Zero hour

Diversion

The moment these words came out of her mouth, 'so, this is why....got you', Caitlin bit her lips and her eyes darted all around the room. It was once she was done saying this sentence that Caitlin realized she just sold out the fact she made some discovery, one she didn't want her captors to know. At the moment, the only people with her were two guards and Barry who was sitting at the other side of the room with his hands massaging his forehead and scratching one real ugly rash on it.

Thankfully, it didn't look like anyone heard what she said. Good. Barry, or the Galway, didn't have to know her advancement as it would only lead to them using it to their advantage or deciding they had no used for the doctor anymore. Or, maybe, both of these options. If only Cisco were still there, he would know what to do. Caitlin's heart clenched tightly in her chest at the sudden thought of her lost friend.

After forcing her grieving mind to stop thinking about the engineer, the doctor moved her attention away from her work and turned her head around to get a better look at the sick speedster, worried twitching her stomach. Oh God, Barry seemed worse every time she looked at him.

Hang in there, Barry, I'll get you out, and I'll save you, she thought while surely not expecting the chain of event that was about to happen mere seconds later.

When a sudden bright blue light started forming in the room, adrenaline unexpectedly filled Caitlin's veins and she jumped on her feet faster than her conscious mind could comprehend what she was reacting to. Her survival instinct was kicking in; there was the chance she had been waiting. Whatever was happening, whether it was allies or not there were about to disturb the criminal couple's plans, it didn't matter because, either way, it was a diversion. It was the opportunity Caitlin needed, and she was going to make the most of it. Quickly, Caitlin grabbed the test tubes containing the substances she'd been testing and also took the remaining, unused, sample of Barry's blood. In one swift motion, she put everything in her vest pocket when no one was looking.

Turning on her heels, the doctor stretched her tired legs with the intention of dashing through the door but stopped when she glanced over her shoulder and instantly recognized the formation of a portal, a breacher's portal. Which breacher was about to appear? One she knew, like Gypsy?

The face of the second person who jumped out of the portal and landed gracefully on the cold laboratory room was wholly lost on the doctor as the unmistakable form next to it got all her attention. Caitlin only saw that uniform once, but she recognized it without a doubt; it was Earth 3's Cisco. It was the person who unexpectedly appeared on their Earth asking for help and the one who died to deliver his message. The hole on the side of the black jacket and the traces of blood around were proof it. Well, there was one difference: the yellow, black and red hoodie wasn't cut open anymore.

Could Caitlin be wrong? Could it be a whole new Cisco? No matter which Earth this one was coming from, seeing another Cisco froze the woman in place as all of her emotions rose back.

"Cis-" she started mouthing with difficulty.

The mystery Vibe rose both his hands and pointed them toward Barry, ready for battle, and he wasn't the only one considering the lightning now sparkling all over the other man's body. No warning was given before Vibe made his move, there was no time for that. Squinting eyes and shaking arms were obvious signs the breacher was in deep concentration as he intensively stared at the speedster who suddenly started receiving weird and translucent waves of energy.

"What the-" exclaimed Barry as he extended his legs with the clear intention of attacking, but only managed to put a foot forward before stumbling, without being able to connect with his superspeed. The man then crashed on his knees.