"Listen, this is important." Bart looked around as if making sure no one else was listening in, "your main priority right now isn't Cobalt or RF."

"What are you talking about?"

"They're being used." Bart explained, "Inertia, Thad Thawne, the whole point of him getting them to help him is just a coy. He's using them."

Jaime shook his head, "I don't get it... First you came to me that one night not too long ago, telling me to come meet you here. You know I could've refused."

"I'm glad you didn't." Bart let out a sigh of relief, "I'm telling you this now. It may be of some use to the team."

"Why not bring it to Nightwing?"

"Why would I? That'd blow my cover." Bart continued, "anyways, the longer he keeps Reverse Flash and Cobalt Blue running, the faster they get and the stronger the Speed Force gets."

Jaime tilted his head, "'Speed Force'?"

"It's the energy that gave us speedsters our speed." Bart explained, "Thad found a way to harness this Speed Force and actually harvest it from other speedsters."

Jaime glared at Bart, "that's how..."

"Yeah." Bart cleared his throat, "how's Wally?"

"Why would you do that?!"

"Look, I was just maintaining my cover. You have no idea how hard that was. Thad had taught me how to steal the Speed Force, then had me test it on Wally or Barry. And I happened to run into Wally first." Bart looked away awkwardly, "uh, so moving on, you need to know something about the MFDs and when Wally was gone."

"That was way too long ago, Hermano..."

"No, Jaime, you need to remember." Bart ordered, tone growing colder and more serious, "when Wally was abducted for that whole year, he was on the Reach Ship, correct?"

"Yes."

"Well... They didn't choose a speedster to run around that twister for nothing."

Jaime tapped his chin, "you mean to say..."

"Yep. Thad was behind that all along. He never meant for Darkseid to get in the way so soon, nor did he expect Vadal Savage to get involved, either." Bart grabbed the glass of water that had suddenly appeared next to him. Jaime could see Bart's grip shaking, "Thad intended to get a speedster, whether it'd been him, Barry, or even me. That whole year, Thad and the Reach were researching ways to take that speed force. However, the operation was scrubbed way too soon, after that year, Nightwing showed up, followed by the Team, and they were both saved. Lately, Thad was able to complete his research. He got me to join his force of speedsters, and I successfully took Wally's speed."

Jaime was speechless, "it's been going for that long...?"

"Yeah..." Bart clenched his fists and chugged his glass, "look."

"Hm?"

Jaime looked down at the countertop, and next to his hand was a flash drive.

"That's everything you should know. At least everything going on."

"Is it encrypted?"

"Most of it was." Bart replied, "luckily I broke through enough of the firewalls. I've breached through all his files, thanks to Tim's training last year. Heh. Not a waste of time..."

"Nice." Jaime inspected the flash drive, slipping it into his coat pocket.

"I should warn you, though, there's a file in there I wasn't able to crack. Be careful. I have absolutely no idea what's on it."

"Yeah, thanks. This will really help. I'll just explain to Nightwing that I picked this off of a computer in Central City or something. Kara swore to keep this a secret. No one else knows about this mission."

"She doesn't even know about me?"

"No. That's just you and me."

"Good. It'll stay that way." Bart nodded.

Jaime looked out the window at nothing, then turned to look back at Bart, "why are you doing all this? Why betray the team then come back?"

Bart was silent. He stared at his empty glass, swallowing hard, "I'm the fifth generation of speedsters. Legend says that the fifth generation is destined to be extinguished if there's a point in the time stream when all five generations are alive."

"But Jay Garrick died..."

"He did. But there was at least a week when all five of the generations were alive, ever since Dan was born." Bart continued, "so clearly that couldn't be avoided. Someone I once knew told me that I have the power to change my destiny... She told me that... I should try my hardest to change who I'm meant to be, and that she supports me either way. Why I came back? Because it was her that I wanted to come back to."

"Who?"

"Christine. I saw her face when I first went after you guys. I don't know... There was just an urge that told me to come back..." Bart sighed heavily, "I've had my share of trials while I was away. Trust me."

"Uh-huh." Jaime nodded, then wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans, "Bart... Thanks. But I need to get back to Damian and Tim."

"Wait."

Jaime turned back to Bart as he started to get up from his stool.

Without saying a word, Bart pulled out a syringe, "here."

"What is that?"

Bart grinned, "Nightwing may have already come up with this. It's a speed serum. It can give temporary speed. But believe me when I say that ever since that night, I've been researching ways to get his speed back."

"Yeah. Thanks, Bart. All this really is a huge help." Jaime grinned.

"Hey, be careful."

"You too."

Bart nodded in response as Jaime headed out of the diner. Suddenly, as soon as he shut the door behind him, his gaze fell on the scene that unfolded before him.

"Jaime!" Tim yelled.

"Reyes, suit up!" Damian ordered.

Both Robins had their weapons out, only confusing Jaime, "guys, what's going on?"

Tim looked back at him as streaks of blue and yellow surrounded them, "it's Cobalt Blue and Reverse Flash."

Jaime's eyes stared in horror as he had a realization. Crap... Bart!! His gaze shot back to the diner, and as soon as it did, there was a streak that immediately left the diner. Following that streak were the blue and yellow streaks.

Damian slid his sword back into its sheath then turned to Jaime, "what did you do?"

"Nothing... There was..." Jaime cleared his throat then pulled out the flash drive, "forget that. We need to look at this."

- To be continued -