T W E N T Y - S E V E N:
the winter horrors

Bibiana scrolled through the online stores. Christmas was in a few days and she still didn't have her Christmas gifts. She only bought Dr. Wells something that said number one boss on it. There was even a gift for Felicity and the team, but since Felicity was Jewish. It was more of a holiday gift, she even made sure to write that down on a card.

The girl panicked and started to invent things for them. A stack of items was in front of her and she immediately started to wrap them. She hid them in the room before she went into the cortex. The second she got there, her boyfriend entered the room.

"Merry Christmas," Barry announced. "Just a small token of my gratitude for everything you guys have done for me."

Barry handed out the gifts. Bibiana held onto the small box in her hands with a smile on her face.

"I think I speak on behalf of my colleagues when I say you've been a gift for us, Barry," Dr. Wells said.

"Thank you," Bibiana replied.

"What's that?" Caitlin asked. Pointing to what Barry was taking out of the bag.

"This is compliments of Iris," Barry said, holding out a container. "Grandma Esther's famous eggnog."

"That's what I'm talking about," Cisco responded.

"Where the cups?" Bibiana asked, looking around for them.

"Ahem. Maybe later for me. Wouldn't want to drink and drive," Dr. Wells said, leaving the room.

"Did I say something wrong?" Barry asked.

"No," Caitlin answered.

"No, it's something else," Bibiana said with a frown.

It's been a year since the accelerator backfired and destroyed lives. Bibiana's holiday spirits should've been ruined if it wasn't for the great mood she had.

"No, man. He, um...," Cisco trier to explain. "This used to be his favorite time of the year but the accident happened before Christmas, so it ruined the holidays."

"I'm gonna go get him a present. Maybe that will cheer him up," Caitlin said. "Thank you very much."

"Yeah. So what are you doing for Christmas, Cisco? Bibiana?" Barry asked. Bibiana took out her phone and saw multiple messages from her family.

Rossy Ross:
Christmas plans canceled. we got called to go deal with something in National City. Merry Christmas, I'll get you something from here :)

Little Chang:
Christmas is a no go. National City. Can't explain. Happy holidays.

Tiny Kai:
It's the holidays and I get a break from college only to get called in from the Army for honorary work :)))) oh how I love life :'(

"Apparently, I'm not going to Starling City as planned," Bibiana answered. "My parents, my brothers and their families were moved to National City for two weeks. I'm going to spend it here, I guess."

⇝⇝⇝

"The witness described seeing a yellow blur," Joe said. There was a break in and it was now the team's job to deal with it. "Just like the one that killed Barry's mother."

"Then we need to get cracking and stop this speed psycho," Cisco stated. "That-- I wasn't trying to give him a name."

"But sums this person up," Bibiana commented.

"The crime scene at Mercury Labs was on a floor with highly secured vaults," Barry said. "The witness said he was looking for something."

"Whatever it was, he wanted it badly enough to kill for it," Dr. Wells commented.

Bibiana bit her lip before she took a sip of her drink. She was nervous about this metahuman. They were murderous and could kill any of her friends.

"Doctor, what do you know about Mercury Labs?" Joe asked.

"Mercury was one of S.T.A.R. Lab's major competitors until out little setback and then it catapulted to the forefront, led by Dr. Christina McGee, brilliant but egocentric physicist," Dr. Wells explained.

"It says here, Dr. McGee has secured half a billion dollars in private funding to develop, and I quote, 'prototypes for the technology of the future.'" Cisco replied.

"Well, I'll be," Dr. Wells said. "That's messing with tachyons. Superluminal particle."

"Of course," Joe responded. "So, what could someone do with one of those...?"

"Tachyons," Dr. Wells replied.

"Thank you," Joe said.

"Well, I don't know. Become invincible," Dr. Wells explained. Bibiana took another sip of her drink. She walked over to Barry and wrapped an arm around him. "If you could devise a matrix stable enough to harness their power, you could... travel faster than light."

"He's gonna try again," Barry stated. "So we need to get what Mercury has and use it as a lure."

"Exactly right," Dr. Wells said. "Cisco, Caitlin, Bibiana, start engineering a trap.

"You got it," Cisco responded.

"Of course," Caitlin replied.

"On it," Bibiana agreed, letting go of Barry and heading to her spot.

⇝⇝⇝

"Can you build this?" Cisco asked Bibiana, showing her a design on the tablet. Bibiana looked it over and thought about it.

"We're gonna have to build this by hand. I can only make things the size of a tablet," Bibiana answered. They both went looking for Caitlin.

"Hey, Caitlin, check this out," Cisco said, as they walked into the room Caitlin was in. "I think we can fashion an electronic barrier. Right? We set up a ton of supercapacitors, we smooth out the inflection points and voliá, a kick-ass force field to trap the Opposite Flash. That was me testing out a name. Heh. What do you think?"

"The name is a no," Bibiana replied. She noticed the sad look on Caitlin's face. "Are you okay?"

"Ronnie's alive," Caitlin stated. "I saw him, Cisco, Bibiana. I think he was following me--"

"Caitlin," Cisco cut Caitlin off. Bibiana frowned. It was also around the time Ronnie died and it must've been hard on her friend. "Ronnie died. He was vaporized in the accelerator when it went critical."

"Ronnie's alive, and he's out there, alone and scared," Caitlin said. "And I need both of your help to find him."

"I'll try my best," Bibiana replied. "Now, come on. We got to stop this second fast dude before he tries and kill my boyfriend. And I probably shouldn't have said it like that."

⇝⇝⇝

"We follow the ionized particles, and that should lead us right to him," Cisco explained, Bibiana and Caitlin followed him down. They were trying to find Ronnie the day after Caitlin told them. "The CPM's are increasing. We should have told Dr. Wells and Barry."

"Yeah," Bibiana replied, holding a ball of electricity. It was helping light up the room. "Since when can I keep a secret?"

"No, not until we're sure it's him," Caitlin said, walking in from of them. "Bibiana, you are able to keep your secret identity a secret, you were able to keep your crush a secret, and you know some of your past that Barry doesn't know about."

"I see your point," Bibiana replied.

Some of her past life was not meant to go out into the light. They walked through a hallway and Bibiana didn't like the vibe from it.

"Oh, wow," Cisco commented.

"Look, Ronnie is not like the two of you remembered him," Caitlin explained.

"What does that mean?" Cisco asked.

"Does he look like Sam Winchester? Is he a soulless Sam?" Bibiana asked.

"Just don't freak out when you see him, okay?" Caitlin answered. Then the device Cisco had died.

"Oh, I really wish that was because the batteries are dead," Cisco said.

"If this turns into a Supernatural episode... I think I'll cry," Bibiana whispered. She walked with her friends until she saw a man appear in the shadows.

"Ronnie?" Caitlin asked they picked up the pace. Soon they were close enough to see Ronnie. Bibiana covered her mouth, her friend was still alive. "Ronnie. It's me, Cait. Look, I bought Cisco and Bibiana with me. We're here to help you. You were in an accident. Do you remember?"

"I'm not Ronnie," Ronnie replied.

"Yes, you are," Caitlin responded. "You're Ronnie Raymond."

"I'm not Ronnie," not Ronnie said. "I told you that. Now get away from me."

"Look, we need to take you back to S.T.A.R. Labs," spoke Caitlin, reaching for his hand. "We'll help you remember who you are."

Ronnie grabbed Caitlin's head causing her to gasp.

"Firestorm," Ronnie said. He let her go before he burst into flames. Bibiana took a step away as Ronnie ran away.

•○•

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jmc