A/N: This is my second story about the Red Arrow (aka Roy Harper). Feel free to check out the first if you'd like! It's short and a fun read. This first chapter may be a bit of a weird way to start off the story, because its the back story to how Tommy Merlin is still alive (in my universe). It'll set the scene for things to come. I hope you enjoy the story, and as usual...I don't own Arrow!

Chapter One

Back From the Dead

Four years ago Tommy Merlyn was killed during his father's Undertaking. His funeral was quiet, but meaningful. It was a true tragedy, and many mourned his death. Among the mourning was Malcolm Merlyn, who indirectly was the one responsible for his son's untimely death.

Around the time of Tommy's demise, Malcolm was battling Oliver Queen. He ended up losing that battle, which ended with Queen sticking an Arrow through both of them, and then letting the Dark Archer live. Malcolm lived to fight another day, and knew he would one day have his revenge on Oliver, but first he needed to tend to his dead son.

First, Malcolm had an R & D contact from the former Merlyn Industries create body double of his son. The technology was so advanced that it would fool not just the common eye, but most tests that would be run on the body should it ever come into question. Then late one night, the Dark Archer robbed his own son's grave and replaced his corpse with the fake one. This, was the easiest part of Malcolm's plan.

The next part would be braving certain death itself, to try to bring his son back. It would be Malcolm's greatest break in and escape yet, and that's saying something for the man that the League of Assassins referred to as the Magician. With his son's dead body aboard, Malcolm plotted a course for his private jet to Nanda Parbet.

Malcolm wore his league uniform, and he dressed his dead son in a spare uniform he had. Upon arriving to the secluded island, he was approached by the league sentries wondering who he was. Malcolm claimed he was an assassin returning from a mission, which was a success, though his comrade had fallen. When asked why Malcolm had brought back the corpse, the liar explained it was a special order ordained by Ra's Al'Ghul, and thus one he didn't question. The sentries didn't question the order either, and let Merlyn into the citadel.

Malcolm sneaked his son's body past many of the guards, by using secret passage ways that very few in the league knew about. He found his way to the revered Lazarus Pit, and knew that this was what he needed to bring Tommy back to life. Without wasting the precious time that he barely had enough of, he dumped his son's body into the pit that glowed green as the dead man was put inside. Had Malcolm Merlyn known the vicious side effect of bloodlust that the pit had on it's customers, should they be dead, he may have completely reconsidered this plan of action. But in this moment Malcolm only knew one thing: The Lazarus Pit was the only way to give his son life again.

When Tommy flew forward out of the pit screaming like a mad man and lashing out towards his father, Malcolm jumped back in surprise. Within moments, the room was swarming with assassins who restrained both Malcolm and Tommy. Malcolm's body became numb with fear as he laid eyes on the Devil's Head himself, Ra's Al'Ghul.

"The fact that you past all my guards and made it into this inner sanctum is truly a testament to your skill." Ra's spoke to his former disciple, Malcolm. "Is this frantic one your son that you tried so hard to revive?"

Malcolm said nothing, but he didn't have to. This wasn't the first time Ra's had seen the hysteria and bloodlust that came from bringing the dead back to life. Ra's drew his sword and put it to Tommy's neck. He considered ending him now, but then had a much better idea.

"Malcolm, today I give you a choice. I can kill your son and set you free, or you can finally accept your fate and I will allow your son's safe passage home. You decide which you would prefer. You see the state he is in now, and I promise you he will only get worse. Such is the effects of the Lazarus Pit on the dead."

"Please then…." Malcolm begged, "Kill him, and let me go. I should have never returned, and I vow never to do the same."

"Very well then." Ra's spoke, glaring at his enemy. "But the next time we meet, Magician, it will be the last."

League guards escorted Malcolm out of the palace and Ra's turned his attention to the crazed Tommy and spoke.

"Listen carefully Berserker, for I will not be killing you today either. You will first be brought to an ancient sorceress that will restore your soul and then, we will take you under league training to turn you into a powerful weapon. My hope is that one day I will be able to have you kill your father for me, and rid the world of his plight once and for all in a way that would be truly the worst end imaginable for Malcolm Merlyn."

Tommy's soul was restored to him through mystic arts, and he became a pupil under league training for a year and a half. He was trained by the greatest warriors in the league, who Ra's only called upon in special instances. In his training Tommy was allowed to kill his sparing partners as to keep his blood lust under control. His trainers taught him all members of the league were individuals with dark pasts, and his blood lust was only truly satisfying when he was bringing justice to the evil. His need to kill was a righteous calling, as they explained it to Tommy. Tommy's teachers were among Ra's most prized secrets, so when he died and was replaced by Malcolm Merlyn, nobody knew to tell the Father that his son was alive and well.

Then one day, the league disbanded without warning. All assassins were absolved of their responsibilities and many went their separate ways, as did those that worked to train Tommy. With no more league of assassins, Tommy had no idea what to do next with his life. He soon found himself a mission that seemed to fit perfectly, as a paid executioner that eliminates only the most corrupt.

In the present day, on the subway in the city of Paragon late at night, had Roy known all this about the man Tommy Merlin, who he had never officially met, he would not have been as confused when he caught a glimpse of the man from across the train. Thinking he saw a ghost for sure, Roy quickly rushed through to the other side of the subway.

Tommy noticed the man running towards him, so he quickly got off at the next stop and found himself blending into the crowd as he was conditioned to do. Nobody could recognize who he was, because that would compromise his mission. Tommy had been summoned here by an employer to kill a vigilante that had been terrorizing the streets of Paragon, shooting arrows into little girls, and violently murdering innocent civilians such as car mechanics. As the man hid in the shadows he wondered how that younger man could have possibly recognize him. Did he? Tommy hadn't the faintest idea who he was.

Meanwhile, back at the subway station Roy had lost the man he was trying to follow. He shrugged it off as not having enough sleep. It had been a hard week fighting crime and coming to terms with the fact that he was going to serve Paragon as the Red Arrow, so it was understandable that Roy was tired and maybe even seeing things. Deciding he had wasted some of his precious time, Roy decided to go home and get some sleep.

If only it was that easy.