Authors Note:
This story takes place in a literary Arrowverse I created that started with my fic titled "The League". Some things established in the show lore may not be the same for the sake of the story. Certain events like Amanda Waller having Diggle & Lyla lead Task Force X hasn't happened yet. This story takes place inbetween seasons 3 & 4 of Arrow & after the events of "The League". You do not need to read that story to understand what is happening in this but certain events from "The League" will be referenced throughout. Thanks for reading & don't forget to review!
Enjoy!
A.R.G.U.S Files: Santa Prisca
The Mission, the Motive
John Diggle smiled proudly as he playfully tossed his daughter into the air and caught her. Her cheerful laughter filled the room and gave joy to John and his wife, Lyla. There hadn't been much call for vigilantism lately, so Diggle was spending most of his days with his family. Since Oliver had defeated Ra's Al Ghul and his League of Assassin's, and The League had taken down The Legion, the city hadn't experienced any high level threats. Sure there were still criminals, and Diggle had suited up with Laurel, Thea, and Roy from time to time, but the crimes were small, the police had most of them covered.
Life was a dream, really. Oliver and Felicity had been gone two months on their trip, crime was reduced; which had made their vigilante jobs so much easier. Lyla had even stopped complaining about her boss, Amanda Waller, as much as she had in the past. It seemed like nothing could go wrong at the moment.
Diggle played with Sara for a while more, then he kissed her and set her down in her crib. Lyla came in and gave him a kiss before he picked up his jacket. "Going out tonight?" She asked, hearing the jingle of keys.
"Yeah," John said smoothly. "I haven't been out with Laurel and the gang since that last big bust. I'm going out to patrol and catch up on the latest news."
"I understand." Lyla replied with a warm look. "I get the urge to go back to A.R.G.U.S sometimes. It's like I miss the action, you know?"
"You know I do." John leaned in and kissed her again. "I love you both." He started for the door.
"We love you too." He heard Lyla say as the front door closed. He replayed it in his head as he unlocked his car door and got inside. It was late, and the sun was setting on the horizon. By the time John reached the team headquarters it would be dark. And dark was when the criminals they hunted came out to play. John thought back on when he first met Oliver, and had first gotten involved in his vigilante antics. It had seemed so long ago after all that they had been through.
They were going into a fourth year of vigilante lifestyle, with no sign of the end in sight. In fact, every year things had gotten weirder and weirder. First it was Barry Allen with his super speed. That had opened the door to many kinds of weirdos with super powers. Then came Supergirl in National City. Crazy how all that had seemed to spawn from one man with a bow and arrow, in a city polluted with corruption. The events set in motion by Eobard Thawne and Maxwell Lord had brought together everyone in a way that Diggle had never thought possible.
He was so consumed by his thoughts that he didn't notice the drive. He simply parked his car and sighed,"It never stops does it?" Diggle asked himself as he locked his car and turned around to see himself surrounded by men in dark clothing. "Guess not." He punched the nearest man. As the man fell Diggle reached for the pistol in his jacket but he was struck from behind by the barrel of a riffle then everything went black.
Diggle awoke in a room that felt strangely familiar. As his vision cleared and his head stopped ringing he was able to place exactly where he was, and who had taken him. The walls were standard for military interrogation rooms, and there was only one major military outfit nearby that would have reason to do this. He waited impatiently for another thirty minutes before his suspicions were confirmed.
The door opened, and Amanda Waller walked in. Diggle made a face. "What's with the kidnapping, Waller? Couldn't just give me a call?"
"No, Mr. Diggle, I could not." Waller took a seat and set a briefcase down. She began to pull out several items from it.
"I assume Lyla doesn't know I'm here."
"You assume correctly, Mr. Diggle."
"So let's cut to the chase. What's so dark that you had to stage a kidnapping to tell me, Waller?" Diggle leaned forward. "And it better be a damn good reason or you're gonna have a hard time keeping me here."
"Not hard as you think." Waller replied coolly. She opened a folder and turned it towards Diggle. "Santa Prisca. It's an island in the Caribbean that's responsible for a large portion of cocaine in the world. Along with high humans trafficking, and politically charged murders."
Diggle looked up for a second and then continued thumbing through the file. Pictures of slavery, murders, weapons. He closed the folder. "What does this have to do with me?"
"Santa Prisca is run by a man called Snowflame. Reports are he has some sort of powers or abilities but we've been unable to get anyone close enough to confirm. I've been watching you, Mr. Diggle, for quite some time. You're a capable leader and a great asset to Mr. Queen's nightly endeavors."
"Are you trying to butter me up? Well I can tell you know the answer is no." Diggle leaned back and folded his arms, feeling victorious.
Waller looked at him for half a second then continued as if he hadn't spoken at all. "You have experience leading men against powered individuals. I want you to lead a team, Task Force X, onto Santa Prisca. Once there you will gather intel and dismantle Snowflame's organization as best you can in order to capture or kill the man himself. We'll provide you with everything you need."
Diggle couldn't believe his ears, "Did you not hear what the hell you just said?!" He slapped the table. "Let me the hell out of here, Waller."
"You're going to do this for me, Mr. Diggle."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because I have information on your brothers death."
There was a painful silence in the room as Diggle searched Waller's heartless eyes for the truth. "How long have you had this information, Waller?" Diggle struggled to keep his voice level.
"Newly acquired, actually. Why shouldn't I put it to good use?" Diggle said nothing so Amanda Waller knew she would have to give more. "You'll also get A.R.G.U.S assistance in taking down those responsible once you've found them."
Diggle scoffed, "Why would I want or need A.R.G.U.S' help?"
Now Amanda Waller grinned and leaned forward. "We both know your team won't allow you to do what's necessary when you catch up to whoever Andrew Diggle's killer."
Hearing, Waller speak his brother's name made Diggle boil but unfortunately her words rang true. Diggle was going to end whoever took his brother and that wouldn't sit well with Oliver and the crew. His face softened and Waller knew she had him.
"Take some time to think it over, Mr. Diggle. But nobody outside of Lyla can know what's really going on." Waller packed up the information and closed her briefcase. She left a small phone on the table. "There is one number stored in that phone. If you decide to do this, call the number. You'll get no answer but receive a text with a time and location."
"And how do I explain my absence?"
"I'm sure you'll think of something," Waller moved to the door. "A surprise visit from an old friend, perhaps." She finished as she closed the door.
Starling City... Well not Starling anymore thanks to Ray Palmer's work. A supposed metamorphosis of sorts to transform this place into something good. Something that would attract people from all over the world to see. New construction work was underway all over the city. Skyscrapers being built towards the heavens with polished windows that reflected light downward. The higher they reached the more shadows they cast and in those shadows was where the evil hid.
Nobody lifted a finger to help The Glades and that's where the monsters hid and worked. No new construction came to the area nor would it. Especially not after the battle between The League and The Legion wrecked even more of the already ruined streets.
Most of the upper echelon of Star City turned up their noses to the truth, using wealth and position as a reason to ignore what was right before them. While the suits and politicians tried to paint gloss over it men like John Diggle knew what was beneath. Still, he loved this place with all his heart. It had grown on him so much in the past years and he couldn't see himself anywhere else.
Yet this city hadn't brought him much good in return for his struggles. A hero often went unthanked but what was going on now was madness. Waller approaching him about leading Task Force X to some super powered drug lord's island fortress? Insane. And yet this was the first lead he had on his brother's killer in months. The trail had gone cold and nothing Diggle did produced any new leads. It's funny really, he had been nearly ready to give up and accept that perhaps it was beyond his control and now this was dropped into his lap.
The team immediately sensed something was wrong when Diggle arrived after A.R.G.U.S had dropped him back off. He played it off as family stress and promised to explain more later, but he had no intentions of it. The moment he saw truth in Waller's eyes he knew he was going to take that job. Diggle knew he was going to Santa Prisca.
"Spartan, they're on the move!" Black Canary's voice brought John back to reality.
John was across the street in sniper position and had a clear view of everything. The deal was going down at a scrap yard near the Glades. There was one main gate for entry that led to three large warehouse like facilities on the left, right, and straight ahead. This left a nice sized open area in-between the three facilities and the gate. It was there that the first arrivals had set up a few tables and laid out the wares. And Diggle had seen it all. He peered into his scope and spotted the guards that were on the rooftops. He exhaled slightly and moved his finger to the trigger.
One. Two. Three. Four. The four guards dropped.
"Rooftop is clear. Speedy, you're good to go." John spared a quick glance at the men gathered below, none had noticed. He trailed Thea as she slid across a wire and landed near where a guard had just dropped.
"Nice shooting, Spartan." Thea commented as she took position.
"ETA is 3 minutes." Laurel told them. Diggle began to count down. Sure enough several SUV's and a large black van came around the corner and entered the fence.
Diggle spotted Laurel underneath one of the vehicles. "Got eyes on Canary." He reported.
The vehicles stopped and twelve men stepped out carrying sub machine guns. "That's another twelve to the ones already here."
"Four of them are already down." Thea reminded John.
"Three against twenty?" Laurel grunted a little as she let herself drop from below the vehicle. Diggle scanned the area as Laurel came from underneath then sprinted to cover in a shadowy corner where she could see the gathered men. "I like those odds." She pulled out her batons.
"Don't get cocky, Canary." Diggle said. He watched through the scope as the two groups met. The newly arrived group was led to a set of tables where things were examined, briefcases were opened, hands were shaken and exchanges were made. Two men broke off from the others and started towards the back of the van. "Canary, got two headed to the van. Take 'em out quietly."
Laurel said nothing. She paused watching the men laugh about something as they unlocked the doors. When the van was open she sprang out from cover and smacked the nearest man across the head with her baton. The second man swung but Laurel ducked and took him in the gut and across the face with her second baton. "They're down." She looked inside the van. "Guys we've got a problem. They're selling a bomb." Inside the van was a large bomb big enough to level several blocks of the city.
"We can't let that bomb get out of here! Speedy, take the wheels out on the van." As soon as Diggle finished the orders two arrows flew down and struck the tires releasing air from them. The men gathered near the tables were too engaged in conversation to notice. "Canary, see if you can disable the thing. Arsenal, you're up."
Another line was fired and down the ropes slid Roy Harper, aka Arsenal. He landed directly across from Thea on the right facility and took up position so that the left side, right side, and the exit were covered by a member of the team. "Arsenal in position."
"Canary. How's it coming?"
"Nothing I can do. If Felicity were here-"
"She's not." Diggle interrupted.
"Got men moving towards the van, Spartan." Thea conveyed.
"Shit." Diggle had taken his eyes off them to glance at Laurel and now four men were moving towards the back of the van with weapons at the ready. Shooting them would alert everyone and their hopes of taking this bust down quietly would be out there door but there was no other way. "Speedy, Arsenal. Get ready. I'm taking them out." Diggle took aim and fired four rapid shots, three struck home but the forth missed. The man was seconds from coming on Laurel when an arrow took him in the back. Diggle cursed Waller for having his mind distracted.
When the four men collapsed all hell broke loose. Automatic weapon fire began to fly up at the rooftops although none knew where the shots had come from. Diggle saw Thea crouched low and moving along the roof while Roy took down two men with quick arrows. He tried to get a good target but the men had scattered and taken what cover they could around the area.
"Canary. Anytime now."
Laurel came from the van and kicked the backdoor, knocking a man out cold. Then she struck the second man in the head with her baton. She moved in-between the vehicles and started to take down the men that Diggle couldn't shoot. Thea and Roy seemed to stand in unison and both slid down their zip lines joining Laurel in the brawl that had broken out. Diggle provided cover fire, taking down the remaining men that were left around the area.
It took all of five minutes before everyone was down and subdued. Diggle walked up with his sniper rifle on his shoulder. The four of them walked to the table and surveyed what was there. Briefcases of drugs, money and weapons along with the bomb in the van. "Good job team. Righteous bust." He patted Roy on the shoulder. "Speedy, Arsenal, get these guys tied up. Canary, let Detective Lance know he's gonna need a few vans for this one." They all shared a brief laugh before getting to their assigned tasks.
"Good work tonight guys." Diggle called to Laurel and Thea as they left the Arrowcave. The team had returned and changed clothes with the two girls deciding to go have drinks before turning in for the night. Diggle turned it down, pretending to be tired, but really his mind was troubled and stuck on what Amanda Waller had told him.
Roy put his bow in its case and closed it. "You were distracted out there and it almost got Laurel hurt. Something's bothering you and it isn't what you told us earlier."* He walked over and folded his arms while leaning on the case near, Diggle. "The others may not notice, but I did. So what's up?"
Diggle sighed and closed the case with a little force. "Waller had A.R.G.U.S snatch me up earlier. That's why I was late."
"What?! Why would she-"
"She has a mission she wants me to do for her. Says she'll give me information on Andy's killers if I complete it." Diggle interrupted Roy.
Now Roy was silent for a minute. "You're going to do it aren't you?" Diggle looked up but didn't say anything. "I would do it too." Roy admitted. "I understand what you're going through."
"She doesn't want me to tell anyone, least of all Lyla."
Roy scoffed, "Not surprising." He replied. "What she want you to do?"
"Lead a team against a super powered drug lord, and his army."
"Think you can do it?"
Diggle actually smiled a little when he looked at Roy. "Depends on the team."
After he had left Roy he decided to do some driving and clear his mind a little bit more. This was a strange situation for him. It wasn't a battle with whether or not he should do something, but rather convincing himself that what he was doing was the right thing to do. Regardless of if he felt it was right or wrong Diggle knew in his very soul he had to find out what happened to his brother, and avenge his death. But was that the right thing to do? He didn't know if he would ever be sure, or if he even cared.
Diggle pressed call and the phone rang. As Waller had told him nobody answered. Two minutes later a text came with a time and location. Diggle grabbed his pistol and left.
Sometime after arriving a black SUV approached and parked behind his vehicle. Amanda Waller got out of the car dressed in all black with a large black coat to fend off the cold night.
"Decided to take me up on my offer?" Waller asked, voice full of confidence.
"Two conditions." Diggle said flatly.
"Go on."
"One, my wife knows the truth." Waller's face showed she approved but her silence was the OK. "And is involved in the mission operations. She'll be right there with you while I'm on the ground. Two, I want to know about the team I'm leading beforehand. None of that intro there stuff. Full intel and face time before the mission."
"That can be arranged." Waller started towards her SUV and opened the door motioning him to enter. "Well…?"
"You knew I'd ask for this?" Diggle climbed into the car and buckled up.
"As I said before, Mr. Diggle. I've been watching you very closely for some time." The thought made Diggle uncomfortable. "I had the candidates transferred here after we originally spoke."
"You mean when you kidnapped me?" Diggle corrected.
Waller ignored him and handed him a file. In it was a list of the Task Force X members. "These are all criminals." Diggle noticed.
"Indeed. Zero liability on the countries part if they're caught." Waller was emotionless.
"What about me?" Diggle closed the file.
"You'll be disavowed and your actions will be denied as orders from any US entity." Diggle felt his heart sink low but then he remembered what he was doing it for.
"The names of who did it and support in taking them down?" Diggle asked, Waller.
"Everything you'll need and more, Mr. Diggle. You have my word."
The two rode in silence for the rest of the drive to the A.R.G.U.S base. None knew it was there save for Diggle and his team because of their relationship with Waller and Lyla. Diggle had been here numerous times before but now he was being led somewhere he had never been. Inside a room the floor opened up and began to go down like an elevator taking Diggle, Waller and two A.R.G.U.S agents down underneath the establishment.
The elevator stopped, and they walked down a hallway; which was full of cameras, in addition to there being a guard every 12 feet. The hallway itself was narrow and only wide enough for Diggle and Waller to walk side by side. He supposed that was for security purposes as this location housed several dangerous criminals.
At the end of the hall a walkway spread to the left and right then around the entire length of the large room before them. The upper and lower walls were lined with metal doors each with a small window to see in, and another to slide food into the cells. In the middle were several cages that stretched the length of the room. There were about ten or so cages in all. There was no sunshine here.
"Grim place." Diggle commented.
"They are lucky to be alive." Every time Diggle thought Waller could get no colder she proved him wrong.
In the cells were the individuals that Diggle had seen in the files received from Amanda Waller. One of them looked up and smiled like he wasn't in prison.
"You the one supposed to lead us on our latest mission?" He called up to Diggle.
"Digger Harkness." Waller pointed at the one who had just shouted. "Aka Captain Boomerang."
"I remember him from the file." Diggle's voice held a bit of disgust in it.
"You'd better get used to working with criminals, Mr. Diggle. These men are going to be your only friends out on Santa Prisca." Waller rested her hands on the railing and looked down at the group of individuals that would make up the latest Task Force X.
"And what's to stop them from killing me and escaping or joining up with this Snowflame?" Diggle leaned in and whispered.
"Incentive to follow orders has been placed inside each of their heads." Waller informed him. "And if members of Task Force X are successful in a predetermined number of missions they are awarded with parole."
"You're letting these psychos go free?!" Diggle demanded.
Waller rolled her eyes, "If they survive." Waller motioned towards the cages and pointed to each one in turn. "Helena Bertinelli, Mark Scheffer, Ben Turner and Carrie Cutter will round off the team of you, Mr. Harkness. and Floyd Lawton."
Diggle exhaled to keep his anger in check, as he had had run ins with them all before. A few of them were locked up here because of his or Green Arrows actions but to work with Lawton? The man who had supposidly killed his brother? Then a thought crossed Diggle's mind. There was something more at play here or else why would, Waller send Lawton knowing full well Diggle blamed him for his brothers death?
Diggle decided to play it Lyla's way and bide his time until he gathered more Intel. "You expect people I locked up to take orders from me?" he asked, completely throwing those thoughts aside for now.
"They will do as they're told or they'll be replaced." Waller fixed her icy glare on Diggle. "They know what happens to those that don't follow orders." Diggle said nothing else so, Waller turned to face the cages below them and spoke in a loud and clear voice. "You five have been selected to be a part of Task Force X. This man will lead you on your current mission. You all know how this works."
Waller turned on her heels and started towards the exit without another word so Diggle fell in after her. As the doors behind him closed he heard one of the men say, "Great, we're a part of the Suicide Squad now."
Back at home, Diggle finally lay back on the couch and let relaxation soak into his bones. It had been a wild few days and with his daughter sleep he could finally rest and gather his thoughts.
"What's bothering you, John?" Lyla came into the room with two steaming cups in hand. She handed one to her husband and curled up next to him on the sofa. "And don't try to deny it."
Diggle took a sip. "Hot chocolate?" He nodded approvingly. "How'd you know?"
"I'm a high ranking member of a secret government organization and I'm your wife." Diggle laughed. "I wouldn't be good at being either if I couldn't see that you've got something on your mind." She rubbed his chest.
Diggle let out a deep sigh that was filled with exhaustion. "Well... Short version is: Waller wants me to lead a team to Santa Prisca and take down a drug lord named Snowflame."
Lyla jumped up. "What? Why! When?! No, John! You can't do this. Why you? There has to be a reason."
"She has information on Andy's killer."
Lyla calmed down a little as the full scope of things dawned on her. "That bitch." She nearly spat. "What did you say?"
"Nothing. I've been just thinking about it and what I should do." Diggle lied.
"John, honey, you can't trust Waller. Why you? What is the real purpose of Santa Prisca? What team?" Diggle could tell that Lyla was a little frantic.
"She said because she's been watching me when I'm out with Oliver and the others. Wants me to lead a team because rumor is Snowflame has some kind of powers. And if it's true I have the experience. Said the team was Task Force X."
Now Lyla's face dropped and she grabbed her husband's hand, "John, no, you can't do this. They call Task Force X the Suicide Squad. It's made up of expendables that Waller can use to do missions with high failure rates. She writes off the losses and can deny any involvement." Lyla's voice was trembling. "You can't do it, John. If Task Force X is involved it's too dangerous."
Diggle just looked at her, "I don't have any more leads on Andy. Nothing. Without this I can't find out what happened to my brother." He stood up. "I have to do it, baby. I won't be able to live with myself if I don't."
"And what about us? Your family, John? What about your wife and your daughter? Are we supposed to live without you if you get killed?!" Then a cold dread began to fill Lyla's body. It was something in John's eyes that told her the truth. "You've already agreed to do it haven't you? Without even talking to me?"
John took her in his arms as the sounds of baby crying filled the air. "I won't die. I won't fail. I will come home to you." Lyla let him hold her for a moment then pulled away and left the room.
