Chapter 137 New Ability "Whammy"
Chapter 137 New Ability "Whammy"
Caitlin lay wide awake, imprisoned by her inability to move or speak. All she could do was force herself to ignore Stephen's presence beside her. Escaping never crossed her mind; it was an utterly hopeless endeavor. She harbored no anger toward Stephen either. His temperament and behavior had always been enigmatic. Sometimes, his actions seemed malevolent, but in truth, they were benevolent.
A prime example was the Reverse Flash incident.
Initially, everyone deemed his actions as unreasonable, yet the truth validated his stance. While Stephen might have acted out of personal gratification, it was undeniable that he genuinely aided Barry and their cause. If Reverse Flash were allowed to persist in his charade, who could predict the potential consequences?
Thus, Caitlin bore guilt for her role in setting a trap for Stephen and for misjudging him.
Human psychology, she mused, was quite peculiar. An individual might commit a lifetime of virtuous deeds, yet a single transgression could forever brand them as malevolent. Conversely, someone with a history of misdeeds could find redemption through a single act of goodness. It was reminiscent of the metaphorical act of a butcher turning into a benevolent deity.
Amidst the night's darkness, Caitlin was forcibly abducted from her home and menaced by Telepathy. She found Stephen's personality to be excessively self-centered, devoid of consideration for others' feelings, and uninterested in assimilating into society.
Time passed in contemplation, and Caitlin eventually succumbed to a fitful slumber.
Upon awakening, Stephen was conspicuously absent.
Stiff with unease, Caitlin donned her clothes and ventured out. In the operating room, she encountered an unfamiliar individual.
"Who are you?" Caitlin inquired cautiously.
"Laurie."
"So, you and Stephen..."
"He's left breakfast for you over there. You should continue with the tasks he assigned. Also, he wanted me to assure you that S.T.A.R. Labs is safe now. Once you succeed, he'll release you." Laurie's response was curt as she turned to depart.
Despite Caitlin's attempts to engage Laurie further, the latter's reticence prevailed. Resigned, Caitlin moved on. Following breakfast, she resumed her study of the velocity serum.
At S.T.A.R. Labs,
Cisco Ramon had successfully acquired the Tachyon particle matrix for Stephen. Together with nano-reduction technology, it underwent modification for Stephen's recent battle.
"Finished!"
Moments later, Cisco Ramon applauded excitedly. "With the Tachyon Particle Matrix, the energy weapon's potency is substantially enhanced, and the speed boost is remarkable. Ordinary individuals donning this battle suit could almost rival Barry's previous velocity. Furthermore, the nano-reduction technology allows the suit to transform from a bracelet into full-body armor within three seconds. Remarkable! This is perhaps the finest creation of my career. Actually, it deserves an impressive name."
"I believe it lacks self-reparing capabilities. The suit's material isn't top-tier, leaving it susceptible to damage," Stephen observed while eyeing the vivid crimson armor thoughtfully.
"Self-repair for a battle suit? I don't believe any technology has achieved that yet. It's an ambitious undertaking," Cisco responded.
"One more thing, change the suit's color. The bright red is a bit monotonous. Please redesign it in black and gold, with gold-trimmed edges." Stephen swiftly sketched a design concept.
Cisco Ramon surveyed the drawing and was about to commence work when the computer blared an alarm.
"The bank is being robbed?" Cisco glanced at him and immediately planned to alert Barry. Simultaneously, he began pulling up the surveillance video to assess the situation.
A bank robbery had indeed taken place, but this case seemed peculiar. The bank's occupants were assaulting one another as if under some form of compulsion, their enraged expressions horrifying to witness. The thieves managed to abscond with the money effortlessly amidst the chaos of their self-inflicted brawls.
"This case is rather unique, as if... they're all being influenced somehow," Cisco Ramon mused, his subconscious recalling eerie scenes from some similar movie, causing a shiver to ripple through him.
"Rainbow Raider," Stephen chimed in with a chuckle.
"Rainbow Raider?" Cisco Ramon swiveled his head to focus on Stephen. "You're familiar with him?"
Ignoring the query, Stephen diverted the conversation, "What's Barry up to?"
"Dealing with personal relationship issues, I suppose? He was with Iris when the tsunami occurred, so... given that Iris knows his identity, it's like they're in the midst of a "movie plot"," Cisco sighed.
If Barry had managed to teleport through and enter the time loop, altering events preemptively, he and Iris wouldn't have separated and their identities wouldn't have been exposed until the final reveal. But now, the intricacies were causing Cisco a headache, particularly because Iris and her boyfriend hadn't broken up yet.
"I'll handle the Rainbow Raider. Quick, start coloring my battle suit."
"Huh? Wait, are you actually going to take care of this? First, you need to locate..." Stephen vanished before Cisco could finish his sentence.
Streaks of lightning darted through the city, and before long, Stephen located Rainbow Raider in a rental house.
"The Flash? No fancy suit this time?"
Stephen's abrupt appearance left Rainbow Raider momentarily befuddled. Then, with a confident air, he locked gazes with Stephen, his eyes emanating a crimson light.
Rainbow Raider's power involved inducing anger upon direct eye contact, affecting the brain's emotional center, particularly the central nervous system governing behavior. This manipulation restrained subconscious thoughts and actions, forcing those affected to succumb to bouts of irrational behavior driven by anger.
Much akin to telepathy or mind control, the ability was a form of mental manipulation. For accomplishing tasks, it was indeed a potent choice.
However, the moment Rainbow Raider activated his ability, Stephen mimicked it promptly. Simultaneously, while unaffected by the power, Stephen executed a swift knife-hand strike, driving it directly into Rainbow Raider's heart. The crimson light in Rainbow Raider's eyes extinguished instantaneously. He twitched briefly before collapsing to the ground.
Deceased.
Death in its swiftest and simplest form.
Turning on his heels, Stephen retraced his steps to S.T.A.R. Labs.
Cisco Ramon remained seated at the computer.
"I took care of him. Now, it's time for you to work on coloring my battle suit." Stephen tapped Cisco Ramon's shoulder, leaving him in a daze. "This... so soon?"
"Do you think I'm Barry? Every day, he boasts about being the fastest man alive only to end up battered in the face!" Stephen grumbled nonchalantly, pulling Cisco over to commence painting the battle suit.
...
...
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Marvel King: Real Author
Fake Author/Translator Zatch[King]Rex
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