Short on Time

Chapter 111

"So, you really think this might be it?" Esther asked while balancing herself on her hip, as we looked at what Caitlin was holding.

"Cisco sent me this sample to corroborate his findings, and it all checks out," Caitlin said. "I'm sending it back to him for final processing, but-"

"I think we may have found a way to suppress the meta genome," I said to them as I balanced Henry on my hip.

"Great," Barry said. "Then we can use it to de-power Cicada, stop him for good."

"What's the plan?" Esther asked.

"Put this thing in a tranq gun and go all 'American Sniper' on him?" Ralph asked.

"It's not that simple," Caitlin said.

"Cisco's breakthrough came from analyzing identical twins who were hit by the particle accelerator dark matter, cases where one developed powers and the other didn't," I explained.

"The key difference in both cases-" Caitlin began and Barry looked at it closely.

"The pituitary gland?" Barry asked.

"Exactly," Caitlin said. "In some cases, the pituitary gland metabolizes dark matter, thus manifesting in meta powers."

"So, to turn a meta-human into a human-human-" Ralph began.

"We neutralize the dark matter in the pituitary gland," Esther supplied.

"Except there's one problem," I said holding up a hand.

"The cure isn't instant," Caitlin said. "We would have to immobilize Cicada for long enough for the cure to take effect."

"How long will that take?" Barry asked.

"Best guess, a minute," I said.

"It's gonna be damn near impossible to hold him still for one second, much less sixty," Ralph said.

"Okay, but we're so close," Barry said. "I mean, there's there's gotta be something we can do, even if we have to think outside the box."

"I do have one more idea," I told Barry.

"Van Horn Industries created a peaceful anti-riot device called a Neuro-Stasis Field Generator," Caitlin explained.

"It's basically a bio-EMP that can immobilize any living organism within a confined radius," I explained.

"Of course, the few devices they had built were stolen," Esther added.

"I wouldn't even know where to begin looking for them," Caitlin said.

"I do," Ralph said and Esther gave him a look. "Can you at least try not to look so surprised? Look, if we need this, uh, Neo-Matrix whatever it is, if it's stolen tech, I think I know where to look."

"I'll come with you," I said handing Henry to Caitlin.

"No!" Esther said loudly, and we all looked at her questioningly. "I-I mean, I would like to work with Dad and Ralph. You know, Nora's done it a lot, so it would be good for me."

"Alright," Barry said as I looked at Esther suspiciously.

"I'll be fine, mum," Esther said as she handed me baby Esther and left with Ralph and Barry.

"Suspicious," I muttered to Caitlin.

"Incredibly so," she replied.

"Would it be wrong to dig into my daughter's life?" I asked.

"How?" Caitlin asked.

"I have my ways," I muttered.

~*~