Ch - 6 Continuity?

"I am sorry to burst your bubble, but it's not May 23rd, and it's definitely not the year 2024," Eobard said, his expression revealing more than just a factual correction. He had realized something deeper about Swayam—something Cisco and Caitlin hadn't yet grasped.

Swayam's heart sank for a moment, but he kept up his façade. He knew that if Eobard was truly the genius he claimed to be, deceiving him would require more than just acting confused.

Caitlin, seeing Swayam's face tighten in disbelief, stepped in gently. "What Dr. Wells said is true, Mr. Swayam. Today isn't May 23rd, 2024. It's actually January 13th, 2014. You've been in a coma since the particle accelerator explosion a month ago."

Swayam furrowed his brow, switching from disbelief to frustration. "What is going on here?" he said, his voice tense. He turned toward Eobard, pushing for an explanation. "You're a scientist, Dr. Wells. Please give me a simple and clear answer as to what's happening."

Eobard sighed and rolled over to a blackboard, beginning a drawn-out explanation. With a pen, he sketched out two timelines, one labeled 'P' for present and another labeled 'M' for mystery.

He then elaborated, "Let's assume 'P' is where we are—where Cisco, Caitlin, and I exist—and 'M' is where you come from. Usually, these two timelines or 'continuities' don't intersect. But for a brief moment, due to certain conditions—likely the multicolored lightning combined with the particle accelerator explosion—your reality and ours vibrated at the same frequency. This opened a doorway between the two, allowing you to cross over."

Swayam knew Eobard's hypothesis wasn't far from the truth, though it was more complex than even Eobard realized. Still, he played the part of a skeptic, narrowing his eyes and responding, "This might sound logical to you, but it's still hard for me to believe. How can I confirm any of this?"

Eobard leaned forward. "Tell us which orphanage you grew up in. If we can trace your life here, then we might confirm whether you truly belong to this world or not."

Swayam hesitated for a moment. He needed to be cautious with the details of his past. But he knew sharing his life story—filtered and strategically told—might decrease Eobard's suspicion.

"Well," Swayam began, carefully choosing his words, "I don't remember much from my early days, but the orphanage I grew up in was more like a training ground for thugs than a place for kids. You see, where I come from, orphans aren't always given food or care. Those who didn't get adopted by a certain age ended up begging on the streets or joining gangs. I was lucky—I didn't follow that path."

Caitlin and Cisco exchanged uncomfortable glances as Swayam continued.

"Despite all that, the orphanage had one good side—it allowed us to study, even though the odds weren't in our favor. I studied hard and learned multiple languages. By the time I was 15, I was fluent in more languages than most people would expect. It helped me become a guide for tourists. After a few years, I realized that knowing languages wasn't enough. I pursued my education seriously, and eventually, the orphanage dean took an interest in me. He sponsored my education, and by 22, I had a degree. I was even offered a teaching position at the college I graduated from."

Swayam paused, seeing their interest. His voice softened, drawing them in further. "For two years, I taught English, but the pay wasn't enough. I was considering other jobs when—" He mimicked confusion, glancing at his hands, "—when the lightning struck me on that fateful day."

Cisco, intrigued by Swayam's story, passed him a glass of water. As their hands brushed, a multicolored spark flickered briefly before disappearing into Swayam's skin. No one else seemed to notice, but Swayam did.

Caitlin, clearly moved by his story, approached Swayam and removed her gloves, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

As she made contact, another spark shot between them—this time more noticeable, even to Swayam. He suppressed his surprise, quickly masking it behind an expression of gratitude.

"Thank you," Swayam said, offering a grateful smile. He glanced at Cisco and then Eobard. "I appreciate all of your help, despite the circumstances. I'll do my best to cooperate with you all as long as it takes to figure out what's happened."

While Swayam tried to calm the situation, Eobard was watching him carefully. But even then he wasn't able to see the sparks of multicolored energy, as Swayam had.

Whatever had brought Swayam into their world, it was clear now that this wasn't a simple case of time travel. Forces far beyond Eobard's understanding were at play.

As Eobard sat quietly, contemplating his next move, he couldn't help but wonder, Who or what orchestrated this—and why was Swayam the chosen one?