Disclaimer: If I owned arrow, Laurel would not be dead and Arrow would still be a crime drama, not a soap opera.

So, for those of you who have been requesting I do a re-write of season four that continues on from this verse, listen up. I'm probably not going to do that, because it's too much of a mess for me to fix. I will probably, at some point down the line, do little shorts of things during season four that I would have done differently. But not for a while , if at all.

Diggle apartment

Night

"You need to control your anger John." Laurel said as she, Diggle, and Felicity stood in Diggle's apartment.

"Laurel." Felicity said warningly.

"Shut up Felicity," Laurel snapped before turning back to Diggle, "I get it. I understand just how angry you are, but you can't let it rule you. Hospitalizing every criminal you come across won't change what happened and it certainly won't turn Oliver back into who he was."

"You're right…it won't happen again." Diggle assured her.

"That wasn't Oliver that did that." Felicity protested.

"Yes, it was. There's…something I haven't told you guys," Laurel admitted and they turned to her, "when Thea showed up at the docks, I saw his face. You guys wouldn't notice it, only someone who had known him as long as Tommy or I would. It was horrified, not at Thea attacking him, but at Thea being there at all. I think he's still in there somewhere."

Nanda Parbat

Night

"We need help Malcolm." Oliver told the man as they across a fire.

"You were a little good in convincing your friends that you had allied yourself with Ra's. And I don't think I carry much credibility with them. The only one likely to even entertain the idea is Laurel, who doesn't seem to have completely given up on you." Malcolm noted, catching the slight twitch of Oliver's lips.

"I know someone they can trust." Oliver told him.

Starling City

Next night

"Any idea what this is about?" Laurel asked as she waited with Diggle and Felicity.

"Probably nothing good." Diggle said irritably.

"This…isn't going to be easy for any of you to believe." Malcolm said as he walked inside.

"Gee, I wonder why that is." Laurel asked sarcastically.

"But it is imperative that you know the truth." Malcolm continued as if Laurel hadn't spoken.

"The truth about what?" Felicity demanded.

"Oliver," Malcolm said and he had their attention, "his alliance with the league is a charade."

"Why would you even begin to play with our emotions like that?" Felicity demanded icily.

"The plan was cultivated the moment Oliver realized that he had to turn to Ra's to save Thea." Malcolm continued ignoring Felicity.

"And instead of letting us in on his plan, he trusted you?" Diggle asked skeptically.

"The man responsible for the deaths of hundreds, my sister and his best friend among them, and brainwashed Thea?" Laurel said in the same voice.

"Well, I am more skilled in the art of deception. And, excuse me for saying so; none of you are particular skilled actors." Malcolm pointed out.

"I'm out." Diggle said as he turned to leave with Laurel and Felicity following him.

"You know how dangerous Ra's and the League are. The circle of trust had to be small." Malcolm called after them.

"Then what changed?" Laurel asked as she turned around, the shock beginning to wear off and hope beginning to blossom in her chest.

"Forget it Laurel, there's nothing he could say that could make us believe him." Diggle said angrily.

"I know. Which is why I've asked a friend of Oliver's to come and speak to you." Malcolm said.

The door opened and Team Arrow turned around. An Asian woman with hair down to her chin walked in and Laurel was struck by the look in her eyes. It was the same look she had seen in the mirror for almost eight years: it was the look of someone who had lost someone they loved very deeply.

"My name is Tatsu Yamashiro. And your city is in great danger." Tatsu told them far too calmly.

"You expect us to believe her? We've never even met her. We've never met her, right?" Felicity asked Laurel, who was beginning to grow annoyed with the blonde.

"No, aside from when I helped Oliver recover from the wounds inflicted by Ra's al Ghul, my life has been one of isolation." Tatsu admitted.

"This is your big play Merlyn? A woman we've never even met or heard of?" Diggle asked in disbelief.

"Oliver doesn't like to talk about the past, but that is not important. My son was killed by the virus that Ra's plans to unleash upon your city." Tatsu revealed and Laurel remembered a conversation with Sarab.

"You're Maseo's wife." Laurel realized and Tatsu nodded.

"Oliver was with me when it happened. He knows the danger you all face." Tatsu explained.

"No offense Tatsu, but it's a little hard to take what you're saying seriously when you show up with him." Laurel said as she jerked her head towards Malcolm.

"I do not know your history with Malcolm Merlyn. This request comes from Oliver." Tatsu said.

"I'm not sure that's much better at the moment." Diggle muttered, which seemed to set Malcolm over the edge.

"Look, I am not playing a game here!" Malcolm shouted as he stormed over to them, "my daughter lives in this city too, in case you've forgotten," Malcolm pulls out a file and hands it to Diggle, "this is everything I have on the bioweapon. I've arranged passage for all of us to Nanda Parbat. If you're coming, be at Ferris air before sunrise."

Team Arrow watched as Malcolm and Tatsu walked off, hesitance entering their hearts. Was Malcolm telling the truth for once?

Palmer tech

Later

"I can't go back there, not after what they did to Oliver." Felicity said as she walked away from Laurel and Diggle.

"Then stay here for all I care, I'm going." Laurel snapped as she turned to walk away.

"Laurel." Diggle called out shock.

"What John, what is she gonna do if she goes? Use her hacking skills to somehow magically save the day? No, I am done wasting time catering to her needs all the time. If she wants to stay here and bury her head in the sand, I say let her." Laurel snapped as she walked out.

Plan, next day

En route to Nanda Parbat

Laurel looked out the window, thinking of Oliver. Had he been pretending the whole time with Ra's? Admittedly, it sounded like something Oliver would do and he has pulled such tactics before. Hearing someone take the seat across from her, Laurel looked over to see Tatsu studying her with such intensity that it freaked her out a little.

"Something wrong Tatsu?" Laurel asked curiously.

"No…I just wanted to see it for myself." Tatsu admitted.

"See what?" Laurel asked confused.

"Oliver and my husband, Maseo, became good friends. Before Maseo and I parted ways, he told me of something Oliver had told him. Oliver told him of a woman back home that was a queen among women. He said that he loved her with all his heart, loved her so much that it scared him. So he betrayed her, time after time and all he wanted to do was make it right." Tatsu explained and Laurel had to wipe her eyes as tears started to form.

"He, um, he said that?" Laurel asked trying not to turn into a sobbing mess.

"Yes. I know this must difficult to hear with what has happened, but if I may offer you some advice," Tatsu requested softly and Laurel nodded encouragingly, "when Maseo walked into the darkness, I let him go and he has been lost to me ever since. You still have a chance not to repeat my mistakes. Oliver has not yet surrendered himself to the darkness; he can still be turned away from it. If anyone can turn him back, it will be you." Tatsu told her.

Nanda Parbat

Afternoon

The group landed near the area edge of the island. They climbed up the mountains, which was only a little taxing for them, because they were all used to running for long periods of time. They reached the top to see a plane at the base of the mountain.

"There it is. That's the plane that Ra's plane to spread the Alpha/Omega virus over Starling." Malcolm announced.

Laurel opened her mouth to speak but Malcolm held up his hand, signaling for her to be quiet. It was only the tense expression on his face that made Laurel obey. After a moment, Malcolm whipped out his bow, notched an arrow, and fired. His aim struck true and an arrow struck an assassin that seemed to appear out of nowhere in the heart.

"There'll be more." Malcolm warned them as they moved out.

Sure enough, another assassin appeared not five seconds later at the edge of the mountain. Malcolm quickly dispatched him but it was at that point that they realized that were surrounded. Diggle shot off his assault rifle, taking out a few assassins as the battle began.

Tatsu and Diggle ran to the plane as Laurel and Malcolm covered them. The two enemies stood back to back, taking on every assassin that came their way. Malcolm fought his group of assassins using swords while Laurel was using her baton to block their strikes while delivering punches and kicks to their chests.

Diggle and Tats made it close enough to the plane to do what they had to do. Diggle took out a grenade, unclipped it, and threw it towards the plane. Just before it landed near the plane, a knife hit it and sent it away harmlessly. Diggle and Tatsu ducked and got out of the line of fire just as the grenade went off. When the dust cleared, they looked up to see an assassin with an orange mask covering the lower half of his face.

"Surrender now you may live." He said.

"Maseo." Tatsu said as she and Diggle stood up.

"Maseo is gone." Sarab told her coolly.

"After our child died, you left me when I needed you most. But you can still come back to me. It's not too late." Tatsu told him.

"Yes, it is." Sarab told her.

Sarab removed his mask and the two former lovers began to fight as Diggle picked up his rifle and started firing at the other assassins.

Laurel was held in a neck lock by an assassin when he was struck in the back by two arrows. He released her and fell to the ground, dead as Malcolm walked over. Laurel gave him a glare.

"You know I wouldn't have done the same for you." Laurel told him coldly.

"I know." Malcolm acknowledged.

To everyone's horror, the plane began to take off into the air. However, hope was on their side as Ray Palmer, in the A.T.O.M. suit, appeared in the air. Raising his left arm, Ray shot a laser out of his armor and struck the plane. However, it didn't seem to faze it much, as the plane seemed activate its self-defense system as it shot out a missile at him. It struck Ray but he was alright. Realizing his lasers were dismantled, Ray had another idea. Ray flew up to the plane and punched a hole in the center by flying through it, causing the plane to explode a moment later.

However, it seemed Ray lost control of his speed. He was coming down to earth at a few hundred miles per hour. Diggle jumped out of the way as Ray crashed right where Diggle had been standing only a moment earlier.

"Ray, are you okay?" Diggle inquired.

"You should see the other guy." Ray said with a tired smile.

"What are you doing here?" Diggle asked curiously.

"Barry Allen called me, told me that Oliver wanted my help with destroying a plane." Ray explained.

Tatsu and Sarab's sword duel carried on. The battle seemed evenly matched until Sarab grabbed her arm and flipped on her onto the ground.

"Tell Akio that I love him." Sarab told her as he raised his sword to deliver the killing blow.

As he raised the sword, Tatsu shoot to his knees and ran her sword through his stomach. Sarab didn't seem in pain, only shocked. He dropped his sword before Tatsu pulled her's out of his body.

"You will tell him for both of us." Tatsu said as he fell to his knees.

Tatsu held him in her arms as he faded away, his head on her shoulder. Tatsu started to cry as he spoke again.

"Thank you…for releasing me…from my prison." Maseo told her as he began to fade.

Sobbing, Tatsu began to sing a Japanese lullaby that she had often sang to Akio. She sang until Maseo was gone before she began sobbing in earnest.

"Enough!" everyone turned to see Ra's, Al-Sah-Him, and an army of assassins standing at the top of the mountain, "any further resistance would be futile, you have failed."

"Uh, you see that pile of burnt metal over there?" Ray said sarcastically as he pointed to0 the remains of the plane.

"We've stopped your plane to destroy Starling City!" Diggle shouted at Ra's.

"No, you only think you have." Ra's corrected as he held up the virus.

"Surrender or die." AL-Sah-Him ordered.

Ra's palace

Early night

Oliver was leading his friends and Malcolm through the palace, they were alone. Diggle was trying to talk to him.

"Oliver, Oliver answer me." Diggle demanded.

"Be quiet," Oliver said as he turned to them, "if you speak, we're all gonna die."

Diggle quieted as Oliver turned around and led them into what was obviously the throne room. Ra's stood waiting for them and Oliver stood beside him as the five of them lined up before him.

"The Chinese have a saying: Stir the girl and you wake the snake. My ruse with the plane was meant to reveal any traitors among us. How did you know of the plane, of the virus?" Ra's demanded as he paced back and forth in front of them, finally stopping at Laurel.

Laurel met his gaze unflinchingly, feeling no fear of the man before her. Perhaps she would have a month ago, but any fear she had of him was bested by her hatred of what he had done to Nyssa and Oliver.

"Maseo told me. And I told them." Tatsu lied and Ra's walked over to her.

"So a dead man told you, how convenient." Ra's mentioned an undertone of sarcasm to his voice.

"He told me that only three men knew of your plan: you, him, and Oliver." Tatsu continued.

"Oliver Queen is dead. I am Al-Sah-Him." The man in question said blankly.

"This is not the first time Sarab has betrayed me to Maseo Yamashiro's weaknesses," Ra's admitted, "while your timing was a function of my gambit, it was nevertheless fortuitous. You see, it is a tradition that RA's would contemplate casting mercy upon his enemies on the eve of a wedding." Ra's said and Ray snickered.

"You are getting married? I guess there is a pot for every kettle." Ray said.

"The wedding is mine," Al-Sah-Him said stunning his friends, "I am betrothed to Nyssa al Ghul."

Just when she thought she was past getting hurt by Oliver, something happens that proves her wrong. It seemed selfish and petty considering what was going on, but Laurel felt like she had just been gutted at Oliver's words. Oliver looked at her discretely and she caught an unspoken apology in his eyes.

"Take them away." Ra's ordered.

Ra's' men grabbed them and dragged them away. Laurel simply stared at Oliver the whole, watching his face transform into an emotionless mask.

Later, at what they assumed was a special jail cell meant for important prisoners; Laurel was trying to figure out Oliver's angle when an assassin walked in. Malcolm stood up and said something in Arabic that even Laurel could tell sounded desperate. The assassin ignored him and walked over to Laurel.

"War-eeth al Ghul demands your presence." He told her.

Laurel, aware of everyone's eyes on her, simply stood up. She kept her face blank of all emotion as the assassin led her out of the cell and to a room. As the door opened, she realized it was Oliver's room from the last time she was here. She felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she remembered what had happened last time she was in this room. Oliver turned around, the mask of Al-Sah-Him on his face.

"Leave us." Oliver ordered.

The assassin nodded and walked out. Once the doors were closed, Oliver turned to her, the mask of Al-Sah-Him gone.

"Is everyone alright?" Oliver asked.

"They're angry but they're fine. Physically at least." Laurel said allowing a little of her own anger to seep into her voice which Oliver noticed.

"You're angry to." Oliver noticed.

"A little," Laurel admitted, "what is all this about. Marrying Nyssa, doing whatever Ra's tells you, to what end Ollie?"

"The only way I can get close enough to Ra's to kill him and stop him is to act like his plan worked and I've been brainwashed. You know I wouldn't do this if I didn't have a choice." Oliver pleaded with her to understand and after a moment, Laurel nodded slowly.

"I know that…but the others might take a little convincing. Especially John." Laurel said.

"Tatsu told me that in order to beat Ra's I'd have to sacrifice everything in my life I hold most precious. John's friendship was on that list." Oliver told her as he ran his hands over his face.

"I think it's more than that Ollie. You lost his trust and respect." Laurel told him and Oliver looked deeply hurt.

"I'll work on getting those back once Ra's is dead. But right now, I need to warn you: I'm gonna have to make it seem like I care nothing for you or the others. Just know that I would never hurt you." Oliver promised her.

"I know that Oliver." Laurel assured him.

Oliver leaned down, as if to kiss her, when they heard the door open. They turned back to see the assassins back.

"What?!" Oliver demanded annoyed.

"Ra's demands we return this woman to her friends." The assassin said.

Later, Laurel was back with the others. Malcolm had apparently sold Oliver out to Ra's and now they were waiting on the results. The doors opened and Ra's, Al-Sah-Him, and a few assassins walked in. Malcolm shot up.

"I told you about Oliver, you were supposed to-"

"Show you Mercy?" Ra's cut Malcolm off, "I will. The death I will give is much shorter than the one I had planned for you."

"You-" Malcolm sneered as he lunged for Ra's but an assassin struck across the face, sending him to the ground.

"Al-Sah-Him told me the swordswoman is inoculated. Take her to another chamber." Ra's ordered and his men followed his orders as they grabbed Tatsu.

RA's tossed the vial of the virus into the room and it shattered. Gas rose up from the shattered vial and everyone knew what it was. The assassins, the captive Tatsu, Ra's, and Al-Sah-him walked out as Al-Sah-Him closed the door. They screamed at him as Al-Sah-him looked at each of them, as if memorizing their faces one last time. His gaze lingered on Laurel longer than the rest before he followed after the others.

So, what do you guys think? Please leave any thoughts or comments in a review, feedback is greatly appreciated