A sigh of displeasure escapes my lips as I turn to face Cassandra.  Her sarcasm is hardly condusive, though I should have expected as much from her.  She presents herself as an intellectual, one who considers information as power.  There is some supporting evidence to her act, though like all those possesed of her crude type of cunning it is very easy to rattle her cage, to disturb her air of superiority.  Now she lashes out, as transparant as glass.  

"Yes, yes, I'm sure if sarcasm was a science you would hold a PhD, but the fact of the matter is that the answer to Ditto's current situation is really very obvious.  Someone who considers herself 'the smartest person in the room', should be able to figure it out [i]toot-sweet[/i].  Especially as I managed it with my distinct lack of powers."  

And there you have it.  I have cut to the core of Cassandra's dislike for me.  It isn't my direspect for others privacy, or my blunt attitude.  After all, I have my suspicions that she employs similar means to achieve her goals when others present themselves as an obstacle.  No, her real problem is that I more than likely usurp her role as 'the smart one'.  She views me as the [i]Cassandra 2.0[/i].  

She needn't worry though.  Mother says they broke the mould when they made me, though I am inclined to disagree.  There was no [i]mould[/i] for my development, as I am completely unique.  Never before was there one like me and never again will the world see my like again.  I care very little for "taking someones place".  I leave that juvenile behavior to the uneducated masses, all willing to climb all over each other to reach the top.  

"Though as I can hardly resist the temptation to truly earn my new nickname, thank you for that by the way Miss. Sun, I will elucidate, just this once.  You see Mr Darukk shares a psychic link with all of his many doubles, which you would no doubt know already as I imagine it common practice for one to read up on their teammates.  While this link does have it's advantages, wordless communications and being able to transfer the 'prime' conciousness at will amongst them, it also has its drawbacks.  Chief amongst them being that any damage the doubles suffers is reflected back upon the original.  If the damage proves sufficent, say the death of a double, then there is the possibility of the original 'blacking out'."  

"Upon discovery of our comatose leader, and already being aware of his weakness I activated the alarm, knowing you would all come toddling along at a pace that suited you all."  I stop and check my watch.  One minute and twenty two seconds, and still most hadn't arrived, a shameful display.  I shake my head and tsk theatrically, for no other reason than to annoy the two woman.  I admit I am a little ashamed that I am lowering myself to their level.  

"I have since checked the police broadcasts in the area, fairly certain of what I would find.  Sure enough, there are two consecutive bank robberies just off of Grell Street.  Suspects appear to be Captain Cold, Heatwave, Spinning-Top and Girder.  All of the Flashes Rogues, and all considered extremely dangerous.  My theory is that one of the Ditto's came across this disturbance and relayed the message back to the original.  Ditto-Prime then attempted to set off the alarm, but his double was injured, or more likely killed, before he had the chance." 

I stop to let the information sink in, while cursing my own arrogance.  

I'll probably have to explain that to everyone else now too!