S E V E N:
lots of deadly friends

The three friends walked out of the room talking about Bibiana's powers. What she could do with them. How she can probably do the impossible. But the talking stopped once they saw Black in front of them.

"Call Barry," Bibiana said. Caitlin immediately called Barry.

"I know, but you need to get to S.T.A.R. Labs right now," Caitlin said. She set down her phone as Cisco and Bibiana just stared at the man. "I can't believe it worked."

Barry then came running, looking like he was ready to fight.

"Barry, it's okay," Caitlin said.

"It is not okay. Black is here and he's just standing there," Barry said until he realized something. "That's not him, is it?"

"It's one of his replicates," Dr. Wells said.

"How did you get it?" Barry asked.

"I grew him," Caitlin said. Bibiana already knew this when they were talking about her. They were also working on the other Black.

"I isolated a sample of Black's blood from your suit to see if I could trigger the in vitro cultivation process and learn how Black multiples," Caitlin said as they followed her. Bibiana had a tablet in her hand as she made an example on the screens. "So I exposed the target cells to a protein gel and they began replicating into that."

Bibiana set down the tablet and took out her phone. She opened her messages and saw four messages from her dad and three from her mom. She let out a sigh as she opened them up.

Army Father:
Your mother and I will be in Central City for three days sometime this month. We would like your permission to visit.

Bibiana, answer your phone and read the previous message.

Daughter, we are asking permission to visit you.

Your mother would like to have coffee.

Bibiana turned off her phone, not bothering to read her mother's messages. She already knew they would be the same thing.

"We think it's acting as a receiver," Cisco said.

"The clones are an empty shell without Black," Caitlin said. "Shut down the real Black and you might shut them all down."

"It's just like finding the immortal head of a hydra," Bibiana commented.

"How do we know which one's Black?" Barry asked.

"That occurred to me given your passing out and what Bibiana said earlier," Caitlin said. "Black has limits, just like you and Bibiana. Controlling all of those clones must require a tremendous amount of physical strength. So look for the one showing signs of weakness of fatigue. He's the prime."

"Or the one with hot sauce," Bibiana suggested.

"Just a theory, but one you might want to put to the test, Mr. Allen," Dr. Wells said.

"Plus, I whipped up these high calories protein bars for you and Bibiana to keep your metabolism up," Cisco said handing them the bars.

Then the Black clone started to move. Bibiana let out a scream, jumped back, and sent a purple spark into a tablet. Then there were gunshots and Black was down. Bibiana turned and saw Joe.

"Anymore of them?" Joe asked.

"Nope," Caitlin answered.

"I hope not," Bibiana said.

"Why did it start moving?" Barry asked.

"The prime," Dr. Wells said. "The prime is on the move. This one heard the summons to battle."

"And I know where he was summoned to. Stagg Industries," Joe said.

"You should call in," Barry suggested.

"Police can't fight this," Joe replied. "What Black's become, like Mardon . . . beyond me. Maybe way beyond them too. The only person it's not beyond is you. You gotta do this. I get it. So once in your life, do what I tell you to do. Go stop him."

Barry nodded his head. He started to walk towards his suit before he stopped and look at Bibiana.

"I might need some help from Electric Strom," Barry said. Bibiana smiled and followed him so they could suit up.

"Wait, she's one too?" Joe asked pointing towards Bibiana, who was opening the second suit stand which had hers.

"Yes," Cisco answered. They all watched her go in the suitcase. Then there was a purple flash before she came out in her suit and electric mask.

"Dr. Wells, I hope you didn't mind me improving that suitcase. I'm just not as fast at changing like Barry," Bibiana said, pointing at the boy who was done before her.

"Not at all," Dr. Wells said. Bibiana got on Barry's back before everything turned into a blur.

He dropped her off behind Black before he went off and moved Stagg. Bibiana was happy she was getting better at getting off his back. She quickly looked for a place to hide until Barry appeared again.

Boots past by her as she squeezed herself into the back of a table. She even took off her mask so the electric light wouldn't give her away.

"I know Stagg stole your research, but that doesn't give you the right to murder," Barry said. Bibiana put the mask back on and crawled out of hiding.

"It isn't right," Bibiana said. One of the Black's pulled the trigger. She quickly reacted by sending electricity at it to change its course.

Electric Storm sent bolts of electricity to every Black on the bottom floor while Barry took the top floor. Bibiana then hid behind a cubicle. She was trying to survive, not die.

"I was so close until Stagg stole my research so he could reap the glory. And I got to bury my best friend. Now I'm alone," Black said. "So will you when I shoot yours."

Bibiana took a peak out of the cubicle and saw a Black pointing the gun at her head.

"Who even said I was his best friend?" Bibiana asked sending a bolt of electricity at him. Barry ran past her and threw another Black aside.

More and more Black's started to appear. She sent bolt after bolt at them. But they got close to her. They grabbed her and started to beat her up.

"I thought you had respect for women!" Bibiana yelled. She yelled when one of them punched her in the boob. That area hurts... A lot.

She saw Barry escape them. Bibiana let out a scream as electricity consumed her body and shocked the Black's. She took off running towards Barry as more started to appear.

"There's too many," Bibiana said taking a deep breath. She noticed that her hair was a black shade. Electric Storm decided to ignore it. "I'll distract the clones, you get the prime."

Barry took off running as Bibiana started to send as many bolts to the clones. Bibiana had sent another one before they all fell. The bolt hit glass causing it to break.

"I hope Stagg has insurance," Bibiana said.

She then heard more glass break. Looking over at where Barry was on the top floor, she saw that he was leaning out the window. Electric Storm took off running towards him. When she reached him, she was that he had a frown. He shook his head before she could ask. Barry grabbed Bibiana and took her off to S.T.A.R. Labs.

⇝⇝⇝

They were watching the news over Black's death as Bibiana stared at her phone. There were more messages to open.

"I tried to save him," Barry said.

"Doesn't sound like he wanted to be saved," Dr. Wells said. "Some people, when they break they can't be put together again."

Bibiana knew that those words would stick with her.

"Some people heal even stronger," Barry said.

"I hope so," Dr. Wells said.

"Well, at least Multiplex won't be able to hurt anyone else," Cisco said. "Told you I'd come up with a cool name. Bibiana, my lunch?"

Bibiana dug into her back pocket and took out a 20 dollar gift card to Tito's. She handed over to Cisco.

"Hope you enjoy the burritos I was going to eat today," Bibiana said.

"I may be the one in the suit doing all the running but when I'm out there helping people, making a difference you're all out there with me," Barry said. "Finally realized something. We were all struck by that lightning."

"Some actually were shocked by their phones," Bibiana mumbled with a smile. She looked at her phone another time before she finally replied.

Bibiana Solace:
Sorry, was busy working today. Your request is granted.

Army Father:
Good to hear. We will arrive sometime this month.

Hope this time you accept our request.

Bibiana regretted accepting the visit. She should've said no. The request that her father was talking about was something she didn't want. Her relationship with her family is better than some other people. But it wasn't the best. It was far from the best.

•○•

Thank you for reading! If you liked this chapter and want to spend 3 seconds to vote that would be great! Thanks!

jmc