Swayam wanted to stay at CCPD and keep a close eye on "Barry," but he knew he couldn't do so without raising suspicion. Accusing "Barry" of being an imposter without concrete evidence would be difficult. Explaining his suspicions would also be complicated—while Caitlin would trust him without question, Cisco and Harrison Wells would likely demand more proof. After all, who could "Barry" possibly be, if not Barry Allen?
Swayam also didn't want to reveal his knowledge about time travel, alternate Earths, or dimension-hopping. When he first arrived in this reality, he feigned ignorance of such matters to avoid drawing too much attention to himself. But now, the situation was growing increasingly complex. Suggesting that the "Barry" who captured Hartley could be from the future or an alternate timeline would raise too many uncomfortable questions. So, Swayam had to be careful.
However, just because he couldn't watch "Barry" directly didn't mean he lacked other means. Swayam had grown much more proficient in using his abilities. Just as he once created an ant-sized clone to follow Caitlin after her abduction, he now conjured another clone—this one even smaller, nearly invisible, able to monitor "Barry" closely without detection. Satisfied with his plan, Swayam let the clone do its job while he returned to S.T.A.R. Labs.
Inside CCPD headquarters, "Barry's" lab was a wreck—papers scattered, glass shattered, and equipment broken. "Barry" entered the chaos, surveying the damage before starting his CSI work, looking for clues as to who or what caused the destruction.
Swayam's tiny clone observed "Barry" closely, focusing on his mannerisms. The more Swayam watched, the more suspicious he grew. "Barry's" interactions with Joe and Eddie were off—subtle, but enough to raise concern.
During a conversation with Joe, "Barry" casually asked, "So, what do you think about Swayam?"
Joe, caught off guard, found the question odd but not suspicious. After some thought, Joe began to speak thoughtfully about Swayam. "Well, if you ask me, Sam is... deeply enigmatic. Imposing, even. He's always composed and watchful, like he's thinking two steps ahead of everyone else. His calm in any situation sets him apart. Shows incredible control."
"Barry" listened closely, surprised by Joe's deep respect for Swayam. Joe rarely spoke this highly of anyone, especially someone younger than himself. As Joe continued, "Barry" grew more curious about this Swayam, who didn't exist in his own timeline.
"Physically, Sam's a beast," Joe said with a small grin. "Agile, powerful, always in control. I remember when we had a run-in with those human traffickers... Sam's timing was perfect. If he hadn't shown up when he did, things could've gotten real ugly. The way he moves, it's... graceful, almost. But deliberate. You can tell he's trained—trained a lot."
As Joe reminisced, "Barry" became even more intrigued. It seemed like Swayam wasn't just an asset to the team—he was someone Joe trusted deeply. "When it comes to assessing threats, Sam's always the first to know what's going on. You see it in the way the officers react when he's around—they trust him. They feel safer, more confident. But those traffickers? They were terrified. He didn't even need to say a word. His presence alone was enough."
The more Joe talked, the more "Barry" realized how impactful Swayam was in this timeline. In his own timeline, Swayam didn't exist, and now he questioned why. What was so different about this timeline that produced someone like Swayam?
"Most notably," Joe said, his tone softening, "Sam's got a warmth to him. Beneath all that mystery and strength, he cares deeply about others. He's protective of his friends and will do anything to keep them safe. You can see it in his actions."
At this, "Barry" felt even more confused. Joe's description painted Swayam as not only formidable but also compassionate. How could someone like that not exist in his timeline? Why did this alternate past include Swayam, but his reality didn't?
Noticing "Barry" had gone unusually quiet, Joe gave him a questioning look. "Barry, shouldn't you know this already? You two have been friends for a while now. Why ask me?"
"Barry" quickly recovered, forcing a casual chuckle to cover his lapse. "Yeah, I know. Just wanted to hear your take on him. You don't usually talk about people like this."
Joe raised an eyebrow but let it go. "You're right, but Sam deserves recognition. He's special."
As Swayam's minuscule clone listened, he was surprised. He hadn't realized how much Joe knew about him. The way Joe described him made him seem larger-than-life—strong and noble. Swayam, on the other hand, viewed his abilities as a survival mechanism, nothing more. Hearing Joe's admiration gave him pause.
Meanwhile, "Barry" became more determined to uncover who Swayam was and why his existence was so different from his timeline. Alongside his need of the speed equation from Eobard Thawne, he now had another mystery to solve. But he had to tread carefully. Acting too curious would attract unwanted attention.
After changing into civilian clothes, "Barry" headed to Joe's office to gather more information about the CCPD disturbance. But his mind remained fixated on Swayam and the strange anomalies in this timeline.
Swayam's clone kept close watch as "Barry" arrived at Joe's desk. The conversation shifted to the destruction at CCPD, but Swayam's mind raced. His suspicions were slowly confirmed—this wasn't the Barry Allen he knew. Now the question was, Who is this Barry? A time traveler from the future? An alternate version from another timeline or even another Earth?
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs, Cisco sifted through recent data, trying to understand the CCPD disturbance. Caitlin glanced at the clock, then at Cisco.
"You felt it too, right?" Caitlin asked.
Cisco looked up, confused. "Feel what?"
"Something was off," she said quietly. "About Barry."
Cisco paused, fingers hovering over the keyboard. "Yeah... I've noticed some weirdness. But it's Barry, right? It's gotta be."
"Right..." Caitlin's voice trailed off as she exchanged a worried glance with Cisco.
Back at CCPD, Swayam's clone watched "Barry" as he investigated the clues, piecing together the mystery of the destruction.