## Central City - Kara's Apartment
The apartment Kara had rented in Central City's downtown district was exactly what someone would expect from a college student's budget—small, barely furnished, and with the kind of thin walls that made her grateful for Kryptonian hearing control. She'd chosen the top floor specifically for the balcony access, though she'd had to be creative about explaining to the landlord why she needed a place where she could "get fresh air at any hour."
Kara peeled off her Supergirl costume with the weary efficiency of someone who'd just spent an hour coordinating an aircraft rescue while trying not to stare too obviously at her golden-armored partner. The blue and red suit was practical enough for superheroics, but it was also a design that had made perfect sense when she was sixteen and significantly less aware of certain... practical considerations.
"Note to self," she muttered, examining the red skirt that made up the lower half of her costume, "time for a wardrobe redesign. Because apparently flying over Central City in what amounts to a cheerleader outfit isn't exactly sending the professional superhero message I was going for."
She'd noticed the way people reacted when she flew overhead—not just with awe or gratitude, but with the kind of attention that made her uncomfortably aware of how much leg the costume exposed during aerial maneuvers. It had been one thing when she was primarily operating in Metropolis alongside Clark, where people were used to seeing Kryptonian heroes. But Central City felt different, more... focused on personal details.
*Plus,* she thought, glancing at herself in the bathroom mirror, *working alongside that Karna guy makes the skirt feel even more impractical. He managed to look completely professional in full armor while I'm over here trying to make sure I don't accidentally flash half of Central City every time I bank left.*
The Jitters uniform waiting on her bed was a welcome contrast—practical khakis and a polo shirt that prioritized comfort and coverage over any kind of aesthetic statement. She had exactly twenty-eight minutes to get across town for her shift, which would be plenty of time even without super speed.
But first, she had some calls to make.
Her phone—a standard smartphone that had been modified by Michael Holt's people with encryption protocols that would have made government agencies weep with envy—connected to the first number on speed dial within two rings.
"Kara," Michael's voice came through with crystal clarity, despite the fact that he was presumably in his Metropolis headquarters forty stories above street level. "I saw the news coverage. Successful first contact?"
"More than successful. Michael, this Karna guy... he's not what we expected."
"Better or worse than our preliminary assessment?"
Kara settled onto her small couch, trying to organize her thoughts about the golden-armored hero she'd just worked alongside. "Different. His power levels are incredible—I watched him break the sound barrier on what his support team said was his second day of flight testing. But it's not just the abilities that impressed me."
"Go on."
"He was genuinely concerned about the people on that aircraft. Not in a 'this is my job' way, but in a 'these are human beings who need help' way. And when we were coordinating the rescue, he deferred to my experience instead of trying to prove himself or show off."
Through the phone, she could hear Michael's T-Spheres humming as they processed data feeds. "That suggests either genuine heroic instincts or very sophisticated manipulation tactics."
"I don't think it was manipulation. There was something..." Kara paused, trying to articulate what she'd sensed about Karan during their brief interaction. "He felt familiar, somehow. Like someone who understands what it's like to have power you didn't ask for and responsibility you can't avoid."
"Familiar how?"
"Like someone who's been where I've been. The isolation, the weight of expectations, the constant awareness that your choices affect other people's lives in ways that normal humans can't really comprehend."
Michael was quiet for a moment, and Kara could practically hear him running psychological profiles and behavioral analyses through his various computational systems.
"Did he give you any indication of his background? Training, support systems, long-term intentions?"
"He mentioned a support team—sounded like two people providing technical assistance and coordination. And he said he was brand new to the hero business, which matches what we observed about his tactical development." Kara shifted positions, glancing at the clock and noting that she had twenty-two minutes left before her shift. "But Michael, there's something else."
"What?"
"His power signature. When we were both using our abilities simultaneously, I could sense the energy patterns he was generating. It's not technological, and it's not like anything I've encountered before. It felt..." She searched for the right words. "It felt divine. Like actual divine intervention, not just advanced science or alien technology."
"Divine as in religious context, or divine as in mythological context?"
"Mythological. Like he's literally carrying power from ancient stories, not just using abilities that happen to resemble mythological descriptions."
Michael's T-Spheres were humming more actively now, clearly processing this information against various databases and theoretical frameworks.
"That could explain the rapid development of his capabilities," he said finally. "If his powers are mythologically sourced rather than scientifically based, they might not follow normal learning curves or physiological limitations."
"Exactly what I was thinking. Michael, I want to maintain contact with him. Not for surveillance purposes, but for mutual support. He's dealing with the same kinds of challenges we all face, and he seems like someone who could genuinely benefit from guidance."
"And someone who could potentially become a valuable ally."
"That too." Kara checked the time again—nineteen minutes. "I'm going to call Clark, bring him up to speed. But I wanted to talk to you first because I think this situation is going to require your particular combination of technological resources and strategic thinking."
"Already on it. I'm pulling together comprehensive analysis packages on everything we observed today, plus background research on mythological power sources and their modern manifestations."
"Good. And Michael? Start thinking about how we might approach formal contact. Not as potential threats assessing a new player, but as established heroes offering mentorship to someone who's clearly trying to do the right thing."
"Understood. Kara?"
"Yeah?"
"You sound different. More focused than you have in months."
Kara considered this, realizing that he was right. For the first time since her most recent bout with depression and self-destructive behavior, she felt genuinely engaged with something beyond her own problems.
"Maybe I needed to remember what it feels like to work alongside someone who's still figuring out how to be a hero," she said. "Karna reminded me that this job isn't just about having the power to help people—it's about choosing to use that power responsibly, even when it's difficult or scary."
"That's good to hear. Call your cousin. I'll start working on support protocols for extended Central City operations."
The line disconnected, and Kara immediately dialed the second number on her speed dial.
"Kara," Clark's voice carried the warm concern that had been her emotional anchor through some very dark periods, "I saw the news coverage. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Kal. Better than fine, actually." She could hear the smile in her own voice, and realized it was the first genuinely happy expression she'd worn in weeks. "The new hero—Karna—he's remarkable."
"Remarkable how? The footage showed impressive coordination between you two, but I couldn't get a clear sense of his capabilities or temperament."
Kara stood up, beginning to pace her small apartment as she organized her thoughts about the afternoon's events.
"His flight capabilities rival mine, but he's only been able to fly for two days. His energy constructs are incredibly sophisticated, but he's apparently brand new to superhero work. And Clark... he broke the sound barrier to reach that aircraft, on his second day of flight testing, because 186 people needed help."
"That level of power development is unusual."
"It's unprecedented. But it's not the power levels that impressed me most—it's how he used them. No grandstanding, no attempts to prove himself, just pure focus on saving people." Kara paused her pacing, looking out her apartment window at Central City's skyline. "He reminds me of you, actually. In the best possible way."
Clark was quiet for a moment, and Kara could hear the subtle sounds of the Daily Planet newsroom in the background—the constant hum of activity that suggested he was at work despite the late hour.
"You think he could be trusted with membership in the larger hero community?"
"I think he already is a member of the larger hero community, whether we formally acknowledge it or not. The question is whether we're going to welcome him as an ally or treat him as a potential threat until he proves himself."
"Point taken. What's your assessment of his support systems?"
"Limited but effective. He has a technical team providing real-time coordination, but from what I overheard, it sounds like they're operating out of S.T.A.R. Labs." Kara felt a slight frown crease her features. "Which raises some questions about Harrison Wells' involvement in Central City's emerging hero community."
"S.T.A.R. Labs," Clark repeated thoughtfully. "That's... potentially concerning. Wells has kept an extremely low profile since the particle accelerator incident, but intelligence reports suggest he's been treating an unusual number of enhanced individuals."
"Enhanced individuals who might be developing into heroes under his guidance?"
"Or enhanced individuals who might be developing into something else entirely. Wells lost everything in that explosion, Kara. That kind of loss can drive people to make choices that prioritize personal goals over public safety."
Kara considered this, weighing her instinctive positive reaction to Karna against the legitimate concerns about his apparent connection to someone with questionable motivations.
"Clark, based on what I observed today, I don't think Karna is being manipulated or controlled by anyone. He made independent tactical decisions, showed genuine concern for civilian safety, and demonstrated the kind of moral compass that doesn't usually come from external programming."
"But you think he might be unaware of potential issues with his support systems?"
"I think he's a new hero trying to figure out how to help people with abilities he's still learning to control. Whether his support team has ulterior motives... that's something we'll need to assess carefully."
Through the phone, she could hear Clark typing—probably taking notes or accessing Daily Planet research databases.
"What's your recommendation for next steps?"
Kara glanced at the clock again—fourteen minutes until her shift. "I want to maintain contact with him. Not covert surveillance, but open communication as one hero to another. If he's genuinely committed to helping people, he deserves guidance and support. If there are issues with his situation that he's not aware of... well, better that he find out from allies than from enemies."
"Agreed. And Kara?"
"Yeah?"
"You sound like yourself again. Focused, determined, thinking about other people instead of dwelling on your own problems." Clark's voice carried genuine relief and affection. "I've missed this version of you."
Kara felt something warm settle in her chest—not romantic attraction, but the deep contentment that came from remembering who she was when she wasn't drowning in depression and self-doubt.
"I've missed this version of me too," she admitted. "Maybe I needed to meet someone else who's trying to figure out how to be a hero. It reminded me that the job isn't about being perfect—it's about caring enough to keep trying."
"That's very wise. Also very much something the old Kara would have said."
"Well, the old Kara is back. And she has a coffee shop shift to get to, because maintaining civilian cover requires showing up to work even after spending your afternoon rescuing commercial aircraft."
Clark laughed, the sound carrying genuine warmth and pride. "Go be a barista. But stay in touch about this Karna situation. If Central City is developing its own hero community, we want to make sure they know they're not alone."
"Will do. And Kal? Thanks for worrying about me. Even when I was being self-destructive, knowing you cared enough to keep checking in... it mattered."
"That's what family is for, Kara. Both Kryptonian family and the larger hero community family."
After the call ended, Kara quickly finished getting dressed for her shift at Jitters, her mind still processing the afternoon's events. Working alongside Karna had reminded her of something she'd forgotten during her recent struggles with depression—that being a hero wasn't about having perfect control over your abilities or your life. It was about choosing to use whatever power you had to help others, even when you were still figuring out how to help yourself.
And maybe, just maybe, she could return the favor by helping a new hero navigate the complexities of using extraordinary abilities in service of ordinary people.
*Plus,* she thought with a slight smile as she headed out of her apartment toward Jitters, *he was definitely interesting to look at. Golden armor aside, there had been something compelling about his voice, his confidence, the way he'd handled himself during their brief partnership.*
*Professional interest only,* she reminded herself firmly. *At least until I figure out whether he's actually as heroic as he seemed, or whether there are complications I haven't discovered yet.*
But as she made her way across Central City toward her civilian job, Kara found herself looking forward to their next encounter with anticipation that was both professional and decidedly personal.
After all, it had been a long time since she'd met someone who made superhero work feel genuinely inspiring again.
That alone made the afternoon's aircraft rescue worth celebrating.
—
## S.T.A.R. Labs - Main Laboratory
Karan touched down on the S.T.A.R. Labs rooftop with considerably more grace than he'd expected, his armor's flight systems automatically compensating for wind resistance and adjusting his descent trajectory to ensure a soft landing. The transition from supersonic flight to stationary hover to gentle touchdown felt as natural as walking down stairs, which was both reassuring and slightly unnerving given that he'd been airborne for the first time in his life just twenty-four hours ago.
The armor dissolved around him as he made his way through the facility, leaving him in his civilian clothes but with that familiar warm presence still humming just beneath his skin. His enhanced hearing picked up the excited conversation echoing from the main lab three floors below, along with the subtle electronic hum that suggested someone was monitoring the building's security systems with unusual attention.
*Wells is watching,* he realized, noting the slight increase in electromagnetic activity from the hidden surveillance network that Eobard had woven throughout S.T.A.R. Labs. *Probably analyzing every detail of my return, cataloging my physical condition, my energy signatures, my emotional state.*
But Karan kept his expression neutral, his body language relaxed, as he made his way through the corridors toward the main lab. Whatever suspicions he harbored about Harrison Wells' true identity, now wasn't the time to tip his hand. Better to let Eobard think his surveillance was undetected while Karan gathered more information about the Reverse Flash's plans.
The lab doors slid open to reveal Cisco, Barry, and Caitlin clustered around the main display screen, which was showing what appeared to be news coverage of the aircraft rescue on every available channel. The energy in the room was electric—part celebration, part scientific fascination, part barely contained panic from people who'd just watched their friend break multiple laws of physics on live television.
"KARAN!" Cisco shouted, spinning around with the kind of manic enthusiasm that suggested he'd consumed at least six energy drinks while monitoring the rescue operation. "Dude, you just worked with Supergirl! You broke the sound barrier! You created constructs large enough to support commercial aircraft structural integrity! Do you understand how incredible that is?"
"I understand that 186 people are alive because we managed to coordinate an emergency landing," Karan replied, though he was grinning despite his attempt to downplay the significance of what had happened. "Everything else is just details."
"Details?" Barry stared at him with the expression of someone trying to process information that defied rational explanation. "Karan, you flew at Mach 1.2 on your second day of flight training. That's not details—that's redefining what we thought was possible with your abilities."
Caitlin approached with her medical scanner, her expression carrying that particular blend of professional concern and scientific curiosity that meant she was about to subject him to comprehensive health monitoring whether he cooperated or not.
"How do you feel?" she asked, beginning to take readings from the scanner while studying his face for signs of fatigue, disorientation, or physiological stress. "Any nausea, dizziness, breathing difficulties? Pain or stiffness in your joints or muscles?"
"I feel fine," Karan said, submitting to the medical examination with good grace. "Actually, I feel better than fine. It's like the armor not only protected me from the physical stresses of high-altitude supersonic flight, but actually made me stronger in the process."
"That's consistent with what we're seeing in your biometric readings," Caitlin murmured, frowning at her scanner as if the numbers displayed there were personally offensive to her understanding of human physiology. "Your cellular regeneration rate has increased, your cardiovascular efficiency is off the charts, and your neural activity is showing patterns associated with enhanced cognitive processing."
"Enhanced how?"
"Faster reaction times, improved pattern recognition, better spatial awareness. It's as if your brain has been optimized for the kind of three-dimensional thinking required for aerial maneuvering at high speeds."
Cisco was practically vibrating with excitement as he pulled up holographic displays showing telemetry data from Karan's flight. "This is incredible! Look at these energy consumption patterns—your armor was drawing on solar radiation, ambient electromagnetic fields, even thermal energy from atmospheric friction. It's like a living energy collection and conversion system!"
Barry moved closer to examine the data displays, his scientific training warring with his amazement at what his friend had accomplished. "The efficiency is what gets me. You were generating enough thrust for sustained supersonic flight while maintaining complex energy constructs, and according to these readings, you were operating well below your maximum power capacity."
"Which means what, exactly?"
"Which means," Cisco said, his voice dropping to the reverent whisper of someone contemplating impossible possibilities, "that what you did today might have been just a fraction of what your armor is actually capable of."
Karan felt a slight chill at the implications. The idea that his abilities might extend far beyond what he'd already discovered was both exhilarating and terrifying. Power without limits sounded appealing in theory, but in practice, it raised uncomfortable questions about responsibility, control, and the potential for unintended consequences.
"Speaking of capabilities," Caitlin said, setting aside her medical scanner and moving to pull up new displays on the main screen, "we need to talk about training protocols. What you accomplished today was remarkable, but it was also incredibly dangerous for someone with your level of experience."
"Dangerous how?"
"Dangerous in that you were operating at power levels and in conditions that we've never tested for," Barry explained. "High-altitude flight, supersonic speeds, coordination with another flying hero, structural support for damaged aircraft—any one of those variables could have led to catastrophic failure."
Cisco nodded enthusiastically. "Which is why we need comprehensive training programs! Simulated scenarios, controlled testing environments, graduated skill development—"
"Team exercises," Caitlin interrupted. "Both of you need to practice working together in controlled conditions before you attempt any more public rescue operations."
She gestured at the main display, which shifted to show what appeared to be architectural plans for a large, sophisticated training facility.
"I've been working with Dr. Wells on designs for an advanced training environment. Something that can simulate various emergency scenarios while providing safety monitoring and real-time performance analysis."
Karan studied the plans, noting the impressive scale and complexity of the proposed facility. It was clearly designed to accommodate heroes with a wide range of abilities—space for high-speed movement, aerial maneuvering, energy construct testing, even what looked like disaster simulation capabilities.
"This looks expensive," he observed.
"Dr. Wells has been very generous with the budget allocation," Caitlin replied diplomatically. "He's committed to ensuring that Central City's heroes have access to the best possible training resources."
*I'll bet he is,* Karan thought grimly, recognizing Eobard's investment in their development as part of his larger plan to create the perfect speedster nemesis. *Nothing like well-trained heroes to make the eventual betrayal more satisfying.*
But what he said was, "When do we start?"
"Tomorrow, if possible," Barry said, his enthusiasm for structured training evident in his voice. "I've been thinking about what you said earlier—about our abilities being complementary rather than competitive. I want to explore how we can coordinate our capabilities in different scenarios."
"Ground-air coordination drills," Cisco suggested, pulling up additional training scenarios on the display. "Barry handles rapid surface response while Karan provides aerial reconnaissance and support. Or high-speed rescue operations where Barry evacuates people at ground level while Karan handles vertical extractions."
"Plus," Caitlin added, "we need to establish communication protocols for when you're operating in conditions that interfere with normal radio systems. Supersonic flight generates electromagnetic interference, and high-altitude operations can disrupt signal transmission."
As they discussed the various training possibilities, Karan found himself genuinely excited about the prospect of working more closely with Barry to develop their partnership. The aircraft rescue had shown him how much more effective he could be when coordinating with someone who understood both the tactical and emotional demands of superhero work.
But his enthusiasm was tempered by the constant awareness of Wells' surveillance, the knowledge that every aspect of their development was being monitored and analyzed by someone whose ultimate goals were diametrically opposed to their own.
His phone buzzed with an incoming text message, providing a welcome distraction from thoughts about Reverse Flash manipulation. He glanced at the screen and felt his pulse quicken as he read the sender's name: Kendra Saunders.
*"Saw the news coverage of your aircraft rescue. Impressive work. Coffee tomorrow to discuss how Central City's hero community is expanding? - K"*
Karan stared at the message, his mind racing through the implications. Kendra had obviously put together his public appearance as Karna with his real identity, which meant either his identity protection wasn't as comprehensive as they'd believed, or she had enhanced perception capabilities that could see through his armor's camouflage effects.
Either way, the text confirmed his suspicions about her own abilities and suggested that she was ready to have a more direct conversation about their shared experiences as enhanced individuals trying to figure out how to help people.
"Everything okay?" Barry asked, noting Karan's distracted expression.
"Yeah, just..." Karan hesitated, weighing how much to reveal about Kendra in front of the others. "I may have found another potential team member."
"Another enhanced individual?" Caitlin asked, immediately shifting into medical evaluation mode.
"Another person affected by the particle accelerator explosion," Karan confirmed. "Someone I met at university who seems to be dealing with abilities similar to ours."
Cisco's eyes lit up with excitement. "What kind of abilities?"
"Flight, enhanced combat capabilities, some kind of connection to historical combat knowledge." Karan tried to keep his description general without being misleading. "She's been operating independently, trying to figure out how to use her abilities constructively."
"She?" Barry's eyebrows rose with interest that seemed to extend beyond purely professional curiosity.
"Kendra Saunders. We're in a mythology class together, and we've been discussing the theoretical applications of enhanced abilities in modern contexts."
"And now she wants to meet with you after seeing your public debut as a superhero," Caitlin observed, her tone carrying the kind of analytical precision that suggested she was already forming psychological profiles. "How confident are you about her intentions?"
Karan considered the question seriously. His interactions with Kendra had been positive, but he was also aware that his judgment might be influenced by attraction, sympathy for her situation, and his own desire to find others who understood the challenges of unwanted abilities.
"I think she's genuinely committed to helping people," he said finally. "But I also think she's been struggling with the isolation that comes with these kinds of capabilities. Having other people who understand what she's going through... it could be beneficial for everyone involved."
"Or it could be a security risk," Barry pointed out gently. "If she's already figured out your identity from public footage, what does that mean for our operational security?"
"It means we need to be very careful about how we approach potential new team members," Caitlin said. "And we need to establish protocols for background checks, ability assessments, and psychological evaluations before we consider expanding our group."
Cisco was already pulling up new displays, his mind clearly racing through the logistics of team expansion. "We'll need larger training facilities, more sophisticated communication systems, expanded support capabilities..."
"We'll need Dr. Wells' approval," Barry added quietly.
The room fell silent at the mention of Wells, all of them recognizing that their guardian's involvement in their superhero activities was both essential and potentially complicated. They needed his resources, his expertise, and his official sanction to operate effectively. But they were also increasingly aware that their development as heroes served purposes beyond their own altruistic goals.
"I'll talk to him about the team expansion possibilities," Karan said, though the idea of discussing Kendra with Eobard Thawne made his skin crawl. "But first, I want to meet with her myself. Get a better sense of her abilities, her motivations, her readiness for this kind of responsibility."
"Just be careful," Caitlin said, her voice carrying genuine concern. "New relationships are complicated under normal circumstances. When you add superpowers, secret identities, and the pressures of superhero work... things can get messy very quickly."
"I'll be careful," Karan promised, though part of him was already looking forward to coffee with someone who understood both the burden and the necessity of extraordinary abilities.
As the conversation shifted back to training protocols and facility design, Karan found himself thinking about the strange coincidences that had brought him into contact with Barry, Cisco, Caitlin, and now potentially Kendra. Either Central City had an unusually high concentration of good-hearted people affected by the particle accelerator explosion, or some external force was orchestrating their meeting for reasons he didn't yet understand.
Given his knowledge of Eobard's presence and plans, he suspected the latter. But whether that external orchestration was coming from the Reverse Flash or from something else entirely—something like the cosmic R.O.B. who had given him his second chance—remained to be determined.
*One crisis at a time,* he reminded himself, watching his friends plan training exercises with the kind of enthusiasm that made superhero work feel like the most natural thing in the world.
Tomorrow he would have coffee with Kendra and figure out whether Central City's hero community was about to gain a valuable new member or encounter its first significant complication.
Either way, it was going to be interesting.
—
## S.T.A.R. Labs - Eobard's Hidden Time Chamber
Forty-three floors below the main laboratory, in a chamber that existed in blueprints filed nowhere and powered by energy sources that wouldn't be invented for another century, Eobard Thawne leaned back in his wheelchair and allowed himself a moment of genuine satisfaction.
The holographic displays surrounding him showed multiple feeds from the afternoon's aircraft rescue—news footage, social media uploads, even satellite imagery that he'd acquired through channels the government would have found deeply concerning. But it was the biometric data streaming from Karan's armor that truly captured his attention.
"Fascinating," he murmured, his fingers dancing across controls that manipulated time itself with casual precision. "The boy achieved Mach 1.2 on his second day of flight testing. Energy output levels that should have required months of development. Construct complexity that suggests his abilities are evolving at an exponential rate."
Gideon's holographic form materialized above the central console, her expression carrying the digital equivalent of scientific curiosity. "The acceleration of his power development is indeed remarkable, Professor. However, I must point out that his rapid advancement may complicate your primary objective."
Eobard's smile faltered slightly. "Explain."
"Your plan requires Barry Allen to achieve sufficient velocity to generate the temporal energy necessary for your return to the twenty-second century. However, Mr. Matthews' presence as a peer rather than a mentor figure may reduce Barry's motivation to push his own abilities to their absolute limits."
The observation struck uncomfortably close to concerns that had been nagging at Eobard's subconscious for weeks. Barry's development as the Flash had been proceeding according to schedule, but his partnership with Karan had introduced variables that weren't present in the original timeline.
"Barry's competitive instincts should drive him to match Karan's achievements," Eobard said, though his tone suggested he was trying to convince himself as much as Gideon.
"Perhaps. Or perhaps having a partner with complementary abilities will allow Barry to specialize in areas of comfort rather than pushing beyond his perceived limitations." Gideon's avatar flickered as she accessed deeper psychological analysis files. "In the original timeline, Barry Allen's isolation forced him to develop maximum velocity capabilities out of necessity. In this timeline, he has support systems that may reduce that necessity."
Eobard was quiet for a moment, watching footage of Barry and Karan discussing training protocols with obvious mutual respect and growing friendship. The partnership between them was genuine, which made it both more valuable and more dangerous to his plans.
But then new footage caught his attention—satellite imagery of Supergirl approaching the aircraft emergency, coordinating with Karan, working alongside him with the kind of seamless efficiency that spoke of natural compatibility.
"Gideon," he said slowly, his mind beginning to work through new possibilities, "pull up all available intelligence on the current whereabouts of Kara Zor-El."
"Supergirl has been operating primarily out of Metropolis for the past eighteen months, working closely with Superman and the broader hero community. However..." Gideon paused as she accessed more recent data. "Interesting. She appears to have taken a leave of absence from her Metropolis activities three days ago."
"Three days ago," Eobard repeated, his eyes narrowing as he considered the timing. "The same day that footage of Karan's first public appearance began circulating on social media."
"The correlation is suggestive, Professor."
New intelligence feeds began populating Eobard's displays—rental agreements for a Central City apartment, enrollment records at Central City University's journalism program, employment verification from a local coffee establishment called Jitters.
"She's not just visiting Central City," he realized, his pulse quickening as the implications became clear. "She's moved here. Established civilian cover, integrated herself into the community..."
"It appears Supergirl has taken a personal interest in Central City's emerging hero community," Gideon confirmed. "Specifically, it seems likely that she's taken a personal interest in Karan Matthews."
Eobard leaned forward, his mind racing through the strategic possibilities that Kara Zor-El's presence introduced to his carefully orchestrated timeline. The addition of a Kryptonian to Central City's hero community was significant enough, but her apparent fascination with Karan opened up avenues he hadn't previously considered.
"This could be better than I initially calculated," he murmured, calling up psychological profiles on both Kara and Karan. "A partnership between divine armor and Kryptonian abilities would create power levels that dwarf anything Barry could achieve through speed alone."
"Which would motivate Barry Allen to push his own capabilities harder to remain relevant to the team dynamic," Gideon added, following his logic.
"Exactly. Competition, jealousy, the need to prove himself worthy of partnership with beings who possess god-like abilities..." Eobard's smile was returning now, colder and more calculating than before. "Barry's always been driven by his need to protect the people he cares about. If those people include partners with abilities that make his own seem inadequate..."
He pulled up training projections, velocity calculations, temporal energy requirements for interdimensional travel. With the right motivation, the right pressures, the right carefully orchestrated crises, Barry Allen could potentially reach the speeds necessary for Eobard's return home months ahead of schedule.
"Plus," he continued, his voice taking on the tone of someone savoring a particularly elegant solution, "Kryptonian emotional attachments tend to be... intense. If Kara Zor-El develops genuine feelings for young Mr. Matthews, and if those feelings were to be threatened or exploited..."
"You're considering using their potential relationship as leverage against both of them," Gideon observed.
"I'm considering all available options for ensuring that my protégés develop their abilities to their fullest potential," Eobard corrected smoothly. "If their personal relationships can serve as motivation for greater heroic achievement, then everyone benefits."
The lie came easily, as they always did. Eobard had long ago stopped pretending that his manipulations served anyone's interests but his own. But the self-deception was useful for maintaining the emotional distance necessary for truly effective long-term planning.
His displays shifted to show real-time feeds from the main laboratory, where Barry, Cisco, and Caitlin were discussing training protocols while Karan responded to what appeared to be a text message. The expression on Karan's face suggested the message was personally significant—anticipation mixed with nervous excitement that spoke of romantic possibilities.
"Monitor all communications between Karan Matthews and his university contacts," Eobard instructed. "I want to know who he's meeting with, what they're discussing, and how their relationships might affect his development as a hero."
"Of course, Professor. And what about your direct interactions with the team? They're expecting guidance and support for their superhero activities."
Eobard considered this, weighing the advantages of close involvement against the risks of exposure. His role as Harrison Wells required him to be supportive, encouraging, invested in their success. But his true goals required careful manipulation of their emotional states and motivational structures.
"I'll be the perfect mentor," he said finally. "Supportive but demanding. Encouraging but never satisfied. I'll push them toward greater achievements while making them believe the pressure comes from their own moral imperatives."
"And if they begin to suspect your true intentions?"
"Then I'll cross that bridge when I reach it. But for now, my young heroes are exactly where I need them to be—powerful enough to be useful, naive enough to be controlled, and motivated by exactly the kinds of emotional attachments that make them most vulnerable to manipulation."
As he began planning his next moves in the complex game of temporal chess he'd been playing for fifteen years, Eobard allowed himself one final moment of satisfaction.
Barry Allen was going to become the fastest man alive, whether he wanted to or not.
And thanks to the addition of divine armor and Kryptonian complications, the process was going to be far more entertaining than Eobard had originally anticipated.
After all, the best revenge was always personal.
And what could be more personal than turning someone's greatest strengths—their love for their friends, their commitment to protecting others—into the weapons of their own destruction?
The game was accelerating, and Eobard Thawne had always thrived under pressure.
---
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