Barry forced a smile. "Not at all. Just thinking about how to balance independent work with collaboration. I've gotten used to working alone."
"Understandable. But isolation has limits." Wells's expression became more serious.
"The greatest achievements in human history came from collaboration. Minds working together toward common goals. Don't let independence become imprisonment."
That was eerily similar to what Joe had said weeks ago. Different words but the same message. Don't isolate yourself. Don't push everyone away.
"I'll keep that in mind," Barry said.
The conversation wound down naturally. Barry promised to stay in touch. Confirmed the Tuesday meeting with Caitlin. Shook hands all around.
As he walked away from the STAR Labs booth, his mind churned with calculations and uncertainties. He'd established the connection. Opened the door to STAR Labs. Met Harrison Wells face-to-face.
And he still couldn't tell if Wells was exactly what he seemed or something far more dangerous wearing a perfect disguise.
Barry found a quiet corner of the conference hall and pulled out his phone. Opened a notes app and started writing.
*Harrison Wells Assessment:*
*Physical presentation:* Normal human appearance. No wheelchair. Full mobility. Matches pre-accident Wells from the original timeline.
*Behavioral patterns:* Enthusiastic about science. Genuinely excited about talent. No traces of super-speed or manic energy associated with Thawne.
*Speech patterns:* Natural. No temporal references or speedster terminology. Talks like a scientist, not a time traveler.
*Body language:* Open. Friendly. No defensive posturing or hidden tension.
*Initial conclusion:* Appears to be genuine Harrison Wells. No evidence of Eobard Thawne infiltration.
*However:* Cannot be 100% certain. Need ongoing observation. Close monitoring of STAR Labs activities. Any temporal anomalies or suspicious behavior would require immediate reassessment.
*Action plan:* Accept consulting position. Maintain professional distance. Gather intelligence while appearing cooperative. Verify everything.
Barry saved the note and looked across the conference hall to where Wells still stood at the STAR Labs booth, laughing at something Cisco had said.
He looked like a good man. A brilliant scientist pursuing his dreams. Someone who wanted to make the world better through innovation and discovery.
But Barry had learned that appearances could be deceiving. That the most dangerous threats often wore the most friendly faces.
So he'd watch. He'd assess. He'd gather data and draw conclusions based on evidence rather than assumptions.
And if Harrison Wells turned out to be Eobard Thawne in disguise after all, Barry would be ready.
Because that was the advantage of meta-knowledge combined with superhuman intelligence. He could see patterns others missed. Could detect inconsistencies that normal observation would never catch.
The game was accelerating. The pieces were moving into position. STAR Labs. Team Flash. The particle accelerator that would eventually explode and change everything.
Barry Allen was inserting himself into the center of it all. Positioning perfectly for the transformation he'd been planning since the moment he'd transmigrated into this world.
Four years until the explosion.
Four years to build wealth, skills, and the perfect Chamber that would grant him seven abilities simultaneously. Four years to become so thoroughly prepared that when lightning finally struck, it wouldn't create an ordinary speedster.
Morever, he could accelerate the whole thing instantly if he gets involved, but there were many things he was still calculating.
Maybe he was overthinking...well he was but still...he doesn't plan to be just a speedster.
He would become something unprecedented. Something the DC universe had never seen before.
Barry pocketed his phone and walked back into the conference, mind already planning his next moves.
The future was being written. And for the first time since arriving in this world, Barry Allen wasn't just a passive observer of destiny.
He was actively shaping it.
---
Barry left the conference at 4:30 PM, mind buzzing with possibilities.
The meeting with Wells had gone better than expected. He'd made a strong impression. Established credibility. Opened the door to STAR Labs without committing to anything that would limit his independence.
Perfect execution. Exactly what he'd needed.
His phone rang as he walked to his car. Unknown number. Barry answered cautiously. "Hello?"
"Mr. Allen? This is Christina Park from TechVenture Capital. I attended your presentation at the conference today and I'd like to discuss potential investment opportunities in your research."
Barry stopped walking. Investment opportunities. Venture capital. This was unexpected but potentially valuable.
"I'm listening," he said.
"Your neural interface work has significant commercial applications. We'd like to schedule a meeting to discuss Series A funding. Potentially $2-5 million depending on your development roadmap."
Two to five million dollars. Real money. The kind of capital that would let him accelerate everything. Build better equipment. Hire assistants. Expand his research without financial constraints.
"I'd be interested in hearing more," Barry said carefully. "But I should mention I'm also in discussions with STAR Labs about consulting opportunities."
"That's fine. We actually prefer our portfolio companies to have strategic partnerships with established research institutions. It validates the technology and provides networking opportunities."
They scheduled a meeting for Thursday. Barry hung up feeling like the universe was aligning in his favor. Money. Connections. Opportunities multiplying faster than he'd planned.
He got in his car and drove home, already calculating how to leverage this new development. Venture capital would mean giving up some equity in whatever company he formed. But it would also mean resources to accelerate his timeline dramatically.
Worth considering carefully.
When Barry arrived at his apartment, he found Iris waiting outside his door. She looked frustrated.
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