The Flash – Subject 9

By: Stacy Miller

After being in Iron Heights for weeks, Barry (Grant Gustin) is very happy to return to work at Central City Police Department. People at CCPD share at him and whisper “What’s he doing here?” Barry is told to go see the captain. Captain Singh (Patrick Sabongui) tells Barry that some people in the department think he shouldn’t be returning to work. Barry reminds that he was cleared of all charges in murdering DeVoe. Yes, Captain Singh knows that and DeVoe has been cooperating. But as they live in a town full of meta humans, some people believe that it’s not really DeVoe. And until everyone believe it, Captain Singh tells Barry that he’s been encouraged to tell him (Barry) to take a permanent leave of absence.

At Star Labs, Iris (Candice Patton) suggests that his leave of absence could be a good thing as he’ll now have time as The Flash to prove that DeVoe is still alive. She adds that there are four metas still out there that are in danger from DeVoe.  Cisco (Carlos Valdes) and Ralph (Hartley Sawyer) arrive. Ralph is carrying a lost and found box from Bus 405. He feels that it will be the best way to locate the other meta humans. Cisco is annoyed by being assigned the “buddy system” with Ralph; why does he have to babysit Dibny? Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker) reminds that with the threat of DeVoe coming after Ralph because he is a bus meta, it was the only way to keep him (Ralph) safe.  Barry promises to take the next shift. “You’re a good man Barry Allen,” says Cisco. Opening the box, they find a CD belonging to Izzie Bowin (Miranda MacDougall). “Country, music’s tone deaf step child,” Ralph says when they play the CD, obviously not a country music fan. Cisco touches the CD and vibes. Team Flash learn that Izzie Bowin is playing a gig at a country bar called The Busted Saddle. And since it’s now Barry’s turn to pal around with Dibny, he and Ralph head to the joint.

Meanwhile, DeVoe (Sugar Lynn Beard) and Marlize (Kim Engelbrecht) watch footage of Izzie performing. DeVoe comments that Izzie lacks refinement. But as the Becky Sharpe’s body is deteriorating rapidly due to the fact that it is unable to control the demands of all the powers of the other meta humans inside it, DeVoe must move into a new host sooner than he’d hope. And that new host will be Izzie Bowin.

Barry and Ralph arrive at The Busted Saddle to talk with Izzie. She asks whether they’re there for business or pleasure. When they answer neither, Izzie doesn’t think they have anything to talk about.  Barry explains that there is someone very smart and very dangerous coming after her. Ralph tells her that she was exposed to dark matter when she was on Bus 405 and now she has powers. Barry tells Izzie they can keep her safe, but Izzie refuses to come with them. She uses her power, which is manipulating sound waves, and tosses Barry and Ralph across the ground.

Later at Star Labs, Caitlin tells Barry and Ralph how lucky they were that they have meta abilities as their hearing will return back to normal shortly. Barry says that they have to find Izzie before DeVoe gets his hands on her. Ralph reminds that the quickest way to locate her is to check her website to see the gigs she’s playing. Ironically, no one thought to do that. Address in hand, Barry, Cisco and Ralph leave to see Izzie.

Meanwhile, Cecile (Danielle Nicholet) runs into Harry (Tom Cavanagh) at Jitters. She is exhausted. Cecile tells Harry that her new ability to hear thoughts is keeping her awake at night. It seems that Joe’s (Jesse L. Martin) dreams are very loud; it’s like an action movie. She just needs to get some sleep.

Izzie Bowin is surprised when The Flash approaches her (along with Vibe and The Elongated Man) and tells her that she’s in danger. Izzie laughs when she sees Becky Sharpe. Barry orders DeVoe to leave Izzie alone. DeVoe comments that Barry hasn’t learned anything from their past encounters. “You’re not smart enough to stop me from getting what I want,” DeVoe tells Barry. “It’s three against one genius,” says Cisco. “Check your math Vibe, it’s three against six. Though I doubt that I’ll need to use all of my powers against you,” DeVoe says. Soon, Vibe, The Flash and The Elongated Man are on the ground. “You stay away from me!” Izzie shouts, using her sound wave ability to injury DeVoe.

Back at Star Labs, Izzie is told that Clifford DeVoe is after her because he needs the bodies of all the people who were on Bus 405 to get their powers. Izzie says that she just got her powers a little while ago and now has a deeper connection with her music. Plus, she’s about to work on her album and doesn’t have time for this. Barry tells Izzie that since her powers weakened DeVoe, they want to train her to stop DeVoe. Barry reveals himself to be The Flash to gain Izzie’s trust.  But she still walks away.  Ralph finds her and explains how he was on the bus too and DeVoe is after him as well.  But all those people out there want to protect him and have given him a buddy system to keep him safe. Ralph says he joined the team because they are good people who will never leave him. Izzie asks who will be her buddy. Ralph tells Izzie that he can pull some strings so it will be him.

DeVoe seems to be losing patience with Marlize as his plan isn’t going entirely to his calculations.

Harry builds a sleeping cap that will serve as a dampener to block out thoughts for Cecile.  But it is ten pounds and is hardly comfortable to sleep in. Harry whines when Cecile complains out it. She says that he is acting like a child; she might as well go home and listen to Joe’s dreams about being naked in class!

Meanwhile, Izzie is training with Ralph since he’s not easy to break. Barry tells Iris that Izzie was able to hurt DeVoe using her basic instincts so with training, she’ll be more powerful and can stop him. Barry takes over the training asking Izzie to try to hit a moving target. But Izzie ends up getting injured.

Harry comes to the West house with an upgraded sleeping cap a/k/a brain dampener. It’s a smaller version that works better than the first one. He also apologizes for his child-like behavior. He laments that lately he hasn’t been able to do anything right, even trying to befriend Cecile.

As she got hurt training, Izzie decides to forgo the buddy system and face DeVoe alone. She uses her powers to knock Ralph out.

Harry shows Iris, Barry, Cisco and Caitlin the newly named cerebrum inhibitor, which he says can reverse brain waves making DeVoe unable to transfer his consciousness into other bodies. Iris and Barry realize that Savitar told them last year that they would invent something they would use against DeVoe. Ralph enters and tells Team Flash that Izzie is gone. Barry realizes they have to find Izzie before DeVoe does. Too late, Cisco vibes and sees that Izzie is already facing DeVoe. “No one likes a peeping Tom, good bye Mr. Ramon,” says DeVoe in the vibe.  Cisco is tossed to the floor at Star Labs.  He tells Team Flash that Izzie and DeVoe are at the warehouse district. Caitlin stays to take care of Cisco while Barry and Ralph go to help Izzie.

“Bravo Ms. Bowin. Of all my subjects you’re the only one to mount a credible defense against me,” DeVoe tells Izzie. But Izzie’s fiddle doesn’t work so she’s unable to use her ability on DeVoe. Barry and Ralph arrive. Barry tells Ralph that he’ll distract DeVoe while Ralph puts the inhibitor on. But DeVoe is able to access Dominic’s power and gives Barry a brain aneurysm. Ralph stretches his arm to put the inhibitor on but DeVoe slaps his hand away. “That’ll teach you to mess with a country girl,” says Izzie as she puts the inhibitor on DeVoe’s forehead. Using the ability of Deacon, DeVoe becomes Kilgore and destroys the inhibitor then creates a force field that traps Izzie inside. Ralph tells Izzie to look at him as DeVoe places his consciousness into Izzie Bowin’s body. And the body of Becky Sharpe dies. “Much better,” says DeVoe now in Izzie’s body, “Please inform Mr. Ramon that I have no need for six of my powers, I now have a seven. I’m afraid I’m going to be busy with my wife this weekend Ralphie.” Ralph watches sadly as DeVoe as Izzie vanishes.

Back at Star Labs, Harry blames himself for not being smart enough to make the inhibitor work to stop DeVoe.  Frustrated, he goes for a walk. Cisco tells Team Flash that he believes that DeVoe lair is in a pocket dimension.  Now, they just need to locate it.

At Jitters, Cecile tells Harry that the dampener worked and she’s well rested.  She also encourages Harry to call Jessie.

At DeVoe’s lair, in Izzie’s body he tells Marlize that their plan is back on schedule. All they need to do is find the other bus metas.

Barry goes to see Ralph at Dibny’s PI office. He finds Ralph listening to Izzie’s CD. Barry knows how it feels to lose someone you care about. Ralph gives Barry a job working for him in his PI’s business and vows they will get DeVoe.