AUTHOR'S NOTE: I started drafting and writing this story before Season 2 began, but unfortunately did not have the means to publish the story until late January 2016. By then, Season 2 was in full swing, and so was my college life, so by the time I caught up with Season 2, I realized that there are a LOT of parallels and coincidences between what happens in my fanfic, and what happens in the show :(

All I'm saying is - everything you read is my own work. The storyline, the OC's, their abilities and what happens to them - everything save for the original settings of Central City/Starling City/Gotham, and the original DC characters - are mine. I had this story written long before I found this site and began publishing it, which is also before the start of Season 2.

Regardless, I hope you enjoy what I have in store, and I thank you for taking the time to read my story :)))

If there is anything I have learned in my life, it's that one should always be prepared for the unexpected.

Nothing momentous will ever go as planned. You'll have one goal in mind, one that you'll do anything to achieve. You'll fight, you'll struggle, you'll never give up. You will sleep in the shadow of your hopes and dreams at night, and live to accomplish them by day. But when something throws you off, when an obstacle embeds itself in your path, when something impossible surprises you and has the potential to destroy everything you've ever worked for, everything you've ever known, your reaction and mindset towards it will have a powerful influence over what that certain obstacle will do to you. The best thing to do is to try and overcome it using your own strength and courage without giving up, depending on others if necessary.

But when you give in and accept defeat, then you have truly lost all hope.

###

At the current moment, I was debating over whether or not I was fully prepared for my job interview this morning.

Roughly three months before I would have completed my undergraduate studies and receive my degrees, I had received an email from someone named Caitlin Snow that not only congratulated me on behalf of my "incoming momentous achievement," but also inquired as to whether or not I would be interested in visiting her in Central City, and being interviewed for a position at the lab facility where she worked. Snow said that her own employer had been on the lookout for new recruits who would be willing to work at their prestigious, albeit very exclusive, private research lab, and that I had stood out to her employer as the most promising, and I was asked to come right away. I saw it as a probable opportunity to start working early right after college ended, and accepted her offer. Her email was soon followed by the arrival of paid plane tickets to Central City in the mail, along with keys to a hotel room booked for the afternoon right after I would graduate.

Well then, I had thought, whoever she was and whoever she was working for - they were prompt.

Having checked in to the Central City Grand Hotel only a few hours earlier this morning, I barely had any time to organize my few belongings in my room before the interview. I hurriedly showered and dressed into a bland floral blouse and a black pantsuit, and retrieved from my laptop bag a portfolio which contained several copies of my resume, thesis, research notes, and any other works I thought would be worth showing my potential employer. I slipped my feet into a pair of dress shoes, grabbed my wallet and phone, and I was off.

The address Snow had left in her email led me to a huge dark building with glass panels circling outwards, and several power auxiliary towers leaning above the uniquely structured building below. A sign at the entrance read, in plain, lit lettering:

Scientific and Technology Advanced Research Labs

Wait, I thought, pausing to look at the sign again.

Scientific and Technology Advanced Research Labs? As in, STAR Labs? The STAR Labs? The world-reknown facility established by the lengendary Dr. Harrison Wells, the mastermind behind the particle accelerator?

I was being recruited to STAR Labs - one of the greatest private research institutes in the country, possibly the world? Oh god...

"My employer was greatly interested in hiring you to come work as a physicist at his private laboratory, located in Central City..."

Private laboratory.

Central City.

How could I have been so stupid as to not put the two terms together? How on Earth did I miss this? The realization that I was going to be interviewed by STAR Labs, the fact that I didn't even know I was going to be doing so, and the fact that I didn't even prepare for this interview properly did a rather excellent job of turning my stomach.

I took a deep breath and pushed open the revolving door, and entered the building. The entrance opened up to a tunnel-like walkway lined with dark walls that curved to the right. I imagined it was similar to walking inside a black, sharp-edged spiral seashell. I continued walking until, a few feet before I arrived at my destination, I heard voices arguing. Against my own will, I paused in the hallway and listened.

"I'm sorry. There was nothing I could've done about it," a young man protested.

"Mr. Allen, we will discuss your failure later. Right now, I've got other priorities at hand. You should have known better than to be foolish in a moment as critical as that one," an older man replied, clearly disappointed.

"Look, you've got to believe me. I couldn't have -"

"Hey guys, if you don't mind, she's almost here," a third male voice warned. The two arguing voices silenced themselves. I heard someone - a woman, it seemed - sigh.

I took it as my cue to proceed into a circular room, where I saw four people before me, two standing, one leaning against the wall in the shadows behind them, with the last seated in a motorized wheelchair.

"Hi. I'm here for an interview?" I asked, keeping my voice clipped and polite.

"You must be Artemis Van Kleiss. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person," said a chirpy, young woman only a few years older than me. She was pretty, with light, cool makeup, kind eyes and sleek brown hair, and wore a business-style dress under a lab coat, holding a clipboard in one hand. The other hand was held out towards me, open for a handshake.

"I've heard a lot of good things about you. I'm Caitlin Snow. I'm the one who reached out to you."

I smiled at her and shook her hand.

"Pleased to meet you, Ms. Snow," I said, adding a smile. I turned to the Hispanic man standing beside her, with shoulder-length black hair and a big smile. He was wearing a graphic shirt with jeans, and was also holding out a hand to greet me.

"My name's Francisco Ramon, but you can just call me Cisco," he said calmly, "I'm a mechanical engineer here."

"It's nice to meet you as well, Cisco," I said, shaking his hand.

I turned to the figure seated in the wheelchair. He was a man of about 50 or 60, but looked young for his age. He was wearing a plain black sweater with dark jeans, and had a pair of Ray Bans prescription glasses resting on his nose. His head was covered with tufts of short, wispy black hair. He studied me with harsh, blue eyes.

I had seen those features pictured so many times before in newspaper articles, on TV, and once on a poster in my college dorm. During my freshman year, he was a guest speaker at our school to discuss the importance of the particle accelerator and renewable, clean energy.

He had been a close friend of my parents, and I could barely control my excitement.

"Oh god - Dr. Harrison Wells! It is such an honor to meet you - to see you again!" I had not known I would be meeting the great scientist in person. I stepped forward and shook his hand as well.

"Ms. Van Kleiss, it's great to have finally met you as well, after all these years. I've been keeping up to date with how you've been," he said, removing his glasses and wiping the lens with the hem of his shirt. He replaced his glasses, and look back at me, and smiled, "I apologize for calling you over so quickly after your graduation, but distinguished scientists such as ourselves don't seem to get breaks, now, do we? May I ask what you thought of your experience at MIT?"

Was this part of the interview? I sure hoped not...

"Oh - it was what I expected it to be. Lots of studying, lots of science, lots of lab work. Pretty educational. It was alright. I actually enjoyed it very much."

I cringed.

Barely three minutes in, and I was already sounding like an idiot in front of one of the greatest physicists to ever exist.

Dr. Wells chuckled.

"Oh dear. That must be the biggest understatement of the year. You double majored in biochemical engineering and applied physics, and yet managed to graduate within three years, summa cum laude, no less. You're #4 on NationFirst's annual 'Top 100 College Students to Look Out For' article. You were one of two recipients of the Simiens Aware for Advanced Placement out of everyone in the entire country, despite not having a home for a good duration of your pre-college academic career. You lost both of your parents at a very young age, something most children never seem to get past, and yet you've done truly amazing things in your life of 21 years that most adults don't accomplish by the time they die. 'Alright' is quite the misnomer here."

Umm... Did one of my idols just praise me? When I blurted out an idiot answer? He was impressed?

Not bad...

Caitlin, who had been scribbling notes on the clipboard she was holding, stopped and looked up.

"Wait... Dr. Wells, did you say she didn't have a home?" She asked in quiet astonishment, "You - you were homeless?"

That was taken out of context fast.

I felt heat rush to my cheeks, and found myself unable to make eye contact with her out of embarrassment.

My past had been no less than difficult, and people always tended to ask about it as if I shouldn't have survived it.

"No, not homeless. I'd been placed in several foster homes after the death of my parents when I was six years old, but I found myself running away a lot, only to be placed in another. At some point, my father's lawyer forced me to get my act together and kept a strict watch over me during high school."

"Your parents died when you were six?" she asked softly, shock still brimming her tone.

"Yes." I couldn't hide my discomfort, and bit my bottom lip nervously.

I wasn't exactly prepared to share details of my past with people I didn't know. Caitlin must have noticed my uneasiness, because she finally looked away from me and went back to her clipboard. I could tell she felt bad. I didn't blame her.

"Well, we're really glad to have you regardless of how you got here. It can't hurt to have a scientist by the name of Van Kleiss here, can it?" Cisco stated, with a reassuring laugh. He was trying to break the tension in the room. I appreciated it, and smiled at him.

"Would you happen to be related to Dr. Laurus Van Kleiss in any way? That surname is unbelievably uncommon."

"Oh, uhh, yeah, I am," I looked away, again. I always got this question. I cursed under my breath, put my smile back on, and faced the team.

"I'm his daughter."

Caitlin and Cisco definitely seemed taken aback by my response. Even the shady guy standing in the shadows with his arms crossed seemed surprised. Dr. Wells smiled his harsh smile in the general direction they were standing in, without looking directly at any one of them.

"Surely you two recall the unsolved murders of Laurus and Ariadne Van Kleiss? Yes, you both were young when it happened, but the story made international news, for Christ's sake," Wells' muttered, his steady voice slowly becoming enraged, "The girl just mentioned the death of her parents moments ago. It's not everyday I hire someone. I would have expected my only two scientists to have read up on their new colleague before meeting her instead of asking her uncomfortable questions and giving her a distasteful first impression of our lab. Absolutely disgraceful."

He turned to me.

"I'm truly very sorry for making you go through this, Ms. Van Kleiss. I had not expected our first meeting to be executed so poorly, and so awkwardly. I solemnly apologize on behalf of my associates."

Caitlin and Cisco both wore faces of shame and embarrassment.

"Oh, it's not an issue, Dr. Wells. I don't mind. I -"

"Ms. Van Kleiss, I appreciate your consideration, but my associates - and your potential teammates - ought to know how to show respect. Are you two just going to stand there and hang your heads or will you actually apologize for your foolishness?" Wells barked.

Caitlin and Cisco both made brief eye contact with me and murmured apologies. I assured them it wasn't an issue.

"Now then, Ms. Van Kleiss, you'll be working with Caitlin, our lab geneticist, and Cisco, our mechanical engineer, to help create technology that can be used by the CCPD to keep this city safer. Your knowledge of physics, and your engineering expertise along with its biological and chemical applications, will be key to my lab. You mentioned earlier that you were here for an interview. I was wrong to call it that."

"I'm not here for an interview?" I asked in confusion.

Dr. Wells chuckled lightly.

"No. You, of all people, do not need to be interviewed. The world has seen what you can do, what you're capable of. In all the years that I have been a scientist, I can confidently say I have never seen anyone with so much promise, with such sharp intelligence. Never have you allowed your struggles to weigh you down," he explained, smiling kindly.

"I think you'll enjoy working at my lab. You'll have full access to the facility, and whatever means you need to accomplish your task - I will always support it. This was never an interview, Ms. Van Kleiss. I see you've brought files that no doubt containing your resume and work you've done at MIT and beyond. I don't need to see it. Your thesis on the molecular applications of the ecfrenatus particle was absolutely groundbreaking. You've done more than enough to emphasize your expertise in science, Ms. Van Kleiss. The job is, and always has been, yours. Whether you accept it or not is your decision."

My heart skipped a beat. I was at a loss for words.

His praise was addicting, and he was so kind and supportive, and this lab - it was just so stunning.

"You only have two staff members?" I asked, suddenly noticing how empty the giant facility was. With such a famous name, I had expected there to be full company.

"No. I prefer to keep a small circle. The workload can be rather tremendous, but Caitlin, Cisco, and yourself are more than qualified for the job. Your passion for science is strong. Your work is a reward in and of itself."

"No kidding." I said, with a smile, and helped myself to a look around the facility.

I finally acknowledged the man standing behind the trio, leaning against the back wall. He was wearing a brown coat with a green plaid shirt under, paired with jeans. His brown hair was loosely slicked back, and I could tell by how his green eyes were staring at nowhere in particular that he was deep in thought, unimpressed with the conversation happening before him.

He couldn't have been any older than Caitlin and Cisco. He had been silent throughout my entire visit here.

He must have been the one I heard arguing with Dr. Wells before I entered the room. He finally made eye contact with me.

"Who are you?" I asked cautiously. The figure looked at me and straightened his posture, standing at his full height. Even at a few feet away, I could tell he was at least a whole head or so taller than me. Heck, he was the tallest one in the room. He stepped forward.

"My name is Barry Allen. I'm a forensic scientist working with the CCPD. I report to STAR Labs when we need tech to take down metahumans." His voice trailed off as he completed his statement. Clearly, he was not interested in conversing with me.

"Meta - what?"

"Metahumans. Ten months ago, Dr. Wells' particle accelerator exploded, and released a dark matter shock wave that traveled in a fifty mile radius, covering almost the entire city. Most people went unaffected. However, the small portion of the population that was ended up developing inhuman abilities that, unfortunately, they are not able to control, which causes them to become a threat to our city. The technology produced here is used to stop them, which is why your work here has the power to save the city," he explained, with reluctance in his voice.

I had heard of the particle accelerator's explosion, and knew it was a huge tragedy for the city - but I had presumed it was nothing more than a technical malfunction which costed a good amount of money. I didn't know it biologically affected humans.

This town was cursed with the effects of nuclear fallout with metahumans. It felt like something out of a sci-fi movie.

"Wow. That's incredible."

STAR Labs, it seemed, had so much more going on than it let the world see. I could tell this would be one extremely promising opportunity. Inventing technology that would be put to use right before our lives, working alongside the great Dr. Harrison Wells. Heck, working with Dr. Wells - no, him asking you to work for him - was more than enough reason to work here.

"Dr. Wells, I accept your offer. It would be of the highest honor to contribute to the amazing work you're doing here."

Wells beamed. Cisco cheered and high-fived Caitlin, who was also smiling at me.

"Yessss, we've got ourselves a new recruit!" Cisco hailed. Clearly, he was the friendliest one here, "Welcome to STAR Labs, Artemis!"

"Thank you, Ms. Van Kleiss. Trust me, it's a bigger honor for me to able to work with you," Dr. Wells remarked, "Your father was a good friend of mine. It will be nice to work with him again, in a sense. Come see me again tomorrow morning, and we'll further discuss your onboarding."

I smiled and thanked him yet again.

"Now, if any of you need me, I'll be in my office. Mr. Allen - a word with you, please?" He asked sternly, focused his attention on the tall guy but maneuvered his wheelchair so it faced a room by the left wall, clearly indicating for Barry to follow him. A cell phone went off somewhere in the room. Barry patted his pockets and retrieved a smartphone from his pocket, silencing it.

"Sorry, sir. Joe needs me. I'll be back before the end of the day, though," Barry apologized, looking to the man in the wheelchair for approval.

"Very well, Mr. Allen," and with that, Wells had wheeled himself away into his office, shutting the door behind him.

Barry replaced his phone in his coat pocket, gave Caitlin and Cisco a nod, then began to walk towards the tunnel hallway to leave. He stopped for a second when he reached me, and held out his hand.

"Congrats on joining STAR Labs, Artemis." he said with a half-hearted smile.

I attempted a grin, and reached out to shake his hand, before a strong static shock was emitted from his skin and pierced into my palm.

I flinched, and clutched my hand.

"Umm," Barry regarded with confused concern,"Are you alright?"

Judging by the easiness in Barry's voice, I doubt he felt what I just felt.

Did I imagine the tiny jolt of electricity?

It certainly didn't feel that way - it must've just been a little static electricity.

"No, no," I answered easily, quickly shaking his hand and forcing a smile, "Just static, that's all."

Barry gave me a strange look, and pressed his lips in a contrite smile, before turning and walking down the hallway.

I looked back at Cisco and Caitlin, both of whom wore scared looks on their faces, studying my reaction.

"I - Artemis, is everything okay? You seem shaken," Caitlin implored with a nervous laugh. I cleared my throat to eliminate any fear that would otherwise show itself in my voice.

"Nothing. I ... just can't believe I made it here. That's all." My voice was still shaking.

I chastised myself under my breath.

Cut it out, cut it out, cut it out. You don't want your new coworkers to think you're a sociopath who has never shaken a hand before. I took a small breath and tried to smile at them confidently. They bought it. Cisco gave me an approving smile. The worry in Caitlin's eyes seemed to melt.

"Well, we're all really glad to have you here. It's been a while since we had the chance to work with someone other than just the three of us. I hope you'll really enjoy it here," Cisco assured, giving me a kind grin as he casually stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Why? What happened to the other scientists here?"

Dammit, the fear was creeping its way back into my voice. Something was terribly offset here, and these people were doing a good job of covering it. Why did my hand feel so numbed, so shocked when it came into contact with Barry Allen's? Was it related to the reason why Wells was yelling at Barry before I arrived? Was he one of those metahumans?

What on earth was happening here?

"Oh, well... They were kind of vaporized into oblivion when the particle accelerator blew up... Come on, I'll walk you out."