Disclaimer: I do not own Arrow.
Trigger warning: There is talk of the Holocaust and gas chambers in this chapter. Read at your own risk.
Star City Bay
Morning
"Ollie!" Oliver turned around to see Thea and Alex approach.
"Hey. How we doing so far?" Oliver asked.
"It's actually a pretty great turnout." Thea noted as she looked around at the cleaning.
"Who knew people would rather pick up garbage than celebrate the holidays." Alex joked.
"Not bad for a 'hippie, crunchy campaign proposal', huh?" Oliver cracked and Alex grimaced.
"No one likes an 'I told you so'…except apparently Star City. Your approval rating is up ten percent." Alex told him.
"I have an approval rating?" Oliver asked pleasantly surprised.
"Yes, yes you do. Welcome to politics, Mr. Queen." Alex told him smiling.
"Mr. Queen?" A news crew approached.
"Excuse me." Oliver told Alex and his sister before walking over to the news crew.
"How do you feel about inspiring so many people to come out here today?" a new anchor asked him.
"I didn't inspire anyone. This is the city I remember and it's the city I know we can be again." Oliver said confidently.
"Thank you for your time." The anchor told him politely and Oliver nodded before walking off.
"People are picking up garbage when they should be picking up resents. You missed your calling." Diggle said sarcastically as Oliver reached him.
"How are you doing?" Oliver asked concerned.
"My brother's home for the holidays Oliver. He's in a cage, but he's here." Diggle said glumly.
"We're gonna get Andy out from Darhk's influence, that is a promise." Oliver vowed.
Further conversation was interrupted by shots ringing out. Oliver whirled around to see what looked like a drone flying by and firing, bullets hitting the water.
"Everyone get down!" Oliver shouted as everyone screamed terror.
Laurel got some kids to safety while Diggle pulled out a gun and fired back at it. It didn't faze the drone and Oliver saw, to his alarm, a kid was not getting to safety but staring up at the drone in fascination. Cursing at the kid's stupidity, Oliver face over and tackled the kid out of the way, barely saving her from the drone's bullets. Suddenly, a blue beam came out and struck the drone, destroying it in an explosion of fire. Everyone looked up as The Atom flew off into the distance.
Arrow Lair
Later
"Any news on the victims?" Oliver asked as he turned off the news report on the incident.
"Some are released, some are still in surgery." Laurel told him.
"It's a miracle no one died." Ray said as he walked into the room.
"Ray thanks for your help today." Oliver said as he looked over at the CEO.
"Don't mention it. Do you guys know who was behind the attack?" Ray inquired.
"Isn't it obvious? Darhk." Oliver said through gritted teeth.
"Are we sure this is Hive?" Thea asked and Oliver gave her a look. "Yeah, that's what I thought."
"There were kids there." Oliver said lowly as Thea's phone went off.
"It's Alex; every news station in the country is looking for a comment from you." Thea read off her phone.
"No comment." Oliver snapped.
"Ollie, we have to give them something." Thea pointed out.
"What do you want me to say?" Oliver snapped as he whirled around. "I asked people to come, they almost died. When we have a plan to get Darhk, then I will talk to the press!"
"I know Hive wants this city to die, but going after a volunteer event, it just seems a little overkill." Laurel noted.
"Two weeks ago, Darhk warned me to back off my plan to clean up the bay, today he went after civilians. This is important to him! We just need to figure out why." Oliver said as he gave a significant look to Diggle.
"Last time I talked to my brother, it didn't go so well." Diggle reminded him.
"I need you to talk to him again. A couple weeks in a cage will change your perspective, trust me." Oliver told him before walking away.
Star City
Afternoon
"Are we sure we about this?" Thea asked concerned.
"The truth is the only move Darhk has left us." Diggle pointed out.
"Hive has us outnumbered, the only way we can stop them is if we ask the city for help." Laurel pointed out.
"You know, if we do this, it's gonna paint a target on all of your backs." Oliver pointed out as he looked at the three of them worriedly.
"We can take care of ourselves." Laurel said as she put a hand on the side of his face.
With a shakily breath, Oliver nodded. With his team all looking at him reassuringly, Oliver turned and walked towards the press team. Looking at the cameras, Oliver gathered himself before speaking.
"Thank you all for coming," Oliver began, "For 6 months, we have been besieged by a nameless and a faceless organization that seems hell bent on destroying our city. You know them as the Ghosts. And while they may be anonymous, their leader is not. He has a face, he has a name, and I think that it is high time the people of Star City know the truth about who he is."
Oliver then held up the picture of Darhk for all to see, making sure the camera got a good look at it.
"His name is Damien Darhk; he controls the Ghosts on behalf of an organization known as Hive. Hive wants this city to die. Now, I will be distributing this, the only known photograph to every news outlet and social media feed in the country. For months, this man has made afraid to walk the streets; I suggest we return the favor. We will also be setting up a hotline. Now, individually, Mr. Darhk may be able to defeat us, but united, he doesn't stand a chance." Oliver told the news crews firmly.
Arrow Lair
Later in the afternoon
"That should get his attention at the very least," Oliver said as Team Arrow walked into the lair, "Ray is monitoring the hotline, so we'll know if anything solid comes in right away."
"In the meantime, you need to prepare for your campaign holiday party." Laurel pointed out and they stopped as Oliver whirled around, incredulous.
"Laurel, we just waved the red flag in front of a bull." Oliver pointed out.
"That doesn't mean we can put our entire lives on hold." Thea pointed out.
"But…help me out here man." Oliver looked at Diggle pleadingly.
"Sorry, you can't launch a grenade then go to ground." Diggle pointed out.
"John is right. As much as your speech was about outing to Darhk, it was also about sending the message that you're not afraid anymore. And cancelling your Christmas party sends the opposite message." Thea pointed out.
"Okay," Oliver said after a moment, "talk to Lance, see if he can get some extra security for the party."
Diggle and Thea nodded, walking off to do just that. Once they were gone, Oliver turned to Laurel, uncertainty on his face.
"Do you think I did the right thing?" Oliver asked.
"With Darhk?" Laurel asked and he nodded.
"He's gonna retaliated somehow, someplace." Oliver fretted and Laurel wrapped her arms around his neck.
"When he does, we'll be ready. I think you've spent so long being this…dark avenger, that you don't know how to be anything else why don't you try being a beacon of hope?" Laurel suggested and Oliver paused, considering.
Oliver and Laurel's loft
Night
"Wow, you weren't kidding about the extra security." Thea noted as Diggle walked over to her, Oliver, and Laurel.
"Where'd you find all these guys?" Laurel asked curiously.
"A friend of mine is a Seal who knows someone who knows someone," Diggle said vaguely as he looked around, "so I thought Ray would be here to support you."
"He's probably on a million calls of the hotline." Oliver pointed out.
"I have Mr. Holt on that actually," Ray said as he walked over to them seemingly out of nowhere, "I must say, you really know how to throw a party Oliver."
"Thank you Ray." Oliver smiled at him.
"Mr. Queen, so nice to meet you." The fire chief said as he walked up to him and held out his hand to Oliver.
"You as well chief," Oliver said as he shook the man's hand, "this is my sister Thea and my girlfriend Laurel Lance. I think you know Mr. Palmer and this is my head of security, John Diggle."
"Pleasure to meet you all." The fire chief smiled politely at them.
At that moment, gun shots rang out, shattering the peaceful mood of the party. Everyone ducked down and everyone ducked down. There was screaming as Darhk and a few Ghosts walked into the room. The security pulled out their guns but Darhk waved his hands and the guns flew out of their hands.
"Ah, what do we have here?" Darhk picked up a glass of wine and took a sip. "Mmm! Malbec, nice! How'd you know that was my favorite red? So full bodied, so full of life. Unlike your security. In my defense, they fired first. I assume my invitation was lost in the mail," Darhk chuckled, "I'm only kidding, not my kind of scene anyway. I'm only here to have a word with the man of the hour."
"What do you want?" Oliver demanded, standing in front of Laurel and Thea protectively.
"Well, something I can't have apparently," Darhk said as he walked up to him, "your loyalty, your allegiance. I told you there would be consequences if you refused."
"I made a bad decision, not these people. Let them go." Oliver begged.
"I wish I could, I really do. But sometimes the way to teach someone a lesson isn't too punish them, it's to punish the one he cares about most. Bye-bye."
Darhk walled his hand and Oliver was suddenly thrown through a glass wall. He hit the ground, unconscious and Laurel, Thea, and Diggle tried to rush to him but Darhk's men blocked their way.
"Take them." Darhk ordered, sounding board as he took another drink of his glass.
"Oliver, wake up! Oliver!" Ray shook the vigilante awake and Oliver opened his eyes.
"What?" Oliver asked dazed.
"Darhk, he took them. John, Thea and Laurel." Ray said and Oliver was immediately awake.
"Then let's get them back," Oliver stood and up and they walked outside to see Quentin talking to a guard, "what happened?!"
"It was over before it started, they never had a chance. I wanted to help, but then Darhk would know I was with you. Not sure that was the right call." Quentin said as worry for his daughter flashed through his mind.
"It was," Oliver said not really listening, "but we need to track Darhk. You need to dig up everything that you can, okay?"
"I'm on it." Quentin rushed out of there.
"Alex!" Oliver called before turning to his strategist.
"The police are gonna wanna question you." Alex pointed out.
"Get these people home. If they need medical attention, get it, pay for it out of the campaign fund." Oliver ordered before walking off.
"What about the police?" Alex asked.
"Stall them!" Oliver called back.
Arrow lair
Later
"Oliver, we'll find them." Ray said as the archer put his bow down after some rough interrogation.
"Not even the Ghosts know where they are," Oliver pointed out glumly as he walked away, "this is my fault."
"How is it your fault?" Ray wondered as he walked after Oliver.
"I'm the one who outed Darhk." Oliver growled.
"From the way John told it, you all decided that." Ray pointed out.
"I decided to run for mayor because I can protect myself and I thought they could to!" Oliver ranted.
"You can't protect everyone Oliver." Ray told him.
Ray's phone went off and he pulled it out. His face dropped as he looked at it.
"We just got a tip. About Captain Lance." Ray said and Oliver sighed.
"He's our spy," Oliver said and Ray looked at him sharply, "it's a long story that I don't have time for. One Ghost in this city will tell me what I want to know."
"And if he can't?" Ray said as Oliver walked away.
"Then I'll take great pleasure in making him." Oliver growled as he picked up his bow.
Later, Oliver sat at the table in the lair as Ray and Quentin walled in, Oliver having called them.
"Anything?" Quentin asked hopefully but Oliver shook his head.
"Just a lot of suicidal Ghosts." Oliver said glumly.
"Honestly husband, how do make things so easy to break into?" Everyone turned to see Nyssa and Sara walk in.
"What are you two doing here?" Oliver asked surprised as he stood up.
"My sister was kidnapped by Damien Darhk. Thanks for telling me, by the way." Sara snapped as she tossed Oliver something.
"What's that?" Ray inquired as Oliver caught it.
"Hive used polyphasic-encrypted satellite phones to communicate. That is one of them." Nyssa explained.
"Where'd you get it?" Quentin inquired.
"I am the demon." Nyssa said simply.
"Maybe I can use that to track them." Ray suggested.
"Get on that." Oliver said as he handed it to Ray.
Darhk's hideout
Later
"What are you doing with us?" Laurel demanded as Darhk had her, Thea, and Diggle brought out of their cells and over to some machine with glass doors.
"When the Nazi's developed gas chambers. I wondered why the world allowed these monsters to exist, to thrive even. But then I realized the world needed them to. Every now and then, the world needs a reset. Oh, and thank your boyfriend, Ms. Lance, for skimming the bay. My men were using it to create a certain algae that let us do this." Darhk explained as he snapped his fingers.
The machine turned on and gas came out of the vents. The man inside, within moments, went down, dead. Laurel, Thea, and Diggle exchanged glances, knowing this was why they were here. Darhk wanted to get back at Oliver by killing them with these and making Oliver watch.
Arrow Lair
Same time
"I got it! They're at an old industrial plant outside Pennytown." Ray said as he stood up.
"What about me?" Quentin asked.
"You'll blow your cover with Darhk." Oliver said immediately.
"If it wasn't already blown, he wouldn't have taken Laurel." Quentin pointed out.
"If Damien Darhk suspected you, you'd know it." Nyssa pointed out.
"Sit this one out Detective, we got this." Oliver said as he lifted up his hood.
Darhk's hideout
Later
"So, any last words you want me to tell Oliver? I mean, I'm gonna put you in here in just a minute after I track him down, so." Darhk shrugged.
At that moment, The Cannery Cry pierced the air, sending everyone to their knees. Everyone looked up to see Green arrow standing next to Black Canary. Laurel, Thea, and Diggle looked up in confusion as Green Arrow fired at one of the Ghosts, getting him in the shoulder. As they jumped down, a blue beam came out and hit the chamber, destroying it. The Atom landed on the ground, shaking things up quite literally as another arrow came out and struck another Ghost. Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Nyssa jumped down and the foursome began fending off the Ghosts.
Darhk and his entourage were just about to leave when a black arrow flew out and hit the ground. They looked up and saw Nyssa blocking their path.
"Ah, Nyssa al Ghul. Or would you prefer Ra's? Get out of here, I got this." Darhk told his entourage and they fled.
Nyssa fired at him and he held up his hand, stopping it in mid-air.
"If that didn't work when your husband tried it, what makes you think it would work with you?" Darhk asked. Curiously.
Nyssa smirked as the arrow exploded, sending him to the ground. Nyssa rushed forward and into the smoke as she tried to find Darhk but he was nowhere to be seen. Feeling someone behind her, she turned around and saw Darhk there. He moved his arm to the side and Nyssa slammed into the wall.
"You don't look so bad in my suit." Laurel noted as she looked over at Black Canary.
"It was mine first sis." Black Canary smirked.
"Hey, where's Nyssa?" Atom pointed out and everyone froze.
"There you go," Darhk smirked as he magic-choked Nyssa as he lifted her into the air, "your father couldn't bring himself to kill me when we were young. Looks like you're paying for his mistake."
Suddenly, Green Arrow tackled him to the ground and Nyssa fell to the ground as well, gasping as sweet air filled her lungs.
"We shouldn't leave these guys here." Thea said as she looked at the people in cells.
"If they're anything like Darhk's guy from the gas chamber, we should." Diggle said grimly.
Suddenly, the alarms blared as the cells opened. The prisoners walked out and surrounded them, none looking particularly friendly.
"They're definitely like Darhk's guy in the gas chamber." Thea said worriedly.
Black Canary and Atom jumped in front of them, taking on multiple guys. Diggle, Laurel, and Thea joined in as well. Gun shots rang out and everyone looked over to see Quentin with a gun, several police officers behind him. He smirked at his daughters before the fight continued.
"Good news," Darhk said as he used his magic to hold Green Arrow in place, "I'm gonna let you live long enough to watch as I destroy everything about the city you love."
Nyssa stood up and fired, hitting Darhk in the shoulder with an arrow. Darhk went down, still very much alive. Green arrow fell to the ground and put an explosive on the ground before they two of them ran off. Darhk looked over as they explosive began beeping before it went off.
Arrow Lair
Later
"You sure Darhk didn't get out of that place?" Ray asked as he checked the computers.
"Knowing Darhk, he did. He'll be back." Oliver said grimly.
"Where are Nyssa and Sara?" Thea asked curiously.
"They said they had to attend to League business." Laurel explained.
"We're gonna be late if we don't leave now." Diggle said as he checked his watch.
"Late for what?" Oliver asked wearily.
Star City
Later
"This was all Alex's idea," Thea said as Alex led Team arrow through the crowd, "he wanted to show the people that you're not backing down."
"All you gotta do is flick a switch and give a speech." Alex explained.
"We'll all be waiting for you when you're done." Laurel said with a smile.
Oliver smiled as he nodded before walking onto the stage. As he did, the crowd burst into cheers. Oliver gave a polite smile and waved at them before it died down.
"Thank you everyone. Earlier this week, an event just like this was interrupted by terrorists. But all of us here tonight are here to send a very simple message: we are not gonna let darkness win. So we are gonna light a candle together. We have faced dark times in the last few years and it won't be easy to shine a light through the darkness. But I hope, with your help, I can be the beacon of hope this city needs to finally come out of the darkness." Oliver before turning on the switch and the Christmas tree lit up as the crowd went wild.
Later, Oliver and Laurel were in a limo as they drove back to the loft. Laurel leaned her head on his shoulder and he wrapped an arm around her.
"Thank you," Oliver said and she looked up at him confused, "I've been in the darkness so long it's hard to see anything with light. Except you, you help me see the light. Thank you."
"You can be this city's beacon of hope Ollie. If that's what you need me to be, then I'll be your beacon." Laurel said before kissing him.
However, lights shinnied through the windows and they pulled away from each other to see what was going on. They were being surrounded by cars. Oliver and Laurel watched with dread in their stomach as Ghosts got out , carrying assault rifles. They fired and Laurel screamed. And that is when things changed.
Laurel screamed and something happened. Something came out of her mouth, an energy wave like thing and it pushed the door right off, the wave hitting the Ghosts and knocking them out. The others, spooked by what they had just seen, turned and took off. Oliver turned to Laurel, trying to wrap his brain about what had just happened as she simply sat there, appearing to be in shock.
So, what do you guys think? Please leave any thoughts or comments you may have in a review, feedback is greatly appreciated.