"Umm... how can that be?" Caitlin said in disbelief. "He's been helping us since the very beginning. He can't even walk, so how could he possibly be the Reverse-Flash?"
Barry understood why she found it impossible to believe. If Daniel hadn't been the one to tell him, he wouldn't have believed it either.
"It's what Daniel suggested. From my experience with him, he doesn't joke about things like this. He says exactly what he means."
Cisco hesitated before speaking. "Actually... I have something to say."
Everyone turned toward him.
"A while ago, I had a dream where Dr. Wells was the Reverse-Flash. He walked right up to me and vibrated his hand through my heart."
Cisco instinctively placed a hand over his chest as the memory resurfaced. "And it didn't feel like a dream. It felt real... like I actually died."
Caitlin remained unconvinced. "But when we tried to capture the Reverse-Flash, Dr. Wells was with us the entire time. He almost lost his life when the containment field activated."
Barry frowned as he recalled that day. "That's the strange part. The containment field should've trapped the Reverse-Flash, but somehow it never did."
"At the time, we assumed he escaped because he was faster than the system."
Now, after hearing Daniel's warning, that explanation didn't seem nearly as convincing.
The room fell silent as everyone replayed the events in their minds, noticing details they had ignored before.
Deep beneath S.T.A.R. Labs, inside the hidden Time Vault, Harrison Wells watched the conversation through the facility's security cameras.
The monitors reflected in his glasses as he silently observed every reaction, every expression, every word.
A faint smile spread across his face. "Well... it seems I should begin preparing for my journey home."
His gaze drifted toward the yellow Reverse-Flash suit resting inside its glass display.
Daniel's arrival had accelerated things. For the first time in years, Harrison Wells realized that someone else knew exactly who he was.
At the same time, deep within LexCorp's underground research facility, Lex Luthor continued examining the Kryptonite recovered after the invasion.
Spread across the laboratory were dozens of sealed containers holding Kryptonian DNA samples extracted from bodies recovered after the battle. Weeks of research had yielded very little — until now.
Using a lead-lined instrument, Lex slowly brought a fragment of Kryptonite close to one of the preserved samples.
The reaction was immediate. The once-stable Kryptonian cells began deteriorating rapidly, their extraordinary cellular activity collapsing within seconds as the Kryptonite's radiation attacked them at the genetic level.
Every monitor in the laboratory displayed the same result.
Lex watched the data with growing satisfaction. "Remarkable..." He adjusted the distance, carefully observing how the rate of degradation increased.
"So this is the weakness hidden within their very DNA."
A smile slowly formed on his face. "Now it's finally time for humanity to free itself from the shadow of this alien god."
He looked at the glowing green crystal in his hand, then shifted his gaze to the rows of Kryptonian DNA samples throughout the laboratory.
"With enough research... even the gods can be brought to their knees."
The emerald glow of the Kryptonite reflected across the room as Lex silently began planning the next stage of his experiments.
***
Inside Daniel's office, an awkward silence hung in the air.
"So, Daniel..." Harleen slammed both hands onto the desk and glared at him. "Do you finally want to explain why you have five wives?"
She honestly wanted to punch him. No — she wanted to strangle him. This shameless bastard had raised feelings in her without ever mentioning he was already married. Not once, but five times.
Behind her, Selina crossed her arms with an amused smile. "Hmph. Looks like the scumbag finally got what was coming to him." She had always enjoyed watching smooth-talking men get caught in situations like this.
Daniel remained perfectly calm. "Before you continue accusing me," he said, raising two fingers, "let me remind you of two things."
Harleen narrowed her eyes.
"First, you asked whether I had a family." He lowered one finger. "And second... I never lied. I simply never mentioned that I had five wives." He spread his hands innocently. "So technically, I've done nothing wrong."
Harleen stared at him for several seconds. "...Remarkable." She walked around the desk, grabbed him by the front of his shirt, and pulled him forward until they were face to face.
"You unbelievable scumbag. I can finally see through you. You're not some mysterious god." She jabbed a finger into his chest.
"You're just a shameless scumbag who abandoned every last ounce of shame."
Daniel sighed. "Would it really hurt to call me a handsome scumbag?" He already accepted the scumbag part. The least they could do was make it sound flattering.
Selina rolled her eyes. "The fact that you're negotiating your title somehow makes this even worse."
At that moment the office door swung open.
"Surprise!"
A cheerful voice echoed through the room as a beautiful red-haired woman stepped inside.
Mera's smile froze the instant she saw Harleen gripping Daniel's shirt while the two stood inches apart.
Silence filled the office.
Daniel's mouth twitched. "...Indeed."
*****
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