"No, don't listen to him, Bette. You don't know what he's done to Central City or what he might do to you. He's dangerous, very dangerous," Barry Allen pleaded urgently, ignoring his weakened state as he spoke to the hesitant Bette Sans Souci, also known as Plastique. "The particle accelerator explosion changed you, just like it changed me. Dr. Harrison Wells, a researcher at the particle accelerator, might have a way to help you."
As Barry desperately tried to convince Bette, Su Sheng chuckled, turning away to put on his suit.
"I really need to work on this. The way I put on and take off this suit isn't nearly as cool as it should be," Su Sheng muttered as he slowly ascended into the air.
"Wait, I'll go with you!" Bette finally decided.
She wasn't sure if the military could solve her problem or if Harrison Wells could help her, but she had seen Su Sheng absorb the Flash's abilities with her own eyes. She couldn't afford to miss this chance. Once a bomb disposal expert, she had now become a living bomb. She didn't want to live like this anymore.
"No..." Barry Allen could only shout helplessly as Su Sheng, now carrying Bette, flew away in his armor.
"My God, what a pervert!" "Shameless!" whispered onlookers, their judgmental stares making Barry flush with embarrassment. He hurriedly covered himself and hailed a taxi, pretending not to hear the murmurs or see the eyes on him.
An hour later, Barry, still covering himself, finally returned to the cutting-edge laboratory. His friends were stunned at his disheveled appearance.
"You're saying Su Sheng sucked away your speed? How is that even possible?" Sisko, Caitlin, and Dr. Harrison Wells all struggled to believe Barry's account of what had happened.
"Maybe you could ask the taxi driver who just dropped me off," Barry replied, still feeling the sting of humiliation. "Everyone, is my speed loss temporary or...?" Barry asked nervously.
Sisko and Caitlin exchanged worried glances, but it was Dr. Harrison Wells who spoke. "We can't be sure yet, but we'll figure it out."
Barry's face fell, the uncertainty weighing heavily on him.
Meanwhile, back at Su Sheng's villa, Laura had been waiting for his return. When he finally arrived, she noticed he wasn't alone. A red-haired woman—Bette Sans Souci—had come with him.
Thud!
As they landed, Su Sheng let go of Bette, who stumbled slightly, her body still adjusting from the flight. It was uncomfortable for anyone to fly like that, especially since she had to consciously avoid touching Su Sheng's suit, lest it explode.
Su Sheng first headed to the garage to remove his armor and then came back out. Bette, having regained her composure, greeted Laura.
"This is your house?" Bette asked casually, her eyes scanning the environment.
"Take a look at this," Su Sheng said, picking up a small stone from the ground. Bette watched in surprise as the stone began to glow with a familiar light.
Whoosh!
Su Sheng tossed the stone into the air, and as it ascended, it exploded with a loud bang.
"How did you...?" Bette looked at Su Sheng in astonishment.
"Being my enemy is the worst mistake anyone can make," Su Sheng replied with a chuckle. "If you could amplify your abilities three or four times, you'd be able to freely control whether or not to turn objects into explosives. But it might take you a lifetime to reach that level, so let's focus on your current situation."
"How can you help me?" Bette asked urgently.
"Admiral Wade Eiling is probably looking for you, right? If you get caught after I absorb your energy, do you think he'll just let you go?" Su Sheng asked with a smile.
Bette shook her head solemnly. "So?"
"Kill him," Su Sheng suggested, smiling.
"Okay!" Bette agreed without hesitation.
"Come back to me when you're done," Su Sheng said, waving her off. Bette hesitated for a moment but then turned and left.
Encountering Bette had been an unexpected twist. Su Sheng had intervened simply because he noticed the Flash trying to recruit her. Whether or not she succeeded in her mission didn't matter to him. If she did, it would prove interesting, and Su Sheng wouldn't mind helping her further. While her ability was a nightmare for her, it was a joy for Su Sheng. By stacking her powers, he could control the nature of explosives, even altering them from immediate to remote or timed detonations. The possibilities were intriguing.
Now, who would make the perfect test subject?
As Su Sheng contemplated who to target, Barry Allen—now devoid of his speed—was meeting with a friend he had specifically invited.
"That's the situation, Oliver. I need your help," Barry said, smiling wryly as he recounted his recent misfortunes. He looked expectantly at the friend seated across from him.
Oliver Queen.
The 'legend' of Starling City. Once the second-generation heir to the Queen family fortune, Oliver had returned after being presumed dead for years following a shipwreck. No one knew what had happened to him during those five years on Lian Yu, the island where he was stranded. Not only had he survived, but he had returned with extraordinary skills and a new identity—the Green Arrow.
Oliver's journey hadn't been easy. After returning to Starling City, he had hoped to redeem his family's legacy by saving the city. But he soon realized that the city might not need him as much as he thought. There was already a huntress delivering justice, albeit with ruthless methods, and a group of heroes known as the Birds of Prey. Between them, they had almost eradicated the city's criminal underworld, leaving little room for the Green Arrow to make his mark. Even the clues in the notebook his father had left him were nearly all followed up. Unsure of what to do, Oliver had resumed his role as a wealthy playboy by day. Before Barry became the Flash, he had visited Starling City to investigate a special case, where he met Oliver and discovered his secret identity. Despite his struggles, Barry had admired him, and now, Oliver was the only one Barry felt he could turn to.