Cisco Ramon, taken aback by Su Sheng's request, instinctively suggested, "You could use a ceramic composite..." But he quickly caught himself, realizing he was helping the man who had just stolen from Mercury Labs. He stepped back defensively. "Why should I help you? You stole from Mercury Labs!"
Su Sheng smirked, shaking his head as he addressed Cisco. "Cisco, Cisco, you know you have no choice but to help me."
"If you solve this problem for me, I'll forget about that trap you set to catch me last time."
"You...you..." Cisco stammered, backing away further.
"What's wrong, Cisco?" Caitlin Snow and Barry Allen asked, noticing his panicked state.
"Didn't you hear what he just said?" Cisco turned to them, confused.
"Hear what? He didn't say anything," Barry and Caitlin replied, puzzled.
"Of course... You said it in my mind," Cisco realized with shock.
"Indeed," Su Sheng confirmed, his voice resonating inside Cisco's head while his lips remained still. "I can speak in your mind, control your thoughts and actions, much like Grodd—but far more effectively. Grodd's intelligence hasn't developed as far as mine, so those he controls remain muddled. But with me, the people I control act completely normal. You wouldn't want me to control you, making you do things you don't want, would you? Or living every day wondering if those around you are under my control?"
Cisco felt a shiver run down his spine. "Alright, alright, I'll help you!" he quickly agreed.
Caitlin and Barry were stunned, still trying to process what had just happened. Su Sheng hadn't spoken aloud, yet Cisco had a full conversation.
"Su Sheng, what do you want with the tachyons?" Barry asked, still bewildered.
"To make a suit," Su Sheng replied casually.
"The one you wore last time? I don't get it. With your power, why do you need a flashy suit like that?" Barry asked, confused. Even if the tachyons could create a suit, it didn't seem necessary for someone as powerful as Su Sheng.
"Because… can it fly?" Caitlin Snow guessed.
"Flying? That's not hard," Su Sheng shrugged. If he wanted to fly, he could easily replicate the ability. In fact, with enough development, the Speed Force itself could allow him to fly. "I just like flashy things. Even if it's just a toy, it has to be gorgeous enough to satisfy me, right?"
"But this is something from Mercury Labs. They've already called the police, and you've been issued a warrant. I know you're not afraid of being caught, but won't this bring you trouble? How about you exchange the tachyons back, and we help you find an alternative energy source?" Barry tentatively suggested.
"Not interested," Su Sheng replied dismissively. "Tachyons are rare, but if you can make one, you can make another. But you only have one life. Tell Tina McGee to drop the case, or... she'll die!"
"You're not going to kill her, are you?" Caitlin asked, worried.
"I won't kill her, but I won't stop those who want to," Su Sheng said with a chuckle.
Brie Larvan, a former researcher at Mercury Labs, was developing a project to remotely control robotic bees. Originally intended for agricultural use, Brie planned to weaponize the bees, which led to her dismissal by Tina McGee. Feeling wronged, Brie sought revenge, using her venomous robotic bees to target those who wronged her. Without the intervention of The Flash and The Atom, Tina McGee would have been killed. Speaking of The Atom, Ray Palmer hadn't yet developed the nano-shrinking technology. Perhaps it was time to visit Earth-2 and seek out Harrison Wells.
"Why does someone want to kill her?" Barry asked, concerned.
Su Sheng smiled, handing Cisco a slip of paper. "Here's my number. Let me know when it's done."
Cisco, still stunned, took the number. Su Sheng turned and walked out.
"I..." Caitlin started, pointing after him before running to catch up.
But when she reached the hallway, she found Su Sheng hadn't gone far at all—he was examining the wall.
This left Caitlin feeling a bit embarrassed, having assumed he had left in a hurry. "Is something wrong?" Su Sheng turned to ask.
"Are you still mad at me for not forgiving you?" Caitlin hesitated, trying to gauge his mood. "Is that why you gave Cisco your number?"
"Does it matter?" Su Sheng asked, genuinely puzzled.
Of course, it mattered to Caitlin. She used to be the one in contact with him, and now it seemed like he was cutting her off by giving his number to Cisco. She wanted to voice this concern but hesitated, instead asking curiously, "What are you looking for?"
"A secret room," Su Sheng replied, continuing his search. "Reverse-Flash built a secret room here. It contains his backup suit, surveillance of Barry Allen, and the future AI Gideon. Although Gideon isn't my ultimate goal, it could be useful for now."
"Impossible! If there were a secret room, we would've—" Caitlin's words trailed off as a section of the wall lit up, and the next moment, it split open, revealing a hidden entrance. "There really is a secret room!"
She hurried to follow Su Sheng inside.
The room was a small, closed space of about ten square meters. As the lights flickered on, Caitlin's eyes were drawn first to the yellow Reverse-Flash suit, then to the myriad screens displaying surveillance footage of Barry Allen's home, the police station, and other familiar locations.
"Gideon!" Su Sheng called out, looking at the far wall.
Instantly, a holographic projection of Gideon appeared.
"Hello, Mr. Su Sheng," Gideon greeted.
It wasn't surprising that Gideon recognized Su Sheng. After all, this AI came from the future. If it didn't know him, it would imply that the future wasn't unfolding as planned.
"Do you mind if I move you to a different location?" Su Sheng asked with a chuckle, eyeing Gideon with interest.