Disclaimer: I do not own Arrow.

So, this is a mostly original chapter and I apologize in advance if this is crap.

Unspecified location

Morning

"Why are you doing this?" Laurel asked as she struggled against her binds.

"Be quiet." John said in a robotic voice.

"I've seen you around before, you're Oliver and Sara's friend. Why are you doing this?" Laurel demanded.

"I said shut up!" John shouted as he suddenly backhands Laurel.

"Enough," John stepped back as another man entered the room, "I apologize for my friend, he is not quite in control of his actions."

"Who are you? What am I doing here?" Laurel demanded.

"Well, you can call me Emil Hamilton. And you my dear are simply a means to an end." Hamilton smirked at her.

Iron Heights prison

same time

"Hey!" Barnes and Quentin looked up from their conversation to see Oliver and Sara storm over "What the hell happened?"

"We're still working out the details but someone managed to break in and break Ms. Lance out." Barnes explained and three sets of eyes glare at him.

"You better not be suggesting that my sister had anything to do with this." Sara sneered.

"She's escaped iron heights." Barnes protested.

"So, first you lock my sister in law up on bogus charges, then your so called protective custody fails to protect her, now you're trying to implicate her instead of finding her. You are treading a very dangerous line chief and if anything happens Laurel, we will be pressing charges against you." Oliver said dangerously, the shadow of The Arrow in his voice.

"The SCPD is underfunded as it is." Barnes protested.

"Not the SCPD, just you." Sara said darkly before she and Oliver turned and left.

"Control them officer." Barnes barked at Quentin.

"Why, I agree with them. I warned you not to lock her up and look what happened? If they do press charges, don't count on me as a character witness." Quentin snapped.

Arrow Lair

afternoon

"So what you'd you find out?" Diggle asked as oliver and Sara walked into the lair.

"It was an inside job, there were new guards this week, none of which showed up to work today. The names they gave were fake and the guards are with the sketch artists now, giving them something to work with." Oliver explained.

"Do you guys have any idea who would kidnap Laurel?" Felicity asked Oliver and Sara.

"If we did, do you think we would be wasting our time at Iron Heights?" Sara snapped and Felicity nodded sheepishly.

"I might," the four turned to see Lyla walk in, "it was Argus."

"Come again?" Sara asked dangerously.

"The loyalist cell. They're back and they have Laurel. But first, there's something you need to see," Lyla pulled out a flash drive and handed it to Felicity, "I'm sorry."

Confused, Felicity plugged it in and Team Arrow watched as she opened a video file. It was of Iron Heights and someone was walking through the hallway. Team Arrow froze in shock as they saw John leading Laurel out, a gun to her head.

"W-what is this?" Felicity stammered as the others were unable to formulate a response.

"I went through notes on your father's time at Cadmus and discovered something. He wasn't just there for medical treatment," Lyla explained and Team Arrow turned to her, "Waller used the technology at Cadmus to turn Jonathan Smoak into an Argus sleeper agent."

"What, are you serious?" Diggle demanded as Oliver and Sara looked enraged.

"As a heart attack Johnny." Lyla said grimly.

"Excuse me, can you explain what a sleeper agent is?" Felicity demanded angrily.

"It's a military term Felicity," Diggle said as he turned to the blonde, "Basically, Waller turned your father into a human drone that can be activated and deactivated by a key word or phrase. He'll do whatever he's ordered to do and once he's deactivated, he would have no memory of anything he'd said or done while he was active."

"We need to go, now," Oliver ordered and they all turned to him, "John had unrestricted access to the lair. If he came here while he was active, he could've planted trackers or bugs without us knowing."

"He's also been to the loft, the mansion, and Felicity's apartment." Sara suddenly realized and Oliver nodded.

"Come on, I know a safe place. We'll call Roy and Quentin on the way, tell Roy to pick up Shado and meet us there." Oliver said as they quickly exited the lair.

Chicago, Twenty years ago

night

"Donna, I am packing up now, the meeting for the deal ran late. Yes, I'll be there in time for dinner. I love you to," Jonathan Smoak hung up his phone before he spotted a woman in the door to his office, "I'm sorry, but you're not supposed to be back here Ma'am, we're closed."

"Mr. Smoak, my name is Amanda Waller. I woke for an organization called Argus. We could use someone with your...talent." Waller said bluntly and John smiled polietly.

"Thank you for the officer, but I have everything I need here in Chicago." John picked up his briefcase and tried to leave but Waller stepped in his way.

"That was not a suggestion Mr. Smoak. Tell me, do you love your wife and daughter?" Waller asked and John became enraged.

"You leave them out of this!" He snarled.

"I will if you agree to come with me. But if not, well, I am a powerful woman Mr. Smoak. It would be all too easy for a robbery gone wrong to turn into a double homicide. You have one week to decide how much you love them and we will know if you try to run." Waller warned as she turned and walked out of the room.

Second Arrow Lair

later in the afternoon

"So Argus turned Felicity's dad into a sleeper agent and he kidnapped Laurel?" Roy said as Oliver, Lyla, and Sara explained the situation to him and Quentin.

"That about covers it." Sara said absently as she watched Diggle and Felicity attempt to keep her daughter occupied.

"Please, Agent Michaels, do you have any idea where they might be keeping Laurel?" Quentin asked desperately and Lyla shook her head.

"No. The key to that is who is behind all this, the loyalist cell's leader, and I just don't know who that is." Lyla said apologetically.

Almost as soon as she said that, her phone began ringing. Lyla pulled it out and saw that it was a blocked number. Frowning, she answered it.

"Hello?" Lyla asked.

"Hello Director Michaels, how are you?" Hamilton asked and Lyla frowned.

"What is it Agent Hamilton?" Lyla inquired.

"I bet you're wondering where Laurel Lance is." Hamilton said and it took only a second for Lyla to put it together.

"it's you, you're the leader of the loyalist cell." Lyla breathed and Hamilton chuckled.

"I have no loyalty towards Amanda Waller, I detested the woman. I simply want whatever one wants: power. I played the role of the moral Agent for years to gain your trust, it was only a matter of time before an Argus uprising and you were the obvious choice for replacement director. Now, you will step down as Director and name me your successor or Laurel Lance will die. And I know you'll do it because you value human life." Hamilton explained.

"We both know you'll kill her even if I do." Lyla said coolly.

"You've made your choice then." Hamilton said before the line went dead.

"Felicity." Oliver growled.

"I'm already on it but they're blocking me." Felicity said frustrated.

"Momma, daddy." Shado said confused and a little frightened by what was happening as she picked up on the emotions in the room.

"It's okay baby, it's okay." Sara walked over and picked her daughter up, walking out of the room as she comforted her daughter.

"I'll have my Argus agents take over. We will find him and we will get Laurel back." Lyla promised.

Smaok house, Twenty years ago, a week after Waller's visit

night

"I don't understand John, what changed? Why are you leaving us?" Donna demanded angrily.

"I don't love you anymore. Having a family...it's just not for me. I can't have a family holding back my career." John said as he stood in front of the front door, a suit case in front of him.

"If you walk out that door, don't you ever come back." Donna hissed at him heartbroken.

John turned away and picked up his suit case as he opened. Each step taking all his will power not to turn around and tell Donna everything, John walked out the door and closed it behind him. Hearing Donna's muffled sobs behind it, John closed his eyes as he walked to the edge of the driveway. Looking up at the house, he saw five year old Felicity looking out at him from her bedroom window. Averting his eyes, John closed them as he walked away.

Secondary Arrow lair

night

"Nothing so far." Lyla said as she got back from her phone call with her agents.

"Nothing on our end either." Felicity said in frustration as she stopped typing.

Suddenly, Lyla's phone rang. Pulling it out, Lyla sees a familiar number and answers it.

"Agent Hamilton, stand down. This won't end well for you." Lyla told him.

"Put me on speaker. I wish to speak with Oliver Queen's little team of vigilantes." Hamilton ordered.

Confused, Lyla did as he asked. She had a feeling this wasn't good and she was right.

"The hacker, Felicity Smoak is it? Tell me, when did you last speak to your mother?" Hamilton demanded and Felicity tensed.

"What do you know about my mother?" Felicity asked as everyone listen intently.

"Oh I know quite a bit, Say hello Donna." Hamilton held the phone out to a gagged Donna, who gave a muffled scream.

"Mom." Felicity said shakily and Sara put an arm around her, hoping to offer comfort to the younger blonde.

"You have twenty-four hours to surrender to my demands or I will shoot both Donna and Laurel in the head." Hamilton said before the line went dead once more.

"We have to find them, now." Oliver barked.

"I know," Lyla said as she dialed a number and put her phone to her ear, "he called again, did you get anything. Great. He called locally, he's in Starling still."

"Have your agents comb the city, tear it apart if you have to. I wan t Hamilton and whoever's working for him found!" Oliver barked.

"I agree. Did you get all that? Good, do as he says." Lyla ordered as she hung up.

Queen Consolidated, next day

morning

"Where's Dig?" Felicity asked as she, Oliver, and Sara made their way through the crowd.

"He, my dad, and the Argus agents are looking the city for Hamilton's hideout. They'll find Laurel and your mother, okay Felicity?" Sara said and Felicity nodded unconvinced.

"Sara, can I talk to Oliver privately?" Sara blinked but nodded as she walked off.

"What is it?" Oliver asked.

"You know about my dad. I thought he abandoned me for most of my life and even though I know now it wasn't his choice, the scars are still there. And the thought of losing someone that important to me again-"

"Yo won't lose your mom, okay?" Oliver said but she shook her head.

"While that is on my mind, that isn't what I'm talking about," Felicity said and Oliver frowned, "There's something you need to know about your mom...about Thea..."

Hamilton's hideout

same time

"I don't understand, what's going?" Donna wondered as she looked over at Laurel.

"From what I understand, you and I are caught in the crossfire of a power struggle within an organization called Argus." Laurel explained and Donna frowned.

"But why us, what do we have to do with it?" Donna asked confused.

"I don't know" Laurel lied as she averted her eyes.

Queen Consolidated

moments later

Oliver stood silently as Felicity watched nervously. Hearing his name being called, Oliver turned and walked up to the stage. Sara frowned as she saw the look on his face, knowing something was wrong. She looked over at Felicity as she met the blonde in the crowd but Felicity refused to meet her eyes.

"Thank you," Oliver said as he took the podium, "I'm here to say a few words about Moira Queen. I bet many of you think that you know her because you've read about her in the press or saw her on TV. But I can promise you that you don't know my mother. You don't know her like I do. You don't know what she's capable off...when it comes to helping the people of Starling City. Ladies and gentlemen, my mother. Moira Queen."

The crowd erupted into applause as Oliver stepped back and Moira embraced him.

"I know." He whispered in her ear and she tensed as he stepped away.

Oliver walked over to Thea and gently kissed her on the forehead before looking on as Moira greeted the crowd. Once it was all over, Oliver walked off the stage and back over to Sara and Felicity. Sara was just getting off the phone when Oliver reached them.

"That was my dad, they found where they're keeping Laurel and Donna. It's at an old factory on the outskirts of the city, it used to be a cover for Argus operations." Sara explained.

Warehouse outside Starling City

afternoon

"John?" Donna gasped as her estranged husband walked in with Hamilton.

"You have about three hours left to live before John here shoots you. I wonder just how much your families care about you." Hamilton taunted them.

Outside the warehouse, two guards were at their posts when two arrows suddenly flew out of nowhere and hit them both in the shoulder. A hissing sound was heard and both dropped to the ground, unconscious. A little ways away, The Arrow lowered his bow as Lyla turned to the assembled Argus agents.

"Remember, there are two civilians in there. Try to avoid casualties if you can, but this all ends tonight." Lyla barked.

Once everyone gives the affirmative, the Argus agents and Team Arrow storm the warehouse.

"What's that?" Donna asked fearfully as they hear the sound of gun shots.

"Keep guard over them." Hamilton barked at John before exiting the room.

Hamilton walked down the hall and was stunned as he looked over the railing to see an all out were between Argus agents. Hearing someone cock a gun, Hamilton turned his head to Lyla take aim at him.

"John, why are you doing this? I don't understand." Donna pleaded as he stared stonily back at him.

"I've seen you before, I've talked to you before, I've heard stories about you. I know you are a good man, why are you doing this?" Laurel tried to reach the man.

"Because he's not in control of his actions." John whirled around and aimed his gun at the person in the door.

"Daddy?" Laurel called out as Quentin walked into the room.

"Everything's gonna be okay Laurel." Quentin promised as he stared stonily at John.

"We both know you won't do it," Hamilton taunted Lyla as she aimed the gun at him, "so what, you lock me up for a while, I'll get out. There's only one way for you to stop me and you don't have the guts to do it."

"You're right, I'm not a killer," Lyla lowered her gun as she looked over his shoulder, "him on the other hand..."

Confused, Hamilton turned around and stopped. Hamilton looked down at the arrow that was sticking out of his chest before looking up. The Arrow lowered his bow as Hamilton fell back, dead.

"I know what's happened to you," Quentin said as he cautiously took a step towards John, "Amanda Waller, she brainwashed you. She turned you into a human drone, a sleeper agent. But this isn't who you are. I know you are a good man, I can see it. You helped my daughter, Sara, and my son in law Oliver. You helped deliver my grand daughter Shado, do you remember that?"

John's hands started to shake and he put on to his head as he felt a splitting headache.

"Sara Lance, meet Jonathan Smoak." Waller said as she introduced John and Sara for the first time.

"Come on, let's go! John, what's the hold up, we need to leave now!" Oliver shouted at John as they fled.

"You do, but I won't. White is coming, allow me to buy you some time." John told him.

"You'll die!" Oliver shouted at him.

"For almost twenty years, I have lived by Waller's decision. This is my own and if I die today, at least I die on my own terms, not hers. This is where I make my stand." John told him as he pulled the lever.

John was thrown back as White shot him. He was thrown on his back as he smiled up at White.

"Thank you...for freeing me." John said as it all went black.

John dropped the gun and put his hands on either side of his head as he screamed in agony. Laurel and Donna looked freaked out as John fell to his knees, still screaming as he held his head. John lifted his head and Quentin could see the real John shine through for a moment.

"Kill...me." John pleaded before howling in pain again.

Suddenly, an arrow shot out and struck him in the shoulder. There was a hissing sound and John wobbled before falling on his side. Everyone turned around to see The Arrow and Canary walk in.

"He doesn't die on my watch." The Arrow said firmly.

Argus base

later in the afternoon

Oliver, Sara, Lyla, and Felicity stood behind a one way mirror, watching. John was strapped to a gurney, thrashing about as he screamed.

"Whatever Waller did to him..he beat it," Lyla said softly as she turned to the others, "but it seems to have damaged his mind. We'll try t o help him, we have Waller's notes on what she did to him, but either way, he may never be the same."

Felicity began to cry and Sara wrapped her in a hug as she tried to control her own tears. Oliver walked a little away before punching a wall. He trembled with rage and a burning desire to kill Waller again. Brushing it off, he knew he had something else he needed to do.

Starling City Police Department

same time

"What's this?" Barnes asked as Quentin handed him several documents.

"I could go through all the legal stuff but basically, you will clear my daughter of all charges or you will be charged with criminal negligence and abuse of you position as Chief of police," Quentin said and Barnes glared at him, "or are you the only one above the law, Chief?"

"She's cleared." Barnes growled and Quentin smirked before walking out.

Queen Mansion

night

Moira was watching a report on the press conference when Oliver walked in. She turned off the TV and stood up to face him.

"I know we need we need to talk." Moira said and Oliver shook his head.

"No we don't, I already have all the answers," Oliver said and Moira frowned, "For the last year, I have stood by you, defended you, protected you. When I found out you were involved with Merlyn, my first thought was 'how could she be involved in something like this?' I finally have an answer."

"I was protecting you and Thea!" Moira protested but Oliver shook his head.

"I used believed that, especially because I'm a father myself now, but no. That's just an excuse you use. For you to justify all the blackmail, lies, and screwing over you have done. Inside...you are just as dark and cruel as Malcolm," Oliver told her coldly and Moira looked gutted, "You're liar and you just made me a liar to. I just had to stand there and lie to the entire city for you to protect Thea. Thea can never know about Merlyn. And as of right now, I will continue to support you, but behind close doors...you are no longer my mother. And consider your visits to Shado terminated, you are not the kind of person Sara and I want in our daughter's life."

Oliver then turned and waled out of the room, not seeing Moira's tears.

Felicity's apartment

same time

"Felicity...I don't understand," Donna's hands shook as Felicity handed her some tea, "what is going on, how is your father involved? What happened to him?"

"Mom," Felicity sighed before continuing, "during the last year, I found some stuff out about dad, things that I should have told you," Felicity sat down next to her mother and grabbed her hand, "it all starts with a woman named Amanda Waller..."

Oliver and Sara's loft

same time

"She missed you." Sara told Laurel as Shado sat asleep, her head in Laurel's lap.

"I missed her to." Laurel said as she stroked Shado's hair.

"Are you okay?" Sara asked and Laurel shook her head.

"No, I haven't been in a long time," Laurel said as she sighed, "when you and Ollie went down on the boat...I was os angry. And when Tommy died, I felt the same way. And now, with being in jail and then held captive my Hamilton...I want you to do something for me."

"Anything." Sara told her earnestly.

"I never want to feel helpless like I have for the past week again...I want you to teach me how not to be helpless, I want you to teach me how to be like you and Ollie. I want you to teach me how to be a vigilante." Laurel told her stunned sister.

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