In the end, Reverse-Flash never voiced his confusion, vaguely skirting around the topic.
"Barry, we're not truly enemies. I'm very sorry about your mother. Here, I'm giving you what you need most. Turn my next words over to the police."
After speaking, Reverse-Flash straightened his posture and looked directly at the camera. "My name is Harrison Wells. I am of sound mind and body. I confess that on the evening of March 18, 2000, I killed Nora Allen. I used a dagger to stab her in the chest..."
Next, Reverse-Flash recounted the events of that night—removing the Speed Force elements—as an ordinary murder case: time, location, weapon. He described the entire situation. While this video couldn't bring Barry's mother back to life, it could clear Barry's father of false charges. It was his final gift.
Thea didn't hesitate and immediately called S.T.A.R. Labs.
"What? Barry's not there? Caitlin's not either?" Cisco, who answered the phone, gave her not-so-great news.
When she pressed for details, she learned both had been missing for three days. Cisco was currently searching the entire national network for them.
After brief consideration, Thea still decided to teleport to Central City. In this timeline, Barry remained inexperienced, but Caitlin, after training under Deathstroke, Faora, and others, was no longer a rookie. Whether in combat ability or superpowers, she was solidly upper-tier. Ruling out the possibility they'd eloped, they'd most likely encountered major trouble—so much so they couldn't even send a message back.
After all, Caitlin had a power ring. Yet her calls went unanswered. Only two explanations existed: she'd either died or left this universe.
Considering Reverse-Flash had found a way to leave this world, these two hadn't actually chased him down and then followed him through, had they?
When Thea found Cisco, she became even more certain of her theory.
Three days ago, Team Flash had discovered Reverse-Flash's trail. Though Cisco swore up and down it was his superior search capabilities, Thea figured it was mostly Reverse-Flash deliberately exposing his location after recording the video, no longer thinking straight.
Originally it was supposed to be a showdown between two speedsters, but unfortunately Caitlin had always believed Thea cared about Reverse-Flash's life or death. No longer holding back, she'd chased after him wearing her yellow power ring.
Cisco didn't have that speed, so he'd been left behind at home, waiting for two whole days until Thea came knocking.
"They've most likely already left this universe. Find where they last disappeared—I'll go check it out." Thea instructed the frantic Cisco.
Then she saw Cisco's jaw drop as he stared at her. "Really! You're sure parallel worlds actually exist?"
"Yes." Thea had another sentence she didn't say aloud: Vibe Cisco Ramon, once your super-power awakens, you'll even be able to freely traverse parallel timelines.
She didn't know when this goofball's super-power would awaken, nor did she need to wait.
The Mother Box could traverse all parallel timelines, while Zeus's lightning arrows could navigate the timestream. Thea currently had extremely abundant methods. As long as the person was still alive, she could find them.
"Uh, how do you need to get there? I mean, you can traverse parallel worlds?" Cisco looked at her with utter curiosity.
How would Thea know the Mother Box's operational principles? New Genesis and Apokolips's technological level crushed Earth by countless years.
Batman and Cyborg both used it—she'd never heard of anyone figuring the thing out.
Keeping a stern face without answering, Cisco finally remembered his good brother Barry and big sister Caitlin's lives were uncertain. Slapping his forehead, he began checking their last whereabouts.
"New Jersey. In New Jersey, thirty-five kilometers from the Pennsylvania border. The tracker in Barry's suit last disappeared there."
When Thea confirmed the location and prepared to investigate the scene, she saw Cisco's eyes fixed on her with an expression that said if she didn't take him along, he'd bash his head against something right here.
Thea carefully examined him. The cell activity in Cisco's body was extremely high. With just a tiny bit of external stimulation, he'd break through his original constraints. He was essentially one step away from becoming Vibe. But she couldn't really explain this to him, so she changed her approach.
"I have a feeling that if you come with me, this journey will be very exciting for you. But your previous life will completely leave you behind. Are you prepared?"
Choices! Choices again! Giving others choices was such a comfortable feeling!
Cisco didn't quite understand the deep meaning in these words. He said somewhat amusedly, "There'll be danger? Crossing parallel worlds will turn me into another life form?"
"No, no, you've got it all wrong. You have the potential to become a superhero, Cisco Ramon, you know? Your cells are extremely active right now—only one step away from complete formation."
"A tiny bit of external stimulation—maybe a bullet, maybe a speeding car—will open up a whole new world before your eyes. Do you have the mental preparation for that?"
Cisco desperately wanted to say yes. These days, aside from people like Batman and Lady Shiva, who would refuse super-powers? But he understood his own heart—he was far from prepared.
Just as Thea was about to activate teleportation, one second before departure, he finally made his decision. "I'm genuinely not prepared, but Barry is my brother. I have to go save him."
His expression was sincere, his words earnest. Thea couldn't say much more—worst case scenario, if they encountered danger, she'd send him back first.
Seeing him turn to pack things—toothbrush, tissues, taking a whole bunch, practically wanting to grab a few tablets too—did he think this was a vacation? Thea tossed away all his miscellaneous junk and just handed him a handgun before irritably dragging him along to activate teleportation.
The two arrived at the scene and followed the tracker's indication all the way forward. Even after two days had passed, the traces of Speed Force passage remained vivid. Occasionally, Caitlin's frost impacts were scattered around the area.
Cisco held his gun, advancing carefully all the way.
Watching his cautious manner, Thea wanted to laugh. But to train him, she didn't mention that within several miles around here, there were no enemies at all.
"We're here. The tracker should have ended right around here, with an error margin of about a hundred meters." Cisco walked to a small road, lowered his head and measured with his instruments for a long while before confirming.
After speaking, he stared fixedly at Thea, wanting to see what this parallel world traversing process looked like.
Carefully sensing the surrounding aura—deep and powerful energy—Thea felt this was good news. These guys hadn't traversed the timestream. If things went as expected, they'd run off to a parallel timeline.
Reaching up to lightly touch her earring, comparing it with pre-stored information in the Mother Box, matching corresponding spatial coordinates—BOOM! An orange-red passage appeared before them.