Aberration (The Flash)

Shrapnel

Later that night, Cisco was in the tech lab, working on Hartley's gauntlets. I was moving in and out, flashing to different parts of the tech lab, focusing on pin point locations.

"Where's Dr. Wells?" Caitlin asked as she walked in.

"I'm not sure." Cisco sighed.
"Barry was right. Hartley was using sonic resonance. The intensity regulator's measuring decibels. But you know what's weird? He had it set to the lowest setting." Cisco said, which caused me to stop moving about.

"What do you mean?" Cait asked.

"Well, he could've completely destroyed his father's building if he wanted to in one blast." Cisco said.

"So why not just do it and scram?" I asked.

" I mean, why stick around and run the risk of getting caught?" Caitlin asked.

"Unless he wanted to be caught." Cisco said, running to the main desk, looking at the monitor. Cisco pressed a button, sounding an alarm.

"Dr. Wells, there's been a pipeline breach." Cisco said, before turning to Caitlin.
"Stay here." He said, pointing at her face.

Cisco ran down to the pipeline, trying to stop Hartley from escaping. Just as Cisco rounded the corner, I appeared in front of the pipeline door. As Cisco ran up to me, the door exploded. Cisco and I were tossed around like ragdolls. Cisco was unconscious but the hallway entrance. A large chunk of the pipeline door was lodged in my stomach. Hartley walked right past us, without a second glance. I gasped and cried in pain as I struggled to sit up.

A couple minutes later, Barry got Cisco and I up to the med bay. Caitlin removed the door piece from my stomach, and stitched me up.

Cisco woke up about an hour later.

"Please tell me you got him." Cisco said as I walked over to him.

"I guess the attack on his family's company was a fake-out so we'd catch him." Barry said.

"And give him direct access to STAR Labs." Cait said.
"But why?" Barry asked.

"Should've known he was up to something. This is my fault." Cisco said.
"Hey man, this is on me too. I shouldn't have left before -" Barry said.
"This is no one's fault but mine. I earned the blame. I'm not interested in sharing it. Hartley doesn't think I've paid for my crimes. He's right. He won't stop until I do." Dr. Wells said, turning his chair around.
"Where are you going?" I asked.

"To earn back your trust." Dr. Wells said.

Dr. Wells went to the CCPD and gave a press conference. He came back after words with Barry in tow.
"Has Hartley made contact yet?" Dr. Wells asked.
"What makes you so sure he will?" Cait asked.

"Because he's Hartley and he'll want to have the last word." Dr. Wells said.

"Cisco, you should be resting." Barry said as Cisco moved around the Cortex.

"The answer to why Hartley fooled us into catching him is in here, and I'm gonna find it." Cisco said, before storming into the tech lab.

Dr. Wells sighed and rolled into the tech lab to comfort Cisco. Barry, Caitlin and I sat waiting, and ease dropping.

As soon as Cisco felt better, the ceiling began to rumble.
"What's that?" Caitlin asked.

"Nice gambit, Harrison, but this isn't over." Hartley said over the PA system.

"Hartley, what do you want? What do you want? I already gave my mea culpa today." Dr. Wells responded.

"The city already hated you. You don't think I noticed that press conference was a pathetic bishop sacrifice? No, no, no. I've played with you too many times to let you get away with that. This is between, you, me and the Flash." Hartley said.
"You don't wanna play for those kind of stakes with me, Hartley." Dr. Wells replied.
"Actually, I really do. What do you say? One last game of chess?" Hartley asked.

"You and I both know that the winner of the game is the one who makes the next to last mistake... and you clearly have a move in mind." Dr. Wells said.

You're right, and I'm already at the board. So why don't you move your precious scarlet knight... while I take out a few pawns?" Hartley said, before a loud screech filled the room.

"Alright, Alright. Cisco, where do I go?" Barry asked, walking around the Cortex.
"I can't trace his signal. He could be sending messages from anywhere." Cisco said.

"Cisco, scan for seismic activity. If Hartley's using sonic blasts the vibrations could cause tremors." Dr. Wells said.

Cisco scanned all of Central City.

"Look, over here. Quake activity but no fault line." Cisco said.

"I think he's on the Cleveland Dam." Caitlin said.

"Barry. Don't underestimate him. He's brilliant." Dr. Wells said.

"Well, good thing I'll have you in here." Barry said, touching his ear. Barry raced off to face Hartley.