CHAPTER 14: The Man in the Yellow Suit
The air in Central City had grown heavy with an unspoken dread. Whispers of a "blur" faster than Barry, a yellow streak that left destruction in its wake, began to circulate. Adam felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He knew what this meant. The Reverse-Flash was making his move. And the man in the yellow suit was closer than anyone realized.
" Alright, Adam, this is it. The big one. The original bad guy. The man who ruined Barry's life. And the man who's currently pretending to be our mentor. This is going to be a delicate dance. Don't screw it up. Don't reveal too much. And whatever you do, don't die to him. Not yet. "
Adam's internal system remained silent on the specifics of the Reverse-Flash, but his "future insights" were screaming. He knew the history, the motivations, the terrifying power of Eobard Thawne. He had to prepare the team, subtly, without exposing Wells.
He started dropping more urgent, yet still vague, warnings. "My 'future insights' are telling me there's another speedster out there. A bad one. Very bad. And very, very fast. Faster than Barry, even. And he's got a real penchant for… yellow. Just a hunch. But a very strong, very unsettling hunch."
Barry, already struggling with the idea of another speedster, looked troubled. "Another speedster? But who?"
"That's the million-dollar question, Flash," Adam said, trying to keep his voice light despite the tension he felt. "My visions are a little blurry on the identity. Probably because he's moving too fast for my psychic brain to process. But he's dangerous. Very dangerous. And he's got a real grudge. So, you know, maybe don't try to race him right away. Unless you want to lose. Badly."
Caitlin and Cisco, while concerned, were still trying to wrap their heads around the concept of multiple speedsters. Wells, however, was observing Adam with an unnerving intensity. Adam felt his gaze, a silent challenge, a probing question. He knew Wells was trying to decipher how much he truly knew.
The first major confrontation with the Reverse-Flash came during a seemingly routine metahuman apprehension. Barry was chasing a low-level villain when a blur of yellow streaked past, effortlessly disarming the metahuman, then turning its terrifying attention to Barry. The fight was brutal, one-sided. Barry was outmatched, outmaneuvered, his speed seemingly useless against the superior force. The Reverse-Flash toyed with him, delivering a chilling beatdown before disappearing as quickly as he arrived.
Barry returned to S.T.A.R. Labs, battered and demoralized. "He was… he was so fast. I couldn't even see him! It was like he was everywhere at once!"
Adam, despite his internal fear, put on a brave face. "Yeah, well, I told you he was fast, Barry. My 'future insights' are never wrong about speed. Especially when it comes to guys in yellow suits. He's a formidable opponent. But don't worry, we'll figure him out. We always do." He subtly glanced at Wells, who was watching Barry with a carefully neutral expression.
Over the next few days, Adam continued his delicate dance. He'd suggest specific training exercises for Barry that would indirectly prepare him for the Reverse-Flash's tactics. He'd subtly encourage Cisco to develop countermeasures for speedsters, always framing it as "just in case" or "for future proofing." He even managed to slip a few subtle, almost imperceptible, pieces of information to Caitlin about the Reverse-Flash's energy signature, hoping she'd pick up on something.
He also made sure to avoid any situation where he might be killed by the Reverse-Flash. His system's rule about permanent death by the same individual was paramount. He needed to save that particular death for a later, more strategic moment, when he could gain a Negative Speed Force Echo. Dying to Thawne now would be a catastrophic waste.
" The temptation is real, though. To just blurt it out. To scream, 'Wells is Thawne!' But no. Not yet. The timeline is a fragile thing. And I need that Negative Speed Force Echo. Priorities, Adam, priorities. "
One evening, as Adam was alone in the Cortex, pretending to organize some files, Wells wheeled in. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "Mr. Stiels, your 'insights' regarding this new speedster have been… remarkably accurate. Almost as if you have intimate knowledge of his capabilities."
Adam turned, a casual smile on his face. "Oh, just a lucky guess, Dr. Wells. Or maybe I'm just really good at reading between the lines. And the blurs. He's a very blurry individual, that yellow guy. Hard to get a clear psychic read on him, honestly. He's like a bad TV signal."
Wells stared at him for a long moment, his eyes piercing. "Indeed. A bad TV signal. And yet, you seem to know more than a mere 'hunch' would suggest. Tell me, Mr. Stiels, what else do your 'insights' tell you about this… Reverse-Flash?"
Adam met his gaze, a silent challenge passing between them. He knew this was a test. He had to give just enough to pique Wells's interest, but not enough to reveal his full hand. "Well, Dr. Wells, my insights tell me he's got a very personal vendetta. He's not just a random bad guy. He's got a history. A very long, very complicated history. And he's obsessed with Barry. Like, 'stalker with a shrine in his basement' obsessed. And he's hiding something. Something big. Something that will shake this team to its core. But that's all I'm getting. Very vague. Very annoying. Just like all my best premonitions."
Wells held his gaze for another beat, then a slow, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. "Intriguing, Mr. Stiels. Very intriguing. Keep those 'insights' coming. They may prove… invaluable." He then wheeled away, leaving Adam alone, the silence of the Cortex suddenly heavy with unspoken threats.
Adam let out a slow breath he hadn't realized he was holding. " Close one. Too close. This is going to be a long, terrifying season. "