(The Flash) Frozen Flashpoint: Chapter 27 - Turning Point

Chapter 27 - Turning Point

Summary: Team Flash is lacking information and can think of only one source to get it. Caitlin takes her shot.

Barry stood still, staring at the screen with Cisco, Harry, Jesse, and Wally in the room. It was hard to believe—a drug that could make any meta stronger without any drawbacks is something that could be both amazing and catastrophic.

Barry remembered the temptation he felt to use Velocity 6 so he could be faster than Zoom. The idea of the drug making him faster kept occupying his mind for weeks, the only thing stopping him from trying was Caitlin's constant reminder of the price the drug takes.

When Caitlin was taken, Barry was willing to give up his life and use the damned speed drug so he could run there and save her. The only thing that prevented him that time was the fact Caitlin was the only one who knew how to create it, and it wasn't like she left any spare vials lying around.

Of course, this new drug does have one significant disadvantage compared to V6. The speed drug would have given powers even to ordinary humans—Caitlin's friend came to mind—while this new drug would kill any non-meta and enhance any meta beyond their ordinary limit.

But with DeVoe as their big bad this year, Barry couldn't feel the temptation to use said drug on himself. After all, what would more speed gain him when he goes against a meta like DeVoe or his minions that can negate speedsters' abilities?

This time the fight is not about who is faster like it was with Thawne and Zoom; instead, it's a battle of the minds, and DeVoe has enough brain power to compete with the combined efforts of Barry, Harry, Cisco, Caitlin, Jesse, and Wally.

"So does anyone have any ideas?" Wally's question broke Barry from his musing and diverted his attention back to the people in the room.

Jesse shrugged and said, "I mean, we can ask Caitlin's mother to let us hang around in case one of DeVoe's minions shows up."

Wally tilted his head and asked carefully, "Umm... But what if more than one shows up, or even DeVoe himself? Just one of us won't be able to hold him long enough to gather everyone. It's kind of stupid."

Barry winced internally. Oh Wally, that was a poor choice of words—just wait for it.

And as Barry predicted, Jesse's fists rested on her hips. She leaned forward with a blank face and a raised eyebrow, asking in a flat voice, "Stupid, huh?"

Barry noticed Harry trying to hide a smirk, while Cisco tried to busy himself with the keyboard in front of him while saying under his breath, "Bold, man. Bold."

Wally seemed to at least catch up quickly on his mistake. His face going pale and he began waving his arms frantically in front of himself, shouting, "Wait, I didn't mean it like that! I promise! I can..."

Before he could finish, Lyra flashed into the cortex, took a moment to read the room, and with a small smirk of her own asked, "Did Uncle Wally say something stupid to Auntie Jesse again?"

Jesse turned to Lyra and asked in a dry voice that sent shivers down all the males' spines, "Oh, he does it often, does he?"

Lyra shrugged lightly and answered in an uninterested kind of way, "Every now and then, I suppose."

There was a tense silence after that where everyone waited to see what Jesse's reaction would be, especially Wally who began to shake and sweat visibly.

Finally, the tension was broken when Lyra said between giggles, "Okay, Auntie Jess, you should stop messing with him. He's about to pass out."

Everyone blinked as Jesse chuckled and said lightly, "Sorry, Wally, but I couldn't help it."

Wally just kept blinking with an uncomprehending look on his face before Jesse pulled him into a quick peck on the lips.

Harry's smirk immediately melted back to his usual scowl.

Cisco tried to change the subject. "I think our biggest problem is that while DeVoe has all the info on us, we're still working with the little we got to learn from our future selves."

Everyone nodded, though Lyra did look gloomy about the observation. Probably mad at herself for not knowing more as she is the one coming from the future for help, but Barry could only approve of Caitlin's and Ollie's decision to keep her out of the loop for as long as possible.

Cisco, undeterred by the grim acceptance of hard fact, continued with a smile, "So we should ask someone who does know him for help."

Barry tilted his head and asked wryly, "Who did you have in mind?"

It was Harry that answered with a disapproving voice, "You're talking about Mrs. DeVoe."

Cisco ignored Harry's tone and nodded with a smile. "Yep. She helped us before, or will help us in a certain future, or..." Cisco looked confused for a moment before shaking it off and speaking again. "Anyway, she is our best bet."

Barry could see where Cisco was going with it and he had a good point, the only problem is... "How are we supposed to find her?"

Cisco typed something into his keyboard and brought up a picture that looked very similar to that of Marlize DeVoe. When Barry turned back to him with a confused look, he shrugged and said, "Well, after you described what she looks like from the vibe, I kind of built this portrait to enter into face recognition software."

Cisco then pushed a few more buttons and a new picture opened on the screen, this one clearly taken using a CCTV camera. The picture was of course of Marlize DeVoe; she looked younger than what Barry saw in the vibe, but that was to be expected.

Cisco pointed at the picture as he said, "She always goes to this supermarket on Wednesdays at about 2 PM."

Barry considered it for a moment. It could be dangerous. If DeVoe keeps tabs on his wife, they will show their hand by approaching his wife, and if she stays on his side after they talk with her, DeVoe will know everything they do.

On the other hand, if Marlize switches to our side, the benefit will be huge. Barry kept thinking about it, not even sure what he would say to the woman to get her on their side when Caitlin's voice said, "I will talk with her."

Barry turned to her with wide eyes, not even knowing how long she was standing there and listening with Carla next to her. Barry noticed something between the two was different, but he didn't have the time to question it right now. Instead, he looked at his fiancée and asked carefully, "Are you sure about that, Cait?"

Caitlin smiled at him reassuringly. "I think it will be for the best that way. I can just bump into her accidentally, and if DeVoe follows her, it won't look suspicious—just two women meeting unintentionally at the supermarket."

Barry sighed, knowing when Caitlin spoke like that there was no changing her mind, so with a nod he accepted it.

FF FF FF FF FF

Caitlin entered the supermarket casually as if she goes there every day. A basket in her hand and she looked around the aisles of the store, occasionally picking something out and putting it in her basket.

She walked around until she noticed Marlize DeVoe walking just like she was, with a basket and the everyday smile that made her look like the most unsuspicious woman in the store.

The dark-haired woman stopped in one of the registry lines, and Caitlin was quick to follow in a way that would make it look like she herself was just done with the shopping and heading to pay.

Caitlin 'accidentally' bumped into the woman from the back, causing her to lose her balance for a moment. During the time it took her to stabilize herself, a couple of items fell from her basket to the floor.

Caitlin started her act by immediately going to her knees and picking the items up while saying hurriedly, "I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking and..." She allowed herself to trail off.

Marlize turned around, still smiling. "It's okay, we all make..." She too trailed off when she saw Caitlin's face.

Obviously, she was familiar with her, probably seen her on one of DeVoe's plans. Marlize's eyes narrowed for a moment before she shook it off and smiled again.

Caitlin stood back up and handed her the two magazines she dropped and said with an apologetic voice, "Again, I'm so sorry. I'm usually more aware of where I'm going."

Marlize waved it off and said, "Like I said, we all make mistakes. It's really fine."

Caitlin gave her a sheepish smile as she pointed at the magazine Marlize just returned to her basket and asked, "Are you the kind that enjoys reading about history?"

The raven-haired woman chuckled before replying, "No, my husband is. He's a history professor at the university and likes to stay updated..." She laughed at her own joke before adding more soberly, "He can't move around as easily as most, so each time I'm here I pick him a copy."

Caitlin allowed herself a small chuckle as well. "My fiancé is the same. He's a CSI and likes to bring the work home. Half the time I'm afraid to use the glasses in the kitchen because I'm not sure what was in them an hour earlier."

Both women laughed together as they took a couple of steps forward, advancing in the line.

Caitlin then gasped and snapped her finger before saying with awe in her tone, "You're Dr. DeVoe, aren't you?!" The woman looked startled and took a step backward with a suspicious look in her eyes, but Caitlin kept talking in the same tone. "I loved your paper on purified water! Your research will change the world one day. I can't wait to see you get your Nobel Prize."

Marlize's startled look turned into a shocked one and she was blushing a little, but the suspicious look left her eyes as she asked in a sheepish voice, "You really think so?"

Caitlin nodded with a smile. "Oh yes. You see, I'm a scientist in the biological field as well, and your papers inspired some of my recent work with STAR Labs."

Marlize raised her eyebrow with a small smile. "STAR Labs? I thought they went out of business when Harrison Wells confessed to a murder."

Caitlin smiled and was about to answer when someone cleared their throat. Both women turned around to see it was Marlize's turn to pay and they were holding up the line.

With a sheepish look, Marlize began handing the worker her items. While she was doing it, Caitlin jumped on the opportunity to ask, "Maybe we can sit down for a cup of coffee next door? I would love to speak with you a little longer."

Marlize froze in the middle of organizing her bags. She seemed conflicted at the idea, but after a long moment she smiled and nodded her agreement.

After Caitlin paid for her own things, both of them walked to the coffee place next door. A couple of minutes later they were sitting at a corner table, both holding a mug of coffee.

After taking a sip of her coffee, Marlize raised an eyebrow and asked, "So we were talking about STAR Labs."

Caitlin nodded with a smile, putting her own mug down on the table before answering, "My fiancé inherited the place, and he was working for the past year to restore its reputation. We have already started working with the police, providing them with meta countering measures and things like that. It was our tech that was installed in Iron Heights last year."

Marlize nodded appreciatively. "This is impressive. I'm very curious to see what you will do next."

Caitlin's smile thinned a bit, and she said in a voice that would portray the double meaning of her words, "If you're interested, you're more than welcome to join us."

Marlize's eyes widened instantly, her brow frowning ever so slightly, and she asked in a surprised voice, "Are you serious?"

Caitlin smiled forcefully now and answered, "My fiancé is always looking for talent like yours and he pays really well, not to mention the freedom to pursue any project you desire with the labs' resources."

Marlize narrowed her eyes at Caitlin and said in a dry voice, "A tempting offer, I will admit, but let's drop the pretenses and be honest, Dr. Snow—or should I already call you Dr. Allen?"

Caitlin's smile was gone now too, and she shrugged. "Actually, it will be Dr. Snow-Allen. And my offer is genuine."

Marlize tilted her head and asked in a genuinely confused voice, "Why? If you know who my husband really is?"

Caitlin's eyes lit with fire at the mention of the monster. "Because you deserve better than him. Better than to be his minion."

Marlize was now scowling herself and she hissed, "You have no idea what you're talking about! My husband tries to save the world from itself."

Caitlin rolled her eyes. "He's not the first crazy person to try destroying the world and calling it saving the people."

Marlize looked outraged by the accusation. "Clifford seeks enlightenment, not destruction."

Caitlin hummed in understanding for a moment before saying flatly, "Seems like somebody hasn't been updated. Your husband decided to go off course after we stopped playing our part in his script."

Marlize jerked herself back in complete shock and choked out, "You knew?"

Caitlin considered how to answer it for a moment, but after seeing the look in the eyes of the other woman, she went with a masked truth. "We didn't realize it at the time, only recently, but we do have quite an informant."

Marlize didn't move and neither did her shocked expression leave her face. Caitlin sighed heavily. She reached into her purse and left on the table a couple of bills on top of a business card.

She began to gather her things and didn't even look at the dark-haired woman as she said, "How about you take some time to process it and make sure everything I said is true? Then you can call me; the number is on the card. The coffee is on me. I really liked our little talk before your husband came up."

Caitlin stood up and then froze in her place. She wasn't about to say anything about it, but she found herself unable to stop as she turned to look at Marlize again and with a dry voice she said, "And just for the record, the original plan you supported would have been no better. If your husband had his way, parents wouldn't know their own children, husbands and wives would become strangers. Not to mention your husband is just one man—how long will it take him to reeducate Central City alone? How long do you think the people in the rest of the world will hold out with the state you will leave them in until your great husband will be gracious enough to give some of his time to them? Is this any better than the current reality, Marlize?"

Marlize stared at Caitlin with a horror-struck expression but offered no words of defense.

So, with those parting words, Caitlin left the coffee shop.