AM I SUPERMAN?

When Kaius arrived at S.T.A.R. Labs, Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon were immersed in their work. The hum of machines filled the air as the two scientists examined readings on their monitors.

As soon as Cisco noticed Kaius, he couldn't resist slipping into his usual playful banter. "Well, well, look who's here! Tell me, man, did you bring any more aliens with you this time?"

The recent alien invasion in Metropolis had become a hot topic, and Cisco, being a self-professed geek, had been following every development closely.

Kaius sighed, thinking back to the chaos Fiora had caused that morning. "No aliens this time, Cisco. I'm just here to check in on Barry."

Cisco raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing. "Barry's been getting a lot of attention lately. Yesterday, two beautiful women showed up for him, and now you're here. Is he the center of the universe or something?"

Kaius's curiosity was piqued. "Two beautiful women? Don't tell me… you're talking about Felicity and Iris? They both showed up together?"

"Bingo! And trust me, it was awkward," Cisco said with a dramatic shrug. "I mean, Barry's got this magnetic charm or something. Two gorgeous women, and they're practically tripping over themselves."

Kaitlyn couldn't suppress her laugh. "What can I say? Barry's just that charming."

Cisco puffed up his chest. "Hey, I'm charming too, right? Kaitlyn, back me up here!" He then turned to Kaius with mock seriousness. "C'mon, man, tell the truth—am I more handsome than Barry?"

Kaius chuckled, shaking his head. "Cisco, no offense, but… let's be real. Nobody here is winning any beauty contests."

Both Cisco and Caitlin burst into laughter, the mood light and friendly. They all knew each other well enough to enjoy the banter.

Suddenly, a faint notification sounded in Kaius's mind:

"Ding! Increased favorability to friendly. Character cards unlocked: Kaitlyn Snow (Frost Killer, Unawakened) and Cisco Ramon (Vibe, Unawakened)."

Kaius took note of the cards but didn't dwell on them. Both Caitlin and Cisco were latent metahumans, their abilities dormant for now. For the moment, they were still ordinary people with extraordinary intelligence.

With Cisco and Caitlin accompanying him, Kaius made his way to Barry's room. The young speedster lay on the hospital bed, monitors surrounding him, his body still recovering from the accident at the particle accelerator. Though he appeared peaceful, Kaius could sense the dormant power radiating from him, waiting to awaken.

As Kaius studied Barry, the sound of an automated wheelchair echoed from the hallway. Harrison Wells rolled into view, pausing momentarily at the door as if contemplating whether to enter.

Wells—known to those familiar with the Flash's story as the Reverse-Flash—had played a pivotal role in the particle accelerator explosion. He maintained the guise of a sympathetic mentor, his wheelchair hiding a secret: it housed a high-energy particle acceleration device designed to recharge his speedster abilities.

Seeing no way to avoid the interaction, Wells finally entered the room, a practiced smile on his face. "Mr. Kaius, visiting Barry again, I see?"

Kaius regarded Wells with a sharp gaze. "How's Barry doing?"

Wells's expression remained calm, though his eyes flickered briefly with unease. "He's stabilized for now," he said smoothly. Then, turning to Caitlin and Cisco, he added, "Could you both fetch Barry's latest test reports for me?"

"Sure thing, Dr. Wells," Cisco said, nodding. Caitlin followed suit without hesitation. Both were used to Wells's requests and rarely questioned his authority. They left the room together.

After Caitlin and Cisco left the room, Harrison Wells's demeanor changed. The genial smile faded, replaced by a grim expression as he turned to face Kaius. His voice was cold and measured. "What do you want from me?"

Kaius leaned casually against the wall, his tone calm yet cutting. "Harrison Wells—or should I call you Eobard Thawne? Your loyalty to anyone here is nearly non-existent. I'm debating whether I should just eliminate you now."

The words, delivered so casually, sent a visible jolt through Wells. His hands clenched the armrests of his wheelchair, his body tense as if preparing to spring up. But he quickly checked himself. Kaius wasn't bluffing, but he also wasn't going to act recklessly here—not without cause.

Wells exhaled deeply, forcing himself to remain calm. "I have no quarrel with you. All I want is to return to my time."

Kaius tilted his head slightly, studying Wells. "I'm not stopping you from going back to your own time. I'm not even revealing your true identity to Barry Allen. All I ask is that you cooperate with me on a few matters. That's not too much to ask, is it?"

Wells hesitated, his sharp mind calculating the risks and benefits. Finally, he reached into his coat pocket and withdrew two sleek silver bracelets, their design futuristic, with a glowing yellow light embedded near the clasp.

"These are micro-particle compression devices modeled after Atom's technology," Wells explained. "They allow you to store a uniform or weapon compactly and retrieve it instantly when needed. I designed them to look like bracelets to distinguish them from the Flash's ring—wouldn't want Barry getting suspicious."

Kaius examined the bracelets, impressed by their craftsmanship. The subtle shift in design was a clever touch, ensuring that Barry wouldn't associate them with Wells or his own speed ring. He slipped one onto his wrist, testing its fit. "Not bad," he said, then narrowed his eyes at Wells. "You didn't tamper with these, did you?"

"No. If you don't believe me, feel free to have someone test them," Wells replied evenly, his tone devoid of emotion.

Kaius glanced at his system interface, confirming that Wells wasn't lying. He nodded, satisfied, and then added, "One more thing—I need a copy of Gideon."

Wells's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Gideon? That's… a significant request. May I ask why you need her?"

Kaius's expression remained impassive. "It's better if you don't know."

In truth, Kaius had plans to establish a Council of Three Sages, an interdimensional tribunal for holding powerful entities accountable. Gideon would serve as the AI assistant for this initiative. Whether Wells himself would be among those judged remained to be seen.

After a moment of contemplation, Wells relented. "Fine. I can arrange for you to have a copy of Gideon. But I hope whatever you're planning doesn't interfere with my return."

Before Kaius could respond, Caitlin and Cisco returned, their cheerful banter breaking the tension in the room.

"Hey, great news!" Caitlin exclaimed, holding a stack of charts. "We just reviewed Barry's latest medical report, and his recovery is going better than expected."

"It's incredible!" Cisco added, clearly thrilled. "We're talking two, maybe three months before he wakes up. Can you believe it? Struck by lightning, comatose for months, and now he's about to wake up. That's legendary!"

Kaius raised an eyebrow. "He's been out for months? How long, exactly?"

Caitlin and Cisco exchanged glances, trying to recall the timeline. "About six and a half months," Caitlin estimated with a shrug.

Kaius nodded thoughtfully. Barry's awakening would mark a turning point—for both him and the world. But for now, there were more pressing matters to handle.

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