Jack Kadare smiled at the security guard and walked toward Cisco Ramon and Caitlin Snow, who were chatting as they strolled through the corridor.
"Excuse me."
Jack stepped in front of them, still smiling. The two stopped, looked at him in confusion, and Cisco asked, "Can I help you?"
"I need you to build something for me."
"Build what?" Cisco blinked, then let out a short laugh. "Sorry, I don't know you."
"That's fine, it's not important. I need a portable sonic device—necklace-shaped would work. I don't have materials or payment, so you'll have to figure that out yourself. Oh, and I'll need it in half an hour."
Cisco's brow furrowed. Was this guy insane?
"I'm not making anything for you. Please step aside."
"You're sure about that?" Jack pressed.
"Please move," Cisco repeated, his tone firm.
"Alright." Jack sighed, sounding genuinely disappointed, and slowly raised his hand.
A sharp crackling sound split the air. Electricity arced across his fingers, brilliant blue light reflecting off the stunned faces of Cisco and Caitlin. Jack tilted his head, as if giving them one more chance. "How about now?"
Cisco stared at the dancing current. Superpowers. Real superpowers. Rather than retreating, he stepped forward, shock giving way to excitement. "How are you doing that? Can you generate electricity at will? What's the maximum amperage? Doesn't it hurt you?"
He was practically vibrating, half-reaching toward Jack's hand like a kid who'd spotted a new toy.
Jack casually pointed at the security guard, who was fumbling for his sidearm.
A bolt of lightning lanced out.
The guard screamed, convulsed, and crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
"Ah—"
Cisco finally snapped back to reality, instinctively stepping in front of Caitlin. "You—what the hell are you doing? Don't—we'll call the police!"
"I didn't want things to get this tense. I just wanted a sonic device." Jack shook his head, watching Caitlin's trembling hands fish her phone from her bag. He raised his palm.
"Ahhh—!"
Caitlin shrieked as electricity tore through her. Cisco jerked and twitched from the conducted current.
The light vanished.
Caitlin collapsed, unconscious. Cisco staggered back, legs buckling, and dropped onto the floor.
"Half an hour. I expect to see what I asked for." Jack walked over, scooped up Caitlin's limp body, gave Cisco a final glance, and turned to leave.
"Caitlin!"
Cisco's hand spasmed toward his pocket, fumbling for his phone—but someone caught his arm and helped him upright.
"Professor Wells." Cisco looked up at his mentor, Harrison Wells, owner of S.T.A.R. Labs. The words tumbled out in a rush. "Caitlin—Caitlin was taken by Electro-Maniac!"
Electro-Maniac...
Even in a crisis, Cisco's compulsion to name things remained absolute.
Harrison Wells's expression flickered. He nodded, face grave. "I know. I saw everything. Why did he target you two?"
"I have no idea—I've never seen him before in my life. He just walked up and demanded I build him a sonic device. No materials, no payment, figure it out myself, half an hour. That was it."
"He came for the device, so Caitlin should be safe for now. Don't call the police yet—make what he asked for. I'll try to track him down." Wells gripped Cisco's shoulder, his voice steady and reassuring. "Caitlin will be fine. Trust me."
Cisco exhaled hard and nodded. "I'm on it."
---
Inside S.T.A.R. Labs, Cisco threw himself into assembling the sonic device while Harrison Wells sat before a bank of monitors, his expression unreadable as he searched for Caitlin's location.
Meanwhile—
On the rooftop of a residential building near the lab, Caitlin's eyes fluttered open.
Jack Kadare's face filled her vision.
She screamed, scrambling backward on her hands and heels until her back hit the roof's low barrier wall. Jack made no move to follow. Watching her panicked retreat, he offered what might have been an apology. "I think the novelty of a new ability got to me. I've been enjoying shocking people a little too much lately. So—sorry for knocking you out."
"Don't—don't come any closer! Stay away!" Caitlin pressed herself against the concrete, hands raised defensively, apparently deaf to anything he'd said.
"I'm not coming over. I just—"
"Stay back! Don't come near me!"
"..."
Jack let out a long breath. Electricity crackled to life in his palm, and his gaze turned cold. "Shut up, or I'll fry you."
Caitlin went rigid, lips clamping shut.
"'Don't come closer, don't come closer'—tell me, did I fucking move?" Jack's voice dripped with irritation. "I've noticed something. What is wrong with you people? Some kind of masochistic streak? You don't listen when I'm being polite. Do I have to threaten you every single time?"