Chapter 25

After they landed on the beach, the group linked their coms and went into the forest.

"You'll have to be careful, there are landmines everywhere." Oliver said

As they approached the clearing where Slade and his army were stationed, Bruce climbed a tree to get a better view, while Tony flew around silently to the other side.

"I see Slade. He has Felicity and Laurel on the middle of the clearing in front of him. There are also about 30 soldiers guarding the tree line. Two standing near him…the woman next to him looks familiar…hang on…It's Isabel Rochev.

Oliver's jaw tightened. "She has it in for Felicity. We need to get them out now."

"Wait. Let us establish a perimeter first. Slade won't hurt them until he knows Queen is here." Steve said.

Bruce growled

"Batman, you're letting your heart dictate your actions. I care about Felicity too, but the only way to make sure Slade doesn't kill his hostages is to be strategically placed to take him out." Steve said calmly.

"I've got the sky." Tony said "My rockets are loaded with the cure."

"Hulk want save Felicity."

"We know Hulk" Steve said "I promise you can smash as many as you want once we get the signal."

"Hulk Smash?" Hulk said hopefully?

"Yes." Black Widow said, amused "Hulk can smash."

"Where's Thor?" asked Digg "a god would come in handy right about now."

"Asgard on family business." Hawkeye replied

"If you're all done with the friendly chit-chat, can we focus on saving my daughter?" Tony said through gritted teeth.

"We're in position Stark, ready when you are Ollie." Sara said

Felicity was kneeling on the cold ground next to Laurel. The other woman was terrified, but Felicity had managed to maintain control. Panicking would not help her in the slightest if Slade planned to kill her.

"You seem calm luv." Slade looked at her with interest.

"Let's just say you picked the wrong girl to kidnap." Felicity retorted

Slade laughed. "It's almost a pity to kill you. You've got iron in your veins."

Felicity smirked, "You have no idea."

"This is pointless. We should just kill them both." Isabel hissed. "Then we can leave the corpses for Queen to collect. I'll start with the secretary."

"WE WAIT for the boy." Slade glared "I have planned this revenge for too long to see you derail it at the last minute."

"She's just afraid." Felicity said

Slade raised an eyebrow "Afraid of what?"

"She wants to kill me quickly because she knows that when my father gets here you won't stand a chance."

"Your father Ms. Smoak?"

"She didn't tell you did she? She was too bent on revenge that she failed to mention an extremely important detail."

"You're beginning to irritate me Ms. Smoak, don't mistake my interest in you for patience. If you annoy me, I might just let Ms Rochev remove your tongue."

"SLADE"

Oliver had entered the clearing. Slade signaled to one of his men to remove his weapon.

"Let them go. If you want to kill someone, kill me."

"That's too easy. You have to suffer first." Slade spat "you have to hold the body of the woman you love and feel the life drain out of her. Only when you are holding her life-less husk and you know it is because of you that she is gone, will I allow you to die. The question is, who do you love most?" Slade went to stand behind Felicity. "Personally I hope to keep this one. She intrigues me. She has…fire." Slade started caressing Felicity's hair. Oliver could hear Batman and Iron Man's angry intakes of breath through his com. "Such a pity. I would have treasured her and Ms. Lance is much less appealing, but I think we all know how we feel about your Felicity."

Oliver looked up at the tree-line. He could see Batman, he was waiting for the signal, but Oliver could see that his control was at a breaking point. Slowly, he nodded his head.

Chaos descended on the clearing.