New Earth: Flash

Chapter 46

"Caitlin, I'm so glad you could make it." Ramsey Rosso said as Caitlin sat down across from him at a table at Jitters.

"I came as soon as you called and I've read your research and it's groundbreaking." Caitlin said.

"How groundbreaking?" Ramsey asked.

"Groundbreaking enough that I'd like you to come work at Star Labs for me so I can help you." Caitlin said.

"That's what I was hoping you'd say, since Star Labs has the one key component I need to begin running human trials on my cure." Ramsey said.

"And what might that be?" Caitlin asked, even though she already knew.

"Dark matter. That's the binding agent that allows my cure work." Ramsey said.

"Ramsey, while Star Labs does have reserves of dark matter on hand, only people with the highest level of security clearance are allowed to have access to it and given the fact that dark matter has the ability to turn people into metahumans, I doubt that it will be approved." Caitlin said.

"That didn't seem to matter when you built the particle accelerator and created a bunch of metas." Ramsey pointed out.

"Star Labs is under new ownership and we have finally managed to move past all the bad press that the explosion caused and your cure creating new metas would just end up bringing all that right back." Caitlin said.

"But it would be countered by it also having cured HLH." Ramsey tried to insist.

"I'm sorry Ramsey. My offer still stands and I'll help you find a work around for dark matter, but there's no way in hell I'm allowing you to use any of Star Labs dark matter to create this cure. Some things are not worth the risk." Caitlin said, making it clear that her mind was made up.

"Fine." Ramsey said, disappointed, but knowing that Star Labs had already risen to become one of the top research facilities in the world, so maybe he could find a work around for dark matter and maybe he could even find a way to steal some dark matter from Star labs to test his cure out on himself.

"And in case you're thinking of stealing any dark matter from Star Labs, you should know that it's kept in a secure offsite facility that we keep off the books, away from the general public. There is a small list of members of Star Labs who are allowed to know it's location and be able to access it, myself included. Anyone else who wants dark matter must submit a formal request to the big boss Barry Allen and go through a very rigorous screening process before he'll even consider approving the request and if it is, it will be delivered to you at your lab." Caitlin said.

"So, the only way I'm getting dark matter from Star Labs is if your boss approves it, which doesn't sound very likely." Ramsey said.

"And if we discover that you've obtained dark matter from any of our competitors such as Mercury Labs or Kord Industries, it will be considered grounds for termination." Caitlin said and Ramsey sighed.

"Fine. No dark matter. But if you're serious about helping me find another way to get my cure to work, then I'm in it, since hopefully, I can use this to save my mum." Ramsey said.

And also yourself. Frost said in Caitlin's head, but she didn't say it out loud.

"That would be great. Come by the main lab facility on Monday so that you can meet my boss and we'll get you set up officially." Caitlin said as she held out her hand to Ramsey, who shook it.

"I look forward to working with you." Ramsey said, though Caitlin could see past his charade and could tell that he was still trying to find a way to get ahold of dark matter to complete the cure that he already knew would work and it was clear that he was man who was so desperate to avoid death, he didn't care what sort of consequences there would be as long as he got the results he wanted.

When Ramsey entered his apartment that night, he was surprised when he found someone else in there.

"Who are you?" Ramsey asked.

"Dr. Rosso, no need for alarm." the stranger said.

"Really? Says the man who broke into my apartment and waited for me to come home?" Ramsey asked as the stranger stood up and walked out of the shadows.

"My name is Clifford DeVoe and I am here because I would like to help with your research." DeVoe said.

"How can you possibly help with my research?" Ramsey asked, only to be stunned when DeVoe produced a single vial of dark matter.

"How did you get that?" Ramsey asked.

"I have my ways Dr. Rosso, but how I got this is not important. What is important is that I want to give it to you." DeVoe said.

"Whatever you want from me for it, I'll give it to you." Ramsey said.

"I don't want much, just two things from you. Two promises." DeVoe said.

"Of course, what is it?" Ramsey asked.

"The first is that you will test this cure on yourself, to ensure that it is safe for public use." DeVoe said.

"Of course." Ramsey said.

"Good." DeVoe said.

"And your other condition?" Ramsey asked.

"Someday I will come to you and ask for a favor. You will grant my request without hesitation, whatever it may be." DeVoe said.

"Yes of course." Ramsey said, not realizing what he was truly agreeing too and he didn't care. All he cared about now was getting what DeVoe had and he wanted.

"Excellent. I look forward to seeing how this all plays out." DeVoe said as he handed the vial to Ramsey before making his way out, this time through the door before vanishing into his pocket dimension, a smile on his face, since the first step of his plan was in place, since he already knew how Rosso's cure would go and now Bloodwork owed him a favor which he would collect when the time was right.