Chapter 7: To Lose Yourself Pt. 1

Summary: DeVoe overturned the tables as the defeated Team Flash lays helpless on the floor. Ralph isn't willing to give up his new family. What does it take to save your friends? What-if multi-chapter fic. Drama

Flash-back: Hours before

"This team is the only family that I have ever had," Ralph said, his voice shaking in fear and anticipation. A part of his mind was screaming at him, just as Iris tried to talk him out.

"Ralph, no one has to die," she insisted. Ralph took in a shaky breath before he looked away.

"Iris, DeVoe only wants me." He closed his eye resignedly. "You, Joe, Harry, Caitlin, Cisco – DeVoe cannot have them." His voice was determined, and he found himself believing his words.

Flash-forward: Now

Barry ran forward, speeding towards the floating chair. And suddenly he was blasted back, Izzy-DeVoe smiling down at him as the chair hovered to his location. "Give up, Flash," she smiled sweetly. "You know what I want."

Barry panted as he rolled around. "And what makes you think I'll let you have it?" One of Devoe's metallic arms suddenly slammed into his chest, pinning him to the floor. "Ralph is my friend," he grunted out. Izzy rose her eyebrows in mock amusement.

"Your friendship is admirable," she complimented as her chair turned away to gaze at the limp forms of Caitlin, Cisco and Iris. "But I wonder how many friends you are willing to sacrifice for one?" Izzy's smile grew as the metallic arms stretched towards Cisco and Caitlin. Barry's eyes widened as he realized the implications. "Vibe and Frost are not a part of my plans." Izzy turned slightly to watch the Flash struggle in vain against the metal. "But I can make amends."

An arm latched onto Cisco's head, lifting him off the floor and holding him midair.

"No!" Barry screamed, stretching his arm out in vain.

"The location, Flash," DeVoe bargained. "Where is Ralph?"

Barry looked at the Thinker, his face falling as he realized his choices were dwindling. Who would he condemn?

"I'm here!" A voice announced, and Ralph walked into the Cortex. "You want me?" He asked the woman, his voice wavering only once at the sight of the woman he once loved. "You can take me." The chair hovered near him, just as the arm released Cisco, letting him drop to the floor. "Leave my friends alone."

"Ralph!" Barry cried out, as he tugged against the metal. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Being a hero, Allen," Ralph responded, smiling as he attempted to reassure the downed hero. "Thought you would be proud." Izzy's grin widened as the metal arm hovered towards the Elongated man, resting almost gently on his head, as if he were precious. It made Ralph feel more than queasy.

Barry looked at the scene in front of him, shocked as he stared at the man he had learned to care for as a friend. True, he had not always seen eye to eye with the dirty detective, nor had he ever approved of his underhand methods, but he would be damned if he watched Ralph sacrifice himself and he didn't do anything about it.

Izzy looked ready to transfer DeVoe's mind into a new host. Ralph closed his eyes, waiting for the darkness to engulf him.

"Wait!"

DeVoe turned around, gazing at the speedster on the ground. Ralph's eyes fluttered open, as he stared at his friend.

Barry took a deep breath. "Take me instead."

"What?" Ralph exclaimed, both shocked and scared. Barry ignored him

"I can regenerate faster, my body can handle your mind," Barry bargained, his heart thumping against his chest loudly. What the hell was he doing? Apparently Ralph agreed, and the elastic human protested loudly. Barry ignored him. "It must be tiring to change so many bodies. Take me and you won't have to sit in that chair." DeVoe stilled, observing the speedster on the ground. "Just please, leave my friends alone."

The professor didn't say anything, and the Cortex fell into an uncomfortable silence, only the heavy breathing of the meta-humans filling the void. "There are 239 possible combinations of scenarios that you could have chosen, Barry Allen." DeVoe finally responded. "Only three are correct." The chair moved away from Ralph, inching towards the speedster, but the metal arm did not release either man. Barry looked away, turning to face the ceiling instead. "You gave me two choices. To kill you –" Barry's heart skipped a beat. "or to kill him." Izzy pointed towards the other man. The chair turned away, opting to face an empty wall instead of either of the men.

An eternity seemed to pass, before DeVoe turned towards the speedster hovering practically over him. "Unfortunate for you, you chose correctly." Izzy smiled widely. "Humanity will respect your sacrifice."

And another metal arm latched itself onto Barry's head just as DeVoe released Ralph and formed an energy field around himself and his newly chosen host. Ralph ran forward, banging his hands against the invisible wall. "No, Barry!" The speedster was lifted off the ground, as if he were some toy, just as the metal arm lighted up: the mad genius was transferring his consciousness to another host. And Barry didn't fight it, allowing himself to hang off DeVoe's contraption.

The man gazed sadly at Ralph. "Keep Iris safe." And his eyes closed slowly, just as Izzy slumped in the chair.

Ralph watched horrified as the metal arm released Barry, and the speedster straightened up, opening his eyes as he breathed in deeply. The elongated knight fell to his knees.

Clifford Devo smiled as he lifted his vibrating hand. "This will work beautifully."

The Thinker sped out of Cortex, leaving one man broken, with the dead body of Izzy and without an explanation to the remaining members of Team Flash.

A/N: I don't really know where I'm going with this story, but I think it would be so cool to have the Thinker take over Barry Allen. Plus, I really don't want Ralph Dibney to die because, despite his cheesiness, he's a really sweet character. And too many people are dying and leaving the Arrow-verse. But the way they are dramatizing the character does make it seem like he is going to die. And that just sucks.

I mean, Rip Hunter died in LoT (spoiler alert!), and I was crying because no one on the Legends actually cared. They stayed silent for like all of 5 minutes. I hated HR's death. And don't get me started about Martin Stein.

What about you guys? Whose death upset you the most?