walked up.
“Joe, you need to see this,” Eddie said.
Joe glanced at Barry, deciding to postpone their talk.
“You too, Barry,” Eddie added.
Barry and Joe followed Eddie outside, to the university’s side exit—where Barry had taken down the six perps.
Joe frowned.
“What’s this?”
“The perps left everything behind—the stolen jewelry, even their weapons.
And… a lot of dust.
The weapons are the same ones stolen from the gun store this morning,” Eddie explained, equally confused.
Joe looked at Barry.
“What do you think?” Eddie asked him.
Barry put on gloves, pretending to investigate.
“The dust is shaped like people—six of them.
It’s like our perps turned to dust.”
“How’s that possible?” Eddie muttered, baffled.
“I don’t know…” Barry said carefully.
“Barry.
A word,” Joe said, pulling him aside.
When they were alone, Joe asked, “What happened, Barry?”
“After the men finished robbing and tried to escape, I ran after them and knocked them out,” Barry admitted.
“You did this to them?
You killed them?” Joe asked, shocked.
“Let me finish.” Barry rolled his eyes, calming him down.
“After I knocked them out, I removed their masks.
They were all the same person, Joe.”
“What do you mean, are all of them the same?” Joe asked.
“Here.” Barry showed him the photo he had taken.
“Damn…” Joe muttered, finally understanding.
“They were clones, Joe.
The same exact face.
And then… the bodies decomposed instantly into dust.
That’s when I left.”
“So you’re saying—”
“Yes.
This person is like me.
A meta-human,” Barry confirmed.
“Meta-human?” Joe repeated.
“That’s what the people at S.T.A.R.
Labs call them,” Barry explained.
Just then, Eddie returned.
“Joe, there’s a suspicious black van outside.
We should check it out.”
Joe gave Barry a look, then the two followed Eddie.
Sure enough, a black van was parked nearby.
Barry immediately got to work, searching the vehicle.
He found evidence someone had been inside recently, pulled fingerprints off the steering wheel, and bagged some hair strands.
“What did you find?” Joe asked.
“There was another person here.
He must have fled on foot once the others were taken down.
I think he’s the real deal—the ones I fought were just his clones.”
Joe sighed.
“Okay, now I need you to do something.
No more heroics.
Chasing bad guys isn’t your job.
It’s mine.
You’re not a cop.
Promise me you’ll stay away from this.”
“But Joe, what can the police do against someone who can make copies of himself?
And we don’t even know if six is the limit—what if he can make more?” Barry argued.
“Even so, I don’t want you getting hurt over this,” Joe said firmly.
He still couldn’t wrap his head around how dangerous this could be.
“I’ll go to S.T.A.R.
Labs and try to learn more about this meta-human,” Barry said, packing up the evidence and heading out.
Joe nodded reluctantly.
He didn’t have a better idea.
Hey Guyz
So I was thinking about something, what if we force Eddie to have a vasectomy, than what would happen to Eobard