Harrison Wells' Human Shield

Things You Can't Outrun

"Fascinating, a meta-human that can manipulate poison gas." Dr. Wells noted as Barry explained his latest case to the team.

"Is it just poisonous gas, or can he control all aerated substances?" Cisco voiced quickly.

"And how is he able to formulate the connection? Is it physiological or psychological?" Caitlin wondered.

Clara looked at Detective West and shrugged. "You get used to it. Later on, it just becomes radio noise,"

"The individual can create a mental nexus using gaseous substances," Dr. Wells reasoned.

"You mean can connect with gases on a molecular level?" Cisco asked. "That is ridiculously cool." He looked up at Clara "Did you just try to hit me?"

"Did it work?" Clara asked.

"No. Just felt like when Barry runs by us,"

Clara frowned with a pout and sat down in her chair.

"The only thing I'm excited about is putting criminals behind bars," Detective West interrupted. "Except Iron Heights isn't exactly equipped to handle meta-humans,"

"Then I guess it's fortunate the ones we've encountered so far are no longer with us," Dr. Wells noted.

"Dad," Clara chastised quietly.

"Well, unless we're planning on executing every super criminal we stop, you geniuses are gonna have to come up with someplace else to hold them,"

"A meta-human prison. Sweet," Cisco glared over at Clara. "You push like a girl,"

Clara glared, and Cisco went back against the wall. "I did it!" she cheered; she quieted down, seeing the looks everyone was giving her. "Sorry,"

"Until we figure a way to remove their powers," Dr. Wells continued.

"There is one place here that might hold them," Cisco noted.

"You can't be serious," Caitlin said. "I mean, we haven't been down there since...it's cordoned off,"

"Cisco is right," Dr. Wells admitted. "It could be modified to act as a makeshift prison,"

"What could?" Barry asked Clara.

"The particle accelerator," she replied quietly, her hand fidgeting with the necklace.

"Tonight, the future begins," Dr. Wells said from the presentation stage before STAR Labs.

Clara stood behind him with a smile despite her want to hide from the continuous flashes of press photography. Her mind tuning out the countless questions targeting her. She had answered press questions before, but tonight, she wanted the attention to go to all the hard work her father and STAR Labs had put into the particle accelerator, not on how she felt being the adopted child to one of Central City's greatest minds.

"The work my team and I will do here will change our understanding of physics," Dr. Wells continued "will bring about advancements in power, advancements in medicine. And trust me, that future will be here faster than you think." He took Clara's hand and led her back inside so they could begin preparation.

"Dr. Wells, we just got the latest weather report," Cisco said as soon as they entered the lab. "A big thunderstorm is rolling in,"

"We're not launching a space shuttle." Dr. Wells assured, "We'll be fine,"

Clara looked to the side as Caitlin and Ronnie discussed their honeymoon plans. She zoned back in when Cisco spoke up.

"Dr. Wells, the accelerator is primed and ready for particle injection," Cisco reported.

"Well, I feel I should say something profound like 'One small step for man,'"

Clara giggled a little at her father's antics.

Dr. Wells squeezed his daughter's shoulder. "But all I can think of to say is, I feel like I've waited for this day for centuries." He placed his hand on the scanner, and the machinery whirred to life.

"That's it?" Cisco voiced, "Figured there'd be a loud bang or something,"

"If there were a loud bang, we'd all be in trouble," Ronnie admitted.

"Take it from the guy who built it," Caitlin smiled.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we did it," Dr. Wells cheered."Happy birthday, Clara,"

Clara smiled when Ronnie brought a cupcake over with a lit candle.

"Make a wish, Cici," Ronnie teased.

Clara closed her eyes, blew out the candle, and all hell broke loose.

"Clara, did you hear me?"

Clara shook her head as she returned to the present and looked at her father.

"We're going down to the accelerator ring,"

Clara nodded numbly and looked over at Caitlin's also void expression.

"I could use Caitlin's help identifying the poison gas," Barry said.

Clara watched as Caitlin took a breath of release at Barry's words.

"Okay." Dr. Wells nodded.

"If that's okay with you?" Barry asked Caitlin.

"Let's go," Caitlin said.