Disclaimer: I do not own DC Comics or the CW TV shows Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow or any other characters or elements pertaining to the mentioned franchises.
"Talia…" Oliver whispered. "But… you're…"
"Dead." Talia nodded as Oliver looked closely at her face, which was slowly decaying. "I am, so to speak. Right now, I am living on borrowed time."
Then, Tatsu entered with a bowl with mixed herbs as Oliver drank it. "More herbs?"
"Penicillin. For the infection." Tatsu explained as Talia entered with Maseo as Oliver noticed her scarred face.
"You saved my life." Oliver turned to Talia.
"The snow and cold helped." Talia nodded. "And your will to live."
"I thought you were dead." Oliver said as he noticed the scars on her face.
"I am dying, Oliver, don't be mistaken." Talia said. "When I heard you had challenged my father, I knew you would not survived and I had to do something. Your old friend helped me find you." She looked outside the window towards Maseo as Oliver turned to Tatsu.
"I didn't realize that… the two of you were still in contact." Oliver said.
"We are not." Tatsu admitted as Maseo entered, while the storm raged outside, with handful of logs.
"Maseo…" Oliver limped as Talia held him.
"Take it easy, Oliver."
"You're in no condition to stand." Maseo said.
"Then help me." Oliver pleaded.
"You should rest." Talia put Oliver on the bed as Oliver turned to his former allies.
"If Ra's finds out that the two of you saved me, he's going to kill you."
"Don't waste your breath on worries about us." Maseo assured him. "Your concern should be for your home and what has become of it in your absence."
Starling City
A thug was chasing a young girl in an alley before the Canary descended from above, knocking the man down with her staff before she felt the pain in her leg as she hissed.
Then, Arsenal descended down from above as he faced the blonde. "I think we should talk."
Later, the Lair
"Sara, what were you thinking?" Laurel demanded as she entered the lair, while Sara swallowed handful of painkillers and drank a cup of water. "You still haven't fully recovered from the fight with Slade last year!"
"I've had to recover from worse than tore tendon." Sara snapped. "And I'm done sitting back, while Brickwell's men are tearing our city apart!"
Diggle protested. "Without Oliver, you don't stand a…"
"I had to defend a village without Oliver's help for almost a year!" Sara snapped again. "If I sit back and do nothing, while Brick's roaming free, then I'm spitting on everything Ollie and I have been working on for the last two years."
Laurel held her sister's shoulder. "Sara, John, Henry, Chloe, Roy and I…"
"You need all the help you can get, Laurel." Sara said. "Ollie would do the same thing."
Later, City Hall
Laurel entered the office as Quentin and some aldermen were meeting with the mayor as Quentin pocketed his phone.
"I'm sorry I'm late." Laurel said.
"You're not late." Quentin assured her. "Castle's still hashing things out with her people. But listen, I've heard there were some sightings of the Canary in the streets and she wasn't as tall as you, more like… Sara's height." He said as he gave Laurel a pointed look. "I thought she's still recovering."
"I know what you're gonna say and I'll talk to her." Laurel promised.
Quentin nodded. "I know how stubborn she can be and I know she can take care of herself but I just…"
"I get it, I do." Laurel nodded. "I'll talk to her, when I find the right time."
"Alright, thank you, everyone for coming, please, take your seats." Mayor Castle said as Quentin, Laurel and the aldermen sat at the table. "As you know, over the last week, a criminal organization headed by Danny Brickwell has been on a crime spree unlike anything since Al Capone."
"Which begs the question: Why aren't you arresting him?" One of the councilmen asked.
"We sent in an ESU team to do just that." Quentin answered. "Most of those men are in the hospital now. Now we got no clue where he's holed up. Maybe if we had more men but that means more money."
"Ah, I've got a few bucks." Ray said as he entered with Felicity. "Sorry. In fact, Palmer Technology has just made a large donation to the SCPD but it'll take time for that personal equipment to do any good. We need to consider calling in the National Guard."
Then, they head a loud 'bang' as a grenade smashed the window as Brickwell and his men burst in, while smoke came out from the grenade as Brickwell grabbed one of the councilmen as hostages. "Always wanted to meet the mayor. Bring her and the aldermen." He ordered as he threw the alderman on the floor and executed him. Quentin shot down one of Brickwell's thugs as Laurel fought another one and Quentin took cover as another one fired with an SMG but Ray tackled him to a table but the thug pushed him back before Quentin knocked him out. Laurel struggled for a moment with the final thug before she kicked him in the crotch and punched him in the face twice to knock him out.
"Is Mayor Castle secure?" Quentin asked.
"Yeah." Laurel nodded. "But what about the aldermen?"
Elsewhere
Maseo poured some mixture into the cup, while Oliver was drinking the tea Tatsu had mixed for him. "Your penicillin tea tastes like penicillin." Maseo left outside as Oliver sighed. "We can't let him go back to the League."
"It's not our choice." Tatsu explained.
"Oliver, you don't know how does the League work. In it, all new members must sever their ties to their past lives. The Maseo Yamashiro you once knew might be still deep down there." Talia said. "But most of the time, he goes by "Sarab". He is nothing more but a loyal servant of my father."
""Sarab" is just a name that your father calls him." Oliver said. "He's still my friend. And your husband." He turned to Tatsu, who handed him another cup of tea. "Thank you."
Tatsu sat down next to Oliver. "Maseo blames himself for what happened."
"Yeah." Oliver sighed. "It wasn't his fault."
"The line between guilt and grief is a thin one." Tatsu said.
"It's easy to blame yourself, when you are unable to save someone you love." Talia nodded. "I've seen it happen before. It's easier wanting to die, rather than live forever with the pain of loss."
"What happened to you?" Oliver asked. "After we finished training…"
"I left to the sanctuary in Africa." Talia explained. "Sara may have mentioned to you…"
"She trained there, when she went looking for the place with Richard." Oliver nodded. "An ancient order of warrior monks called All-Caste, guarding source of immeasurable power."
"The Well of All." Talia nodded. "The pure Lazarus pit in Africa. There is another one in Nanda Parbat, thanks to which my father is able to prolong his life. I went there, after I renounced my father, when it was obvious that he would not give the mantle of the Demon to a woman. When Sara abandoned the sanctuary, I was supposed to find more recruits to guard the Well but…" Oliver noticed the scars on her face. "The sanctuary fell."
"How?" Oliver asked.
"Someone very dangerous was responsible for it." Talia said. "The Lazarus pit I had used there to prolong my life became corrupted and I was dying… on verge of death. After I left you… I was almost dead, when I returned to Africa. But… I came back. For months, I could not remember what happened but when I recovered my memory…" She turned to Oliver. "I cannot believe how foolish and sentimental both of you had become. Sara abandoning the sanctuary and breaking the oath to protect it. And both of you sparing the man, who had killed your mother and almost burned your city and put you both through hell."
"I vowed on my best friend's grave I would never kill again." Oliver said.
"Your reticence to do whatever it takes to protect your loved ones is the reason they suffer." Talia sneered as Oliver sighed.
Three years ago
"You…" Sara stepped back in horror, remembering the stories she had heard from Jack and in the sanctuary. "Do you realize what have you done?"
"Oh, let me guess." Darhk quipped. "Releasing an ancient evil out from its cage? Corrupting the Lazarus pit that was keeping my greatest enemy alive? Did I forget something?"
"You killed dozens, hundreds of good people protecting a sacred place. How could you?" Sara demanded.
"How?" Darhk chuckled. "Very easily."
"You're gonna pay for what you did." Sara glared as she lunged at Darhk but somehow, with one gesture of Darhk's hand, she found herself floating in the air as Darhk threw her on the ground.
"You can't defeat him, Sara." Kotero said. "Damien Darhk is one of the most dangerous people on the planet."
Sara sneered. "I'm done being afraid."
"Sara, what are you doing?" Jack asked as Sara pulled out batons that Elian had given her, when she was training with her monks as she tried to attack Darhk, who raised his hands but nothing happened as Sara managed to hit Darhk, who had to block with his arms.
Present, the Lair
Laurel went downstairs. "I flipped our guy, we might be able to track down Brickwell."
"Then let's go." Sara got up, swallowing some painkillers.
"Wait, I thought we were on the same page with this." Diggle protested.
"That was before Brick kidnapped three aldermen." Roy snapped.
"And Laurel said she knows where they are." Chloe turned to the computer. "I managed to track them down through CCTV cameras but they're constantly on the move, so if we want to save them, we need to move ASAP."
Later, Starling City
Brick's van drove down the street before Arsenal fired an explosive arrow, causing for the van to stop as the Canary jumped down but groaned as she still felt the pain in her leg, while Brickwell went out with a machine gun and fired, causing for Arsenal to take cover behind a crate as the driver went out before Black Canary jumped down from above and took him out. Black Canary planted a small device on the door and opened it, freeing the aldermen as Brick was about to approach the van.
"Laurel, Sara, watch your six." Chloe called out.
The Canary turned around and attacked Brickwell but her hits didn't even faze him as Black Canary came to assist and kicked Brickwell but to no effect as the Canary lunged at him, while the Black Canary freed some of the aldermen but Brickwell shoved the Canary back as he took one of the aldermen as hostage and entered the van and the Black Canary was more worried about getting the rest to safety, while Arsenal notched an arrow before the Canary held his hand.
"No, don't!" She yelled, stopping Arsenal. "There's nothing we can do now."
Later, the Lair
Henry rushed downstairs as Chloe turned around. "What are you doing here?"
"I saw the news, what the hell happened out there?" He turned to Laurel and Sara. "What were you thinking, taking on Brick, when you're still recovering?"
"I'm doing what you should be doing with us, whatever it takes to protect our city!" Sara sneered.
"Excuse me, you think I want to let a maniac like him wreak havoc in the Glades?" Henry snapped. "I'm sorry for trying to help my family through grief, when my sister had just lost her husband and my nephew had lost the man, who was the only thing he had closest to a father! I wasn't the best brother and uncle four years ago but I am trying! You can't blame me for what happened out there! Damn it, Sara, I can't be at two places at once!"
Sara sighed as she noticed the look in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. But…"
"I get it." Henry interrupted her. "But let's be realistic. You're still recovering." He glanced towards Sara's injured leg. "And no offense to you…" He turned to Roy and Laurel. "But you're barely a match to Oliver and Sara. And Brickwell almost wiped the floor with us the last time we took him on." He turned to Diggle. "I mean, what chances do we have against him without Oliver?"
"We've beaten worse odds before on our own." Sara said as Henry turned to her. "We've been in tough spots and been through dark and bright things before. You just have a bad habit of always focusing on the dark things."
Elsewhere
"The storm has passed." Maseo said as he picked up his bag.
"Maseo, you don't have to leave." Oliver pleaded weakly. "You can still have a life."
"Why do you assume I want one?" Maseo questioned.
"Because I know you and this isn't who you are." Oliver replied.
Tatsu stopped Maseo as he neared the door. "I love you. No matter who you think you've become." She kissed him before Talia narrowed her eyes and Maseo scowled before they saw a small group of assassins nearing the cabin.
"They have found us." Talia said as she, Oliver and Tatsu went to hide.
The assassins burst into the cabin as Maseo was warming himself at the boiler.
"Sarab, what are you doing here?" One of the assassins demanded.
"Ra's al Ghul wants Oliver Queen's remains." Maseo explained. "I found no body, only tracks. Which led here."
"Queen is still alive." An assassin said as Oliver, Tatsu and Talia were hiding in the shadows.
"But there is no one here." Maseo replied as he picked up his bag. "I was just about to go." But then, they heard creaking of wooden planks as the assassins looked around. "Brothers, we should go." Maseo pleaded.
One of the assassins looked behind a curtain as he found Tatsu. "Traitor!"
She defended herself with a sword as she slashed him across his chest, while Talia came out as she and Maseo each threw a knife, killing two of the remaining assassins as Maseo stabbed the last one in his chest as he fell to the ground.
Three years ago
Darhk dodged Sara's attacks and blocked with his arms as Sara kicked him in the leg and then in the chest as he stumbled back. Darhk tried to raise his hands but nothing happened, to his surprise as he grabbed Sara's batons. "You're one of the guardians. Perhaps I should not underestimate you, since you managed to beat Mr. Lockley."
"You certainly shouldn't." Sara sneered as she managed to scratch Darhk in the face with a knife as he scowled before realizing that Darhk had sent the man who tried to kidnap her best friend.
"Well, I should have made sure there were no guardians of the Sanctuary anymore." Darhk said. "At least, one guardian cannot stop the Untitled that have been poisoning this place. Until we meet again, Miss Lance."
He said some incantation as he vanished as Sara stared. "What the hell was that?"
"Damien Darhk used to be a successor of the leader of the League of Assassins." Kotero explained. "He possesses unimaginable power. You got lucky."
Present, the Lair
"I talked to Dad." Laurel entered. "He said that the mayor is going to cede control over the Glades. They're going to evacuate the police force."
"Which means it's up to us to stop Brick." Sara decided. "It may have started as my and Ollie's mission but it's not just about us anymore. It's up to all of us to protect our city." She turned to Diggle, Roy, Henry and Chloe.
"You're right." Henry sighed. "Oliver may be gone but this is still our city to protect."
"But how are we gonna find the aldermen?" Chloe asked. "Brick has them constantly on the move."
Laurel pulled out her phone and dialed Quentin. "Daddy, please, do you have anything on the aldermen? Any clues, please. No matter how seemingly insignificant."
"Well, I don't know how knowing their favorite color's gonna help find them, honey." Quentin said.
"There has to be something. Some sort of intel that you couldn't move on because of the mayor's orders." Laurel pleaded.
"I wish." Quentin sighed. "The clock's running down on these guys too. I just found out one of them has a heart condition, if his pacemaker isn't recharged soon, we're going to lose another alderman."
"Daddy, that actually helps." Laurel said. "I think we might be able to find them. Thanks. Really."
"Honey, just… be careful. Both of you." Quentin pleaded. "I know you two are strong girls now… but I can't lose either of you again. I don't know what would I do if anything happened to you."
"We'll try." Laurel promised as she hung up. "One of the aldermen has a pacemaker."
"Wait, if it's remotely programmable…" Chloe approached the computer.
"…we can find its location with GPS." Henry finished.
"Gear up." Roy ordered as Sara and Laurel went for their suits.
"Wait, Sara." Henry stopped her. "Are you sure about this?" He looked at her leg.
"I'll be fine." Sara promised. "Really."
Later, the Glades
Diggle flew the chopper with Arsenal, Canary and Black Canary as they flew above Brickwell's hideout.
Black Canary, Canary and Arsenal went downstairs as Black Canary kicked down one of the thugs as Arsenal and Canary jumped over the railing and took down two of the thugs as the Canary rushed at another across the hall and kicked him to a wall and punched him, knocking him out. Arsenal rushed at another thug, breaking through planked wall and knocking him down on the floor before another thug showed up but Arsenal slammed him against a wall as Black Canary and Canary were back to back, fighting thugs from both sides and in sync they were able to take them down.
"Twenty yards down the hallway, then left." Chloe called out as Arsenal and the Canaries followed her instructions.
Black Canary knocked out the guard as she undid the restraints on the aldermen. "We're going to get you out of here."
The vigilantes were escorting the aldermen upstairs before they heard gunshots as Brickwell went out from the shadows.
The Canary glared as she threw a knife, disarming Brickwell of his gun before they ran upstairs.
Elsewhere
Oliver put on his jacket as Maseo entered. "Well, it's done. Bodies will not be found."
"OK, Maseo, I get you wanting to go back before but that was before." Oliver said. "When Ra's finds out that you betrayed the League…"
Maseo pulled out a knife and cut himself on his neck, to Oliver's and Tatsu's shock.
"Maseo…" Tatsu whispered.
"Why the hell did you do that?!" Oliver demanded.
"I didn't. You did." Maseo explained. "In a successful attempt to escape."
Oliver held Maseo's hand as he was about to leave. "Or you could just come back to Starling City with me."
Maseo shook Oliver's hand off as he walked away, while Talia sighed. "There's no helping him, Oliver. My father's hold on him is too strong. Like I told you, all members of the League sever all their ties to the past. Your friend may still be deep down there… but Sarab is stronger than Maseo Yamashiro."
Tatsu's eyes were getting wet as her husband left the cabin.
Oliver then turned to Talia. "Why are you helping me and Sara against your father?"
Talia sighed. "The father I once loved, is dead, Oliver. He died a long time ago. My father had groomed me and my sister to the mantle of the Demon since childhood but then I realized… he would never have proclaimed either of us as an heir. He would never allow a woman to become his successor. While the League is sworn to replace evil with death, my father's reason had become corrupted and innocent people became unnecessary casualties to his cause. He used to have honor… and knew compassion…" Oliver noticed the look in her eyes. "But, he had become a ruthless, heartless monster that cares little for his own family. If either me or my sister had been killed, he wouldn't punish the responsible party for his love because he is incapable of love but because of obligation of the League. It's not my father anymore. My sister has only failed to see it." Oliver stared at her before nodding, seeing her point. "I don't have much time left, Oliver." She turned to him as Oliver saw the scars on her face. "Perhaps, if I can help you free the League of father's insanity, perhaps I can rectify centuries of spilling of innocent blood."
Three years ago
"I think we can rebuild this place." Kotero said as he looked at the ruined sanctuary. "However, I need to inform Talia. I cannot do this alone."
"And what about the Untitled and Jade?" Sara asked.
"Don't worry about them." Kotero said as he showed a tattoo on his arm as Sara widened her eyes.
"You're one of the guardians?" Sara asked as he nodded.
"You don't need to worry about the evil bring released here in Africa. I'll handle it. As I have for the last five hundred years." Kotero assured her as Sara still mourned her friends.
"Well, I think we should head home." Jack said as he held Sara's hand. "I think your family needs to see you."
"Yeah. I guess." Sara nodded.
At the airport, Sara went to the terminal with passport and money Jack had given her. "Where to?"
"One ticket to Starling City."
As Sara went out from the airport, she considered thinking about visiting Laurel and her father… but if they knew what happened to her… the things she has done… the things she has been through… and coming back without Oliver…
In the Glades, Sara was wearing her black jacket and wig as she was on rooftop before she noticed a young girl in an alley with punk hair and black jacket being harassed by two men as Sara jumped down from above and knocked them out.
"You OK?" She turned to the girl, who nodded.
"Thanks. You saved my ass."
"You're welcome." Sara smiled. "What's your name?"
"Sin."
Author's Note:
So, what do you guys think about it?
As for the flashbacks, honestly, I ran out of ideas and this is the end of Sara's flashback storyline.
Please review and let me know if you are enjoying this so far.
