Sorry this chapter is rather short, next chapter will be longer.

Star City

Night

A man in a hockey mask was chasing after a drug dealer. The man in a hockey mask tried to jump off a rooftop but his foot caught on the ledge. He lost his balance and fell. He would have fallen to his death but an iron cable suddenly tied him up. The masked man found himself suspended above the ground upside down as the man he was chasing rounded a corner. Only an arrow pierced his shoulder and he cried out as he went down. Green Arrow walked over, punching the man he'd hit, knocking him out before cutting down the masked man. The masked man fell to the ground in a rather undignified manner.

"I had this," the masked man said angrily as he got to his feet.

"Clearly," Green Arrow said sarcastically, looking over at the unconscious drug dealer and the masked man clenched his hands into fists.

"I don't need your help man!" the masked man snapped and the Green Arrow chuckled.

"The people who say that are usually the people who need help the most. Rene Ramirez," Rene started, wondering how Green Arrow knew his name. "I have a proposition for you."

Russia, next day

Morning

"I am glad you up," Anatoly said jovially as he and Oliver were in his office.

"I'm still not one hundred percent yet, but I've rested long enough. You said you needed my help," Oliver said and Anatoly tensed.

"It can wait. For now, we celebrate," Anatoly said, reaching for a glass of liquor.

Oliver reached out, stopping his hand. Oliver gave him a significant look and Anatoly sighed. Anatoly nodded and Oliver let go, waiting for Anatoly to speak.

"He calls himself Ricardo Diaz," Anatoly started. "He arrived in Russia shortly after our business with the Gulag. He appeared only as minor drug dealer, so we did not concern ourselves with him. Within two years' time, Diaz have control of the government. In all but name, Diaz is president of Russia."

"Let me guess, no one has heard of him by design and he's been able to blackmail, extort, and threaten anyone who can help you," Oliver noted and Anatoly nodded.

"I need your help Oliver. Bratva need your help," Anatoly said and Oliver could see how desperate he was.

"You need me to kill Diaz," Oliver said bluntly and Anatoly nodded. "Consider it done."

"If only it were that simple brother. But you know better than I that things rarely are," Anatoly said grimly.

Star City

Afternoon

"So Amertek is on board?" Thea asked as she and Laurel met for lunch.

"Yeah. With this free clinic event, hopefully we can start helping the city," Laurel said optimistically before she saw Thea's faraway look. "What?"

"Nothing. It's just…I wish Ollie was here to see this," Thea said with a sad smile.

"Me to. Not a day passes that I don't miss him. But we have to carry on, just like he told us to in his message," Laurel said, placing an arm around the younger woman.

Elsewhere in Star City

Same time

"Anyone here?" Rene called out as he walked into what had once been a Hive base.

Almost before he had finished speaking, Green Arrow dropped down from the ceiling, landing on his feet.

"You came. Good," Green Arrow said as he stood up.

"Not sure why. I've been doing fine on my own for five months," Rene said haughtily.

"If you were, you would never have come here," Green Arrow pointed out and Rene scowled. "First lesson, come at me."

"What?" Rene asked confused.

"I need to know where you are at so I know where I need to work with you. The best way to do that is for you to come at me," Green Arrow explained.

"This is stupid. I was a navy seal man," Rene complained.

"This isn't a game! You need to get that, go down to the hole in the city where the last Green Arrow died! So either came at me or get out," Green Arrow snarled.

"Alright, I'll play," Rene said, taking off his jacket.

Rene rushed the archer, attempting an uppercut to the hooded face. However, Green Arrow easily dodged the strike and grabbed Ren's arm, throwing Rene painfully onto his back.

"Is that the best you can do!?" Green Arrow shouted.

Angrily, Rene jumped to his feet and tried to punch the archer. Green arrow easily dodged and sent a punch to his stomach. Rene stopped, falling to his knees as he held his stomach, looking like he was going to be sick.

"We have a lot of work to do," Green Arrow noted blankly. "You have promise, but you're running around in the dark with no idea what you're doing. You're reckless and you don't listen very well. I can teach you everything I know but none of it will matter if you can't follow orders."

"I came here to work with the guy trying to stop Tobias Church, not get lectured!" Rene shouted, getting to his feet as he glared at Green Arrow.

"I'm not lecturing you. Believe it or not, I was exactly like you once," Green Arrow said and Rene scoffed. "I was full of anger, angry at the world. I never thought I was worth anything, not to anyone. Then I met someone who showed me that I could be something more than what I was. I'd like to help you discover the same thing, but only if you'll let me. So, what do you say Rene?"

Green Arrow held out his hand. Rene stared at it for a moment before he took in a handshake, sealing the deal.

Russia

Same time

"Diaz is moved every night to different location," Anatoly explained to Oliver, laying out some pictures on his desk for Oliver to see. "It is never same one, so he is impossible to track. And he has army waiting with him at every location."

"Making it impossible to take him out, unless you're on the inside," Oliver noted and Anatoly nodded. "Still, there has to be a way to track him."

"There is. These men," Anatoly gestured to the pictures on the desk. "They are part of Diaz's unit. They know where he is, where he gets moved. They can get you inside."

"They why haven't you done it before now?" Oliver demanded.

"They know every member of Bratva. If we were to make move on Diaz, he would know and would wipe out Bratva. Only reason we are still standing is because Diaz does not consider us big threat," Anatoly explained ad Oliver nodded.

"Which is why you need me," Oliver noted.

"Oliver…I will not force you to do this if you are not ready," Anatoly said and Oliver was quiet for a moment.

"I told you about my father, the list. When I first returned to Starling City, I told myself I was doing it to atone for his sins. That every name I crossed off his list, I was removing a stain on the Queen family's honor. That's how I justified it. I was lying to myself," Oliver told Anatoly.

"So, you regret this crusade you started? You think it was a mistake? You wish to end it?" Anatoly asked and Oliver chuckled lightly.

"No Anatoly. The lie was in thinking that my father or the list had anything to do with it. I may not be at one hundred percent yet, but I don't get to choose who I am. I am what those five years in hell made me. I'm the Green Arrow. Nothing can change that now," Oliver said, taking one of the pictures off Anatoly's desk before he stood and walked out, leaving Anatoly staring after him in concern.

So yes, I am going to be including Diaz in this. Diaz is going to be one of the stories first main antagonists along with Church until Prometheus takes center stage.