Chapter 4 - Conspiracies

It's been nearly two weeks since Maria had left starling.

It's been nearly two weeks since Felicty's bullet wound on her hand had healed.

It's been nearly two weeks since the boys hadn't able to locate the girls that attacked them in the rave. Felicity made sure their questions remained questions by erasing all the evidence.

It's been nearly two weeks since Miles Lydon was keeping an eye on Felicity's move. She wasn't sure what he was doing but Felicity was careful not to do anything stupid.

It's been nearly two weeks since life for Felicity was back to normal. She still felt a little lonely at her apartment but it would always fill up with her spending her time at the Foundry. All the criminals that Oliver put his arrows through kind of keeps her busy. Her tracking them and him eliminating them. Same old times. She was used to being his girl. In some way she liked it. She was finally getting used to Oliver Queen. She never considered him bad. Just a womaniser at first but he's changed. He still jumps from girl to girl but this time he commits to it. It was his bad luck that all his girlfriends turns out to be physico paths. So overall he's not a bad person. He's more of a hero who's willing to sacrifice his life for his city. Something very similar to what SHIELD does. The more she sees him the more she likes him. But his anger is still a pain in the ass.

And Diggle... Diggle was like a big brother to her now.. Somehow he knows what she's feeling. While Oliver is a bit slow at picking up feelings, Diggle was fast as a rocket. There hasn't been a moment where Diggle hadn't guessed what she's feeling. He even picked up on her loneliness but he didn't say anything. Besides that everything is ok except the drift between Oliver and Diggle. After Oliver didn't help Diggle in finding Deadshot, they haven't spoken to each other ever since. And it's really starting to take a toll on felicity. She even went to Diggle to maybe convince him to come back to the team. But things right now are just not working together. If only, Oliver would just apologise...

Felicity pulled her legs closer to her as she hugged them tightly. She tried to keep the warmth of her jacket on her legs as she rubbed her legs up and down. Her eyes glistened with tears as she thought about what happened today. Walter is dead. She cant believe it. The man they've been trying to find since last 6 months was dead. She didn't even know if he died recently or was dead ages ago, Before all this arrow crusade started. She wasn't sure what's her motive is going to be now. She agreed to work with Oliver only until she finds Walter because somehow she knew it was her fault too. She couldn't save him. And now he's dead. She can't imagine what kind of pain Oliver's family will go through when he tells them the bad news.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

I should've helped him.

I should've saved him.

He was a good man.

At first when she joined this crusade, her main purpose was to get SHIELD its info and find Walter. But now that her search is over, she wasn't sure if she wants to leave. Sure she could stay for SHIELD purposes but it wasn't the same. She feels all this guilt inside her. Over the months she had come to like her arrow Team. Her partnership here is amazing. She gets to do her SHIELD duties and save the world at the same time. For the first time she felt like she could be a hero too if she stays here. Whatever actions she has done in the past related to her SHIELD job could be undone here if she just takes the chance.

Killing arm dealers or stealing codes to protect a war from happening are heroic acts too, but they're more on the darker side of the criminal world. She has killed people, no mater if their guilty or not. Isn't that what Oliver felt when he was on the island? He did things that he's not proud of, no matter if he did it to protect the people or not but he wants to make it up by doing something good and that's catching the bad guys in his city. The scars on his body clearly justifies this. Felicity did things like killing, maiming and betraying at her missions too. She had done things that she's not proud of, just like Oliver. Some times her missions didn't have any purpose, they were purposeless. And by staying here she realised that maybe she could be more than just a secret SHIELD agent. She could be a hero too, if she tries, right?

She shook her head as she thought about her weird feelings.

What is happening with me?

Why am I feeling like this?

This isn't me.

Where did the old felicity go?

Living with Oliver and Diggle had made her go soft. Looks like she got attached to this mission. She opened her watery eyes as she stared at the darkness of the Foundry. The darkness itself gives her a protective, secure feeling. She enjoyed the dark interior around her as she rested her head on the piller. Sniffing, she closed her eyes again, feeling regret and sad for Walter. He didn't deserve this. She hadn't really cried before. Ok maybe at training a little but that was only because she was injured and she was 5. But as in not for anyone. Not even for her father. Even though her mum went through hell because of his decision. She still didn't cry or beg. Why is she doing all this now? It's making her softer than before. She was told to do anything but not cry. And here she was crying her eyes out at a man she only knew for two years as a boss, who was nice to her at QC and only made contacts with her for few weeks this year before getting himself killed. What is wrong with her?

It was few hours later when she felt her legs freeze. Why wouldn't they? It gets really cold in here at nights. She rubbed them while wiping her dry tears. She looked to her far right to see Oliver sitting on the ground, starring into thin space. She heard him enter the foundry two hours earlier. He didn't make any noise nor turned the lights on. He just came and sat and starred. Felicity wasn't sure if he had noticed her or not but she didn't dwell it. She knew he was shocked and upset about Walter's death so she didn't interrupt him. She stayed quiet just as he stared nowhere. It was really dark to see his full body but she could make out his shape and his quiver. Also his deep breathings that indicates he's angry about something. It's best to leave him alone right now. We all need our personal space. Thinking of having a walk outside, felicity quietly pulled herself off the ground and took off her heels before leaving the foundry with her bare feet that padded silently across the floor. She was sure that Oliver had no idea of her existence in the Foundry. It was confirmed by his breathing pattern that was the same as it was before. Even a man like Oliver could not deceive Felicity.

Coming out of the club, she looked around at her surroundings. It's so empty and quiet for something in Glades. After all where it was located. She walked around the area, being careful to not make much noise with her heels clanking on the wet ground. She doesn't wanna catch any stray's attention. She's not in the mood of getting into a fight with the local criminals. Not when her mind is in a dilemma about her feelings.

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"He's alive." That's what rang in Felicity's mind as she headed towards room 312 in Starling City's Hospital. It turns out Walter Steele was never dead. When felicity came back from her walk, Oliver had told her that Walter was alive and he was taken By Malcolm Merlyn. The official leader of the Undertaking. His mother was involved too. Felicity wasn't really surprised at his mother's involvement. Not that she would say it out loud infront of Oliver but from the beginning Moira Queen didn't seemed that worried for her husband. So it shouldn't take much long for Walter to figure out that his wife was involved in his kidnapping. Both felicity and Walter knew that the Queen's gamblet was sabotaged and they had their suspicions that it was Moira's fault somehow. The moment he must have confronted her, he vanished like a ghost. Felicity realised the connection later on. She just hopes Walter realise that too. She's doesn't like Oliver's mother that much. That women is full of conspiracies in the name of her family's safety.

"I totally walked into a thing, didn't I?" She said as she saw Oliver's family hugging Walter. Moira queen wiped her tears and turned around to face felicity.

'I'm sorry but who are you?"

"She's felicity and my friend." Oliver piped in as he placed his arm over her shoulders. She felt a small twinge under his touch. She tried not to think about it.

"And My friend too." Walter smiled at her. She smiled back. She was happy that he's alive.

Oliver pulled felicity back in the hospital's corridor just as Malcolm Merlyn entered their sight. Felicity felt him stiffen and she could feel the hard grip on her shoulders that's he trying to resist. He's angry. She could literally see it in his eyes. She put a hand on his shoulder for comfort while directly looking in his eyes.

"It's going to be okay." She whispered quietly just as he loosened his grip on her shoulder before looking down in shame. "Sorry" he whispered back just as Malcolm gave a nod to Oliver and walked in Walter's room. She instantly griped his hand in assurance and hugged him. Felicity had no idea what made her do this. She was gonna pull back and apologise but Oliver instantly relaxed and hugged her tighter with his hands over her small body. They stayed in the same position for few seconds before Oliver pulled back and walked away without any word. Felicity swore she saw a little blush over his cheeks but that must be the dry tears, right?

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"One big belly burger" felicity said in a her monotone voice as she handed the bag to Diggle who was posing as a security guard at Merlyn Global Group's Building.

"Keep the change" he winked as he handed the money out before shutting the door on her face. She smiled mischievously. She loved undercover. It was fun, especially when she's already undercover and she's playing another undercover over it. She giggled as she made her way to the elevator just as she saw Oliver heading to the same elevator.

After the revelations that Malcolm Merlyn was the leader of the 'Undertaking', both Oliver and Diggle devised a plan to comfort Oliver's mother about it while felicity stayed in the foundry just as usual. To be honest she was getting bored of having to stay behind. Maybe she could sneak out someday? The plan involved lot of beating on Oliver's side but in the end it worked. They finally found out that 'The Undertaking' is actually a conspiracy to level the Glades. A device made by UNIDAC industries which could trigger a man-made earthquake. Malcolm planned to use it on Glades. Felicity just kept an open mind about this while the boys were a little closed off. She knew the world is accelerating in advanced technologies so it wasn't a surprise for her. She bet that the boys doubt the whole Man-made earthquake thing is even possible. They've faced things that makes sense but science? Science has no boundaries and no sense sometimes. And they found it the hard way. The idea of destroying so many innocent lives was horrible. What Malcolm Merlyn is doing is definitely not justice. He even massacred all the scientists at UNIDAC whoever was involved in the project so it wouldn't trace back to him.

So here they are in Merlyn Global Group, undercover, with an aim to break into its mainframe system so they could locate the location of the device that will produce the earthquake. Let's just hope the plan works before they get caught.

Felicity quickly pressed the close button as both her and Oliver entered the elevator. Unfortunately, a man decided to Interrupt her and literally barged in between her and Oliver.

"Where are you heading, sweety?" He asked with a wink and a bright Pervy smile. Was he flirting with her?

"19th floor" she replied coldly, looking the other way as she took a peek at Oliver who rolled his eyes in response.

"Well too bad, I'm heading to...DAMN IT" he screamed just as Oliver pushed his files out of his hands and outside the elevator. The man ran to pick them up just as felicity quickly pressed the close button again, and this time successfully closing as it shut the furious man out. Felicity smiled a little at the scene. She could have sworn she saw the Pervy guy giving Oliver an evil glare before the doors closed on his face.

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"Wow..that's high. Really high." Felicity gulped as she looked down the elevator shaft. There were on a platform between 24th and 25th floor. They needed to get to the main frame system which was on the 25th floor. But 24th floor was as far as Diggle could take us. So here they are standing on the edge of an elevator shaft. She wasn't scared of heights. She had jumped from many different heights just like her cousin. She had to act scared infront Oliver. Thats what her cover is. Besides Oliver saw her examining the shaft earlier, he thought she was scared so she has no other choice but to act a little scared.

"Don't look down." His voice reached her ears as she looked for any wiring poking out of the shaft. Honestly, she was wiring up a plan if lets say somehow Oliver's crossbow breaks and they fall to their death. She was a little pre-cautious at stuff like this. She isn't like her cousin who would just jump literally off without thinking of a fail-safe. Until she was sure that she had located a wiring to hang onto she didn't look up.

"Felicity, hold on to me tight." He said as he worked his big arm around her waist so they both could swing together. She tried not to blush and covered it with her normal babbling remarks.

"I imagined you saying that to me in different circumstances. Very platonic circumstances." She added as he looked at her in the eye. She felt jumpy all of a sudden. That gaze send down shivers on her back. She tried not to blush again. Oh god, I should really stop. He loves someone else Felicity! Stop starring at him... She thought as they swing from one end to another before working their way up to the 25th floor.

"You okay?"

"Yeah... This is my about to hack face." She said as she stayed in her character to convince Oliver that she was still scared. He nodded before telling her to go and do her job.

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"FELICITY?" Diggle's voice screeched in her ears.

"What?... Just a few more seconds." Felicity said as she waited for the download to complete. There was an unexpected trouble heading her way. She just needed few more seconds.

"Yes!..wow, I really do do that" she said to herself as she saw her hand in a fist pump. She quickly disconnected her iPad and made a beeline for the door. Unfortunately the 'Trouble' that dig talked about was standing right infront of her. She looked up to see one of the security guard starring at her with a suspicious look.

"This is a restricted area. Let's see some ID." He ordered just as Felicity pretended to search her pockets.

"ID?.. Um.." Ugh! What is she going to do? Luckily, she saw Diggle entering the corridor.

"There you are!" Diggle accused at her before patting the other security guard on the shoulder. "Thanks a lot man! She sneaked past the security. One of Junior Merlyn's bimbos. She's pissed that he never called her back." Felicity staggered a bit as she heard what lie Diggle had chosen. From what angle does she look like a bimbo? Besides that she was thankful for her brother like figure to come and rescue her.

"Copy that. I read the tablets" The guard replied before nodding.

"Yeah, thanks again." Diggle smiled before pulling felicity with him. "Let's go, Barbie. You're new last name is ain't going to be Merlyn." She frowned at him with her best acting skills.

"But I love him. He's my man!" She screamed a little louder, playing along before bursting into laughter. "My knight in shining armour." She giggled before both of them left the floor.

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"Thank god, is he ok?" Felicity asked Diggle in worry over her phone.

"Yeah.."

"Ok, I'm on my way." She cut the call just as she walked out of Queen Consolidated. Apparently, after their break in, Felicty managed to track down the earthquake device hidden in one of Malcolm's old warehouse in glades. Diggle had gone after it to only find the whole place empty with nothing in it. It was clear Malcolm had moved it somewhere. Where as Oliver went after Malcolm to confort him. It was later on when Oliver returned with bruises and cuts. He revealed that Malcolm was the dark archer and he was doing all this to punish glades for his wife's death. She had just called Diggle to know about Oliver's condition. Thankfully he's okay.

As soon as she cut the call, she heard her name call out.

"MISS SMOAK?" She looks to her right to find detective Lance starring at her with his beady eyes.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" He asked with his 'Detective' face ON. Uh-oh.. It looks like she's going to be a little late.

"Please" he remarked as he opened the 'Interview Room's door and urged Felicity to enter. Interview room was just a friendly way to say that 'Your-in-big-trouble'.

"Take a seat." He said too politely.

"You know, I'd rather stand." She said before sitting down abruptly as she head the door slam. Just stay in your cover Felicity... She thought as she put up her best scared face up to convince Lance that his 'Meany' face is working.

"You're not exactly a hardened criminal, are you?" He asked as he walked around the table.

"No, I'm not any kind of criminal." She blurted out quickly. He has no idea...

"What do you call computer hacking?"

"A hobby... That I do not engage in." She breathed out as she saw Lance's raised eye-brows. Honestly, computer hacking was her life. But she's not going to tell him that.

"Hey, I got a whole mess of computer gobbedly gook that I don't understand, but it says otherwise. I had my tech guys go through your computer at Queen Consolidated. You used it to hack into blackhawk squad security to research arrows shipped to a company called Sagittarius and to analyze a water sample to tie back to a Vertigo drug lab." He listed his sources as Felicity still kept her facade up. "Tell me Felicity. What am I thinking?" He asked her finally sitting down on the chair infront of her. That's when his phone rang.

"Saved by the bell." He joked before picking up to answer it. She sighed in relief. She didn't expect lance to find about her hacking. She thought she was here because of her other criminal records. The ones that are totally out of sync with her I.T cover. After all, she's using her real name. Who knows which criminals had ranted her out.

She knew the call to Lance was from Oliver. She had texted him about her sticky situation when lance had ushered her into his Police car. She listened closely as lance's face turned grim and angry. Oliver must have told him about the undertaking. It's highly important that the detective spread this news and get everyone out of Glades as soon as possible.

"Sounds like you have bigger problems than me." She said as she noted his face. He waited for few seconds before dismissing her.

"Don't leave town." He warned before flicking his head to the door. She quickly got up and made a beeline to the door. She was about to go when a thought occurred to her.

"You know I used to think the Vigilante was a criminal, too, but it seems to me, whoever he is, he's willing to sacrifice an awful lot to help the people of this city." She said as she thought about Oliver's heroic actions. "Kind of makes him a hero Doesn't it?" She said again before leaving the room. She wished she was more like Oliver.

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Felicity replayed the news over her computers. She watched how Moira Queen admitted her plans with Malcolm to destroy the glades. Felicity felt sorry for the women. She's gonna have to face the law and her children's hatred after this. The blonde agent was impressed with Moria's guys at admitting the truth infront of the cameras. But she still felt angry and disapproving of Moira's actions. Oliver had just informed her that the Undertaking was happening tonight, thus Moira's confession. He had suggested for Diggle and Felicity to find a safe place out of Glades since the Hood's foundry was located in Glades. As usual both the members had refused. They can't abandon their duties just to save their lives.

"If your not leaving, I'm not leaving" felicity remembered saying these words to Oliver as he suggested for her to leave. There was no way she's gonna miss her chance at being a hero. She has worked hard for this. It's not in her nature to abandon missions. She's a fighter. She's part of this crusade as much as Oliver and Diggle are. Saving innocent lives is her number one priority in her list, no matter if it's related to her SHIELD career or not. She remembered the proud smile that Oliver gave her when she had sassed her way in this situation.

She sat up straight on her chair as she went through the local news. Oliver had gone after Malcolm while Diggle had followed Oliver so the hood wouldn't get himself killed by the dark archer. She was just waiting for Detective Lance to reach the underground subway so she can help him deactivate the device. It was that moment when her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID only to gulp in fear. It was Director Fury. She remembered that safe number when he had called her earlier in the year. Should she pick it up or not? This wasn't the right moment to talk to him. He doesn't even know about the freaking undertaking. Yeah, there are some things that she keeps hidden from that ruddy pirate. She argued with herself for few more seconds before finally deciding to end the call. She knew she had just signed her death warrant. But oh well, she's saving lives after all. He'll probably forgive her after few months. He's maybe all angry and up-tight but he's a softie from heart. Besides she's in his inner circle of agents. So no biggie.. Just like her cousin.

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She typed her keys as she ordered Detective Lance to cut the blue wire.

"Alright, I got it. I got it." He said in his phone before cutting the blue wire. That's when felicity heard a loud beeping though her ear piece. "Oh god" he whispered.

"No, no, no, no, no! There must be some sort of anti-tamper safeguard." Felicity screeched to herself as she tried to find a fault. "Hold on. I'm going to try to figure out how to override it."

"There's not enough time." Lance said.

"Just hold on!" Felicity said before continuing her work as she drowned his voice. After few seconds she finally found a way.

"Detective Lance? I need you to listen to me very carefully." She said before giving him a series of orders to do." She waited as he did his work.

"Come on." Lance grunted before sighing. "It's done." Felicity released her breadth.

"It's done, Oliver." She said as she transferred the connection to Oliver's ear piece. She was about to get up and have a drink when she heard Oliver's voice in ear again.

"Felicity there's another device." Felicity held her breadth in fear as she heard his words. There's another device.. It means... That's when the whole shaking started. She heard explosions over her and from around the wiring systems in the foundry before the whole building started shaking and little debris falling. She jumped to the side just as a part of the ceiling fell on the chair she was sitting on. Luckily the whole above floor didn't fall on her. The building wasn't that damaged compared to other areas in glades.

"What the hell is happening? I thought I turned the damn thing OFF." Lance screamed as the shaking got worse.

"Malcolm had a second device." She said as she picked herself from the ground to avoid another aftershock of the earthquake. She quickly hid under one of the tables to avoid getting hit by the shaking ground or falling debris or the electrical explosion that were happening around the foundry.

"Oliver?" She squeaked in her ear piece.

"Are you ok?" She heard him ask. She took a glance at her scratched arms and her ankle that was bleeding due to being stuck under a heavy rock.

"Yeah I'm all good." She lied as she tried to move the rock off her ankle. "The damage seems to be contained on the east side, past Wells Street." She said as an afterthought as Oliver cut the connection. She looked around her to see things still shaky as they recovered from the aftershocks of the earthquake. Putting her hands underneath the rock, she pulled it up with a grunt before removing her bleeding ankle from its crushing zone. She pulled herself off the ground before limping her way to her computers only to see the local news showing the whole eastern side of Glades in ruins...