Lian Yu
Morning
Logan, Laurel, and Nyssa came upon the site of where the RPG had fired from. It was completely deserted.
"Well, this has been a waste of time," Laurel sighed.
"Be quiet," Logan said, taking a sniff around.
"What is it?" Laurel asked on high alert.
"We're not alone," Logan said lowly.
Suddenly, seven of Talia's students jumped out of the trees, preparing to engage. Logan unleashed his claws and, with a primal roar, rushed them. Nyssa fired arrows as Logan sliced clean through their swords before cutting them across the chest, killing them instantly. Laurel unleashed her Cry, sending the remaining assassins into the trees, knocking them out.
"This was a distraction so they could ambush us. Oliver and the others are likely being attacked right now," Nyssa pointed.
"Then let's go!" Laurel snapped before she turned and ran off, Logan and Nyssa behind her.
Central City, Earth-2, three years ago
Night
"Hey Logan. You look alright. Life treating you alright?" Laurel asked coldly.
"Laurel, what are you doing?" Logan asked seemingly in pain.
"I'm taking revenge on the world that decided because I'm different, I don't have human rights," Laurel said.
"Laurel, this isn't you," Logan tried to reason.
"You're a little late for the whole 'you're better than this' speech. Maybe you should have found me before," Laurel said a hint of resentment in her voice.
"I tried! I looked for you, I couldn't find you. I tried to save you!" Logan shouted.
"But you couldn't," Laurel accused and Logan looked pained. "And now, it's too late. I like who I am now Logan. Laurel Lance, she was weak, trusting. I'm not. I'm strong, and I will use that strength to take my revenge."
"I'm not gonna let you do that kid. If you wanna make them hurt the way you've been hurt…you're gonna have to go through me," Logan said and Laurel was clearly conflicted.
Lian Yu
Now
"What's it gonna be mate?" Harkness asked Slade as he weighed his options.
"Put a gun to his head," Slade said, pointing at Oliver.
"You rat bastard," Frank snarled but Slade ignored him.
"Sorry kid, there's no giving up to these guys," Slade said.
Oliver's eyes lit up in recognition as he understood but he quickly masked it before his enemies, basking in their 'victory', could catch it.
"It's okay Frank. It's all gonna work out. Like old times," Oliver said as he dropped his bow to the ground, hoping Frank got the message.
Frank seemed to, as rather than trying to shoot his way out, he put his rifles on the ground, glaring hatefully at Harkness. A smirking Evelyn walked over and put a gun to Oliver's head as Oliver simply waited for Slade to make his move.
"I assumed you'd want to be on the winning side," Harkness told Slade.
"Assumption is the mother of all FAILURES!" Slade said as he suddenly whirled around and punched Harkness.
Harkness lost his gun from the hit and, as Evelyn looked over; Oliver grabbed her and threw her to the ground, disarming her in the process. As Harkness got back up, Frank picked up his rifles and unloaded on Harkness. Harkness stumbled back, his body jolted and gushing blood before Frank stopped. Harkness' body fell to the ground, blood gushing out as Talia fired at Samantha. Oliver threw a flechette from his sleeve in response and the two projectiles collided in the air before falling to the ground harmlessly. Oliver picked up his bow as Slade drew his sword and Frank took aim at her. Talia considered her options before she threw a ball to the ground. It exploded in a black mist and when it faded, she was gone.
Lowering their weapons, the trio began releasing the hostages. Slade opened Thea's cell and held out a hand to help her out but she ignored his hand, jumping out. Slade's hand fell back to his side as Frank let Curtis out and Oliver let Samantha out before moving over to JJ's cage.
"Hey, it's okay buddy, it's okay. Uncle Ollie's got ya," Oliver said softly, attempting to sooth the traumatized child and shield him from the sight of Harkness' body as he opened the cage and pulled him into his arms.
Meanwhile, Slade put Evelyn in one of the cages.
"You've been left behind. You should choose your friends more wisely," Slade said as he closed the door to the cage and locked it.
At that moment, Logan Laurel, and Nyssa arrived.
"Well, I see things clearly went south," Logan said as he looked at Harkness' body.
"He was a spy for Chase," Frank explained and Logan nodded.
"Where are the others?" Oliver asked as he looked at Curtis.
"I don't know, Chase split us all into groups when we got here," Curtis said and Oliver nodded.
"Samantha," Oliver said, holding out JJ to her.
Understanding, Samantha took him. JJ seemed freighted but Samantha was able to soothe him. But still, she was a stranger.
"Where did Chase take the others?" Oliver demanded as he stalked over to Evelyn.
"I wish I knew…so I could tell you to go screw yourself," Evelyn said.
"Why did Chase split up the hostages?" Laurel demanded.
"Why does Chase do anything? So far, he hasn't laid out a single hoop you couldn't keep yourself from jumping through. Maybe leaving me here was part of the plan," Evelyn taunted them.
"Pride before the fall kid. Remember that," Frank said.
"How'd you get here?" Oliver asked as he turned around to face the others.
"A plane," Curtis said.
"Do you think you can find your way back to it?" Oliver asked.
"Yeah but-"
"Logan, do you think you can fly a plane?" Oliver cut Curtis off, looking over at Logan.
"If it's anything like a jet, yeah," Logan said sarcastically.
"Get them to the mainland then fly back for us," Oliver ordered.
"I'm not leaving William," Samantha protested.
"If you want him back safe, you'll leave. I can't focus on saving him if I'm worried about protecting you," Oliver said as he walked over, looking down at JJ. "Hey buddy. This nice lady and our new friend are gonna take you somewhere safe. I'm gonna go get your parents, alright?"
"Why am I being the designated pilot?" Logan asked gruffly.
"Because you're the only one I trust who can handle himself, protect the others, and fly a plane," Oliver said and Logan paused.
"That's fair," Logan said after a moment.
"And despite every instinct in me telling me to leave you here to rot, when this is all over I will come back for you," Oliver said as he turned around to face Evelyn.
"When this is all over, you'll be dead," Evelyn said arrogantly.
It took great restraint for Frank not to blow her head off. But he'd already killed once in front of JJ. He wasn't gonna traumatize the child further. Oliver simply took great satisfaction in the knowledge that Evelyn would be Argus' problem once this was over.
"Can I talk to you?" Thea asked as she walked over to her brother.
Olive simply nodded, having a good feeling this was about Slade. He turned and led her over to a spot away from the others, out of ear shot.
"What the hell are you thinking?" Thea asked once they were out of hearing range.
"Thea-"
"Frank Castle and Slade Wilson? We don't have a mother because of Slade and The Punisher? Really?" Thea asked incredulously.
"You know what I'm up against here Speedy," Oliver pointed out.
"Then why are you sending Curtis and I away?" Thea demanded.
"To make sure Samantha stays away," Oliver said, taking her back. "I have a feeling she's gonna try and get back here no matter what I say. I need you and Curtis to make sure that doesn't happen. I want you to tell Logan that to. I need you to get her and John Junior off the island."
"I think Curtis can handle that," Thea started.
"And I do not want to rely on Slade Wilson. Nothing about this situation is ideal Speedy. I need your help Thea, and this is how you help me," Oliver said and Thea sighed.
"Okay," Thea said, giving in.
Oliver nodded and they moved back towards where the others were.
"My sister fled into the forest," Nyssa said as she and Logan rejoined the group. "Our new friend gave me her trail. I can track them."
"They might lead us back to the rest of the hostages," Slade pointed out.
"Get them to the plan, make sure they stay safe," Oliver told Logan, who nodded.
"You can count on me," Logan said and Oliver gave him a look.
"Well, let's just hope Laurel's faith isn't misplaced," Oliver said before he turned to Curtis, handing him comms and a tablet. "Comms and detailed satellite imagery of the island, just in case something goes wrong."
"You mean when, right?" Curtis asked dryly but Oliver ignored him.
"You all keep each other safe," Oliver ordered.
They nodded before the group split up.
Elsewhere on the island, Quentin and Diggle were being led down the hall, in handcuffs, by Dinah and a few of Talia's students.
"Nice place. This island got a Big Belly Burger to?" Quentin asked sarcastically.
"Before the Chinese turned Lian Yu into a prison, it was a holy retreat," Dinah explained.
"And now you're using it for payback on a guy you barely know for a guy you barely know, right Dinah?" Diggle snapped and Dinah tensed. "That's your real name, right? Dinah Drake? You were a cop in Central City before you became a Metahuman. Don't you feel any remorse or regret?"
"None. I feel more myself now than I ever did as a cop. Chase gave me that. And I don't owe you or Oliver Queen anything, certainly not an explanation," Dinah said coldly as she turned and led them down a flight of stairs.
Dinah led them into a room where Lyla and Rene were chained to the floor, trying to get out of the chains. When they saw them, the pair jumped to their feet.
"Johnny!" Lyla exclaimed.
"Lyla, thank god," Diggle said as part of the pit in his stomach loosened.
"Okay, clam down," Dinah said and they all glared at her. "The four of you are gonna have plenty of time to catch up. See you later."
With a smirk, Dinah turned and walked up the stairs.
"Have you see JJ?" Lyla asked desperately and was hit with despair when Diggle and Quentin shook their heads.
"No, haven't seen him" Quentin said regretfully.
"Don't worry, Oliver'll find us, get us all out of this," Diggle said with faith and Quentin scoffed.
"Yeah? What makes you think he even knows where we are?" Quentin asked and Diggle couldn't answer.
Elsewhere, Oliver, Slade, Laurel, and Frank were following Nyssa when she suddenly stopped.
"The trail has gone cold," Nyssa announced.
"Great. Maybe we should have brought your friend with the nose instead," Frank said as he looked over at Laurel.
"No doubt my sister knew we would follow," Nyssa said, ignoring Frank as she looked back at Oliver. "Allow me to go on ahead, see if I can recover it."
At Oliver's nod, Nyssa walked off, leaving the four of them alone. It was silent for a moment, Oliver whirling his bow, simply needing to do something.
"So, instead of marrying Laurel, Sara, or the blond, you marry Ra's al Ghul's daughter?" Slade inquired and Oliver sighed.
"Nyssa talks too much," Oliver grumbled.
"She hasn't explained your beef with Chase," Slade pointed out.
"I'm a little in the dark here to. What exactly is it with you and Chase?" Frank inquired and Oliver sighed.
"My past is coming back to haunt me," Oliver explained.
"Seem to be a recurring them with you kid," Slade pointed out.
"It's really not that complicated," Slade said as he walked in front of Oliver. "You suffer from survivor's guilt. You can't get over the death of your father."
"Adrian Chase has nothing to do with my father," Oliver denied but Slade shot him a look.
"Kid, when it comes to you, everything has to do with your father. You and I are not dissimilar," Slade said and Oliver raised an eyebrow. "We are both haunted by our pasts, and the only way to bury that ghost is by forgiving yourself."
"Forgiving myself? For what?" Oliver asked, deciding to humor Slade.
"You blame yourself for your father's suicide. And everything else that has gone wrong since," Slade said and Oliver looked away, having to acknowledge that Slade might have a point. "You need to forgive yourself for your sins."
"You say that like it's easy," Oliver scoffed.
"It's the hardest thing in this world," this came not from Slade, but Laurel.
"Speaking from experience?" Frank inquired.
"You said that you hoped my faith in Logan wasn't misplaced," Laurel said as she looked at Oliver. "It's the other way around. Maybe his faith in me is misplaced. God knows I've given him more than enough reasons to give up on me."
Oliver frowned, concerned. But before he could say anything, Nyssa returned.
"If you all are done relaxing, I've picked up the trail," Nyssa said.
Without a word, the five of them moved out.
Central City, Earth-2, three years ago
Night
"You think I can't do it?" Laurel said, he voice trembling ever so slightly.
"I'm hoping you won't," Logan said as he walked over to her. "I remember the girl who walked into my gym five years ago. I never told you the real reason why I didn't want to train you at first. I saw the darkness in you and I didn't want to give it power. But I saw, without guidance, the darkness would take over. Laurel…this isn't you. This is the darkness inside of you. Don't let it control your life. Come with me, just walk away."
Logan held out a hand to her and she simply stared at him. For a moment, she was so sorely tempted to take it. But…
"I'm sorry Logan…but Laurel Lance is gone. She died under Hydra's torture. I am Black Siren. And you're in my way!" she snarled.
Laurel unleashed her sonic cry and Logan was so stunned he didn't stop it. He was thrown back, landing into the side of a building and going clean through it. Laurel then turned and walked off, trying to ignore the shaking of her hands and the pain in her heart.
Lian Yu
Now
Thea and Curtis led the way back to the plane, JJ in Thea's arms, much more comfortable than with Samantha because he knew Thea. Logan and Samantha picked up the rear, trailing after the others.
"Why aren't you up with them?" Samantha asked curiously.
"What, so you can make a break for it?" Logan asked sarcastically and she tensed. "Yeah, Oliver figured you'd try and come back for William."
"I can't abandon my son," Samantha said simply.
"And what exactly are you gonna be able to do to get him back? You're a mother, you're not a fighter. And let me make one thing very clear, you try and make a break for it, I will knock you out and throw you over my shoulders. You understand?" Logan snapped.
Suddenly, a clicked sounded in the clearing and Logan stopped. He turned towards Thea and Curtis, Thea suddenly being very tense.
"Thea? Are you okay?" Samantha asked.
"No, she's not," Logan said, sniffing the air as she walked over to her. "She just activated a landmine. Don't move kid."
"Don't need to be worried about that," Thea said with a weak laugh, clutching JJ to her, trying not to give away that something was wrong as Logan checked the mine.
"Damn it, the trigger's rusted over," Logan swore as he checked it.
"That's bad?" Thea guessed.
"It means we can't disarm it," Curtis said in dread.
"Okay, Thea, give the kid to Curtis, slowly," Logan ordered and Thea gently handed the confused JJ to Curtis. "Now take your foot off the trigger on the count of three."
"Are you insane? That will blow us all up!" Curtis exclaimed and JJ whimpered.
"I'm gonna take her place," Logan said simply.
"That's insane," Samantha exclaimed.
"Let's find a boulder around here or something," Curtis suggested.
"We don't have time," Logan argued.
"No one is doing this, okay!?" Thea snapped.
"I see stubbornness is a Queen family trait," Logan muttered as he stood up to his full height.
Then he rammed into Thea, pushing her off the mine. Everyone tensed but Logan was firmly on the mine.
"But I'm more stubborn than you and your brother put together," Logan said.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Thea exclaimed.
"I heal fast, I'll be alright. Go, someone's coming. Now!" Logan snapped.
Reluctantly, the group ran off. Mere seconds later, several of Talia's students raced over. They paused, seeing the scene.
"They left you behind. Why?" one of them asked as they walked over to Logan and he smirked.
"Let me show you bub," Logan said as he stepped off the mine.
In the distance, the others were running for it when they heard the explosion
Elsewhere on the island, Oliver, Slade, Nyssa, Laurel, and Frank had arrived at the monastery.
"Do either of you know anything about this place that could give us a technical advantage?" Nyssa asked Slade and Oliver.
"We've seen it one time and that was from a distance," Oliver said in frustration.
"Maybe we should split up?" Slade suggested.
"Should we?" Nyssa asked, looking at Slade wearily.
"Nyssa, Frank, go," Oliver ordered.
Nyssa nodded before walking off. Frank lingered, eying Slade wearily before walking off as well.
"They don't trust me," Slade noted.
"Can you blame them?" Oliver asked as he turned around to face Slade.
"No," Slade admitted.
Suddenly Laurel unleashed her sonic scream on them. The pair of them were sent flying into the hall, hitting it roughly and falling to the floor, unconscious. Laurel turned around as Dinah and several of Talia's students walked up behind them.
"I have a gift for Chase," Laurel announced.