I would like to take this opportunity to respond to a couple guests:
Guest one: no spoilers:
Guest two: But that leads to the same problem as Malcolm expecting Oliver to win, Oliver could barely beat him, so why would he expect Oliver to beat the man who trained him, who Malcolm is absolutely terrified of?
Guest three: Well, that's because the writers want you to forget that Oliver ha any and all connections to the Lance Family. Also, if you have a question about something not related to the story, please PM me. The reviews are for things related to the story.
Arrow lair
Night
"I'm sorry," Oliver sighed before turning to face Diggle, Roy, Laurel, and Thea, "This is my fault. I brought Malcolm and the League to town and Malcolm has gone rogue. I need to stop him, but I can't do it by myself."
"What's going on Oliver?" Diggle asked and Oliver sighed once more.
"Malcolm is going to storm Argus and try to get Amanda Waller to reveal to him my son's location," Oliver said and they all started, "I can't let that happen."
"No Ollie, we can't let that happen." Thea told her brother firmly and Oliver smiled slightly.
"I'm sorry, all of you, I'm sorry," Oliver said as he looked at his team, "I pushed you all away because I was afraid that by asking you to help me kill Chase, I was corrupting you more than I already had. The League seemed like the only option. But a friend convinced me that, as a team, we can find a better way to bring Chase to justice. I need your help to prove that they are right and Chase is wrong."
"We've got your back Oliver." Roy said immediately.
"Whatever Chase has shoved into your head, he's wrong Ollie." Thea told him.
"You're so busy looking at what's wrong with you, you've stopped seeing what's right. So let us show you." Laurel said with a smile.
"We're with you until the end. What's the plan Oliver?" Diggle asked.
"We head to Argus." Oliver ordered.
Argus base
Later
"Well, this is quite a mess you've created Oliver." Waller said as she, Lyla, and Team Arrow stood in the lair.
"Look, I hate you. But you are the only one who knows where my son is and Malcolm is after that information. So, I will die to protect you from him." Oliver told her, feeling as though he was tasting acid.
"Well, while I no doubt appreciate the sentiment, there is another problem at hand: Adrian Chase." Waller said and everyone tensed.
"What happened?" Diggle demanded.
"We have a lead," Lyla said, pulling up a tablet, pulling up the scrambled picture of Adrian as Prometheus, "this is the key to exposing Chase."
"Yeah, well, in case you haven't noticed, it's not very clear." Thea said sarcastically.
"We know, but we got our hands on the tech that Chase used to scramble the picture." Lyla explained.
"The problem is that it is encrypted." Waller explained.
"And Argus can't hack the encryption?" Laurel inquired.
"We can, but we need some tech from Kord Industries, they set it." Lyla explained.
"I want Agent Michaels and a member of your team to break into Kord Industries in order to get the piece of technology needed to unscramble the image." Waller explained.
"With what we're facing, I think this little heist can wait!" Diggle argued.
"Johnny, this could be our chance to expose Chase. Do you really want to risk Chase figuring it out and letting this opportunity pass by?" Lyla asked her husband and Diggle groaned in frustration.
"I hate it when you're right." Diggle grumbled.
"Speedy," Oliver began and Thea looked over at him, "go with Lyla. We've got things here."
"What? But Ollie, I should be here with you!" Thea protested.
"Thea, I need you to go with Lyla. This could be our chance to stop Chase. Please." Oliver told her pleadingly.
Unspecified location
Later
Malcolm was sharpening his sword when his phone rang. Pulling it out, he looked at the name flashing across the screen. Smirking, Malcolm answered.
"Something I can help you with, daughter dear?" He asked mockingly.
"Do not do this." Thea pleaded.
"Oliver made his choice. Now he has to deal with the consequences." Malcolm said without remorse.
"If you do this, if you go after my nephew, then that is it. We are done, nothing can repair what you break between us tonight." Thea hissed.
"You already hate me. What do I have to lose?" Malcolm asked coolly before ending the call.
"My liege," Malcolm looked over as an assassin walked in, holding a key card, "we have retrieved our entry into Argus."
"Excellent." Malcolm smirked as he took the card, knowing his revenge against Oliver was nearly at hand.
Argus base, prison section
Same time
"Is putting me in a cage really necessary?" Waller drawled as Laurel and Roy led into the furthest cell from the entrance.
"We need to keep you as far from Malcolm and the League as they can. You may not care about William's safety, but we do." Laurel said as Waller stepped into the cell.
"No matter what he does, I won't tell him about Oliver's son." Waller said firmly.
"Well, forgive us if we don't believe you." Roy sneered as he closed the door behind her.
"You are enjoying this, aren't you Mr. Harper?" Waller noted and Roy flashed a thin smile.
"You have no idea." Roy sneered, glaring at the woman who had destroyed his life.
"Still looking for your daughter?" Waller asked and Roy tensed as Laurel looked stunned by the news of Roy's daughter. "I can help you find her. Consider it a gesture of good faith, if you will."
"I would rather never find her than let you anywhere near her." Roy sneered, the desire to open the door and put an arrow in Waller being very hard to resist as he stormed off.
"I'm starting to see why Ollie and Roy hate you." Laurel glared at the woman.
"There are people in this world who deal only in extreme measures Ms. Lance. It would be naïve to believe that anything less than extreme measures would stop them. Something your sister understood." Waller said and Laurel's glare become one of pure hate.
"Don't you dare compare yourself to my sister." Laurel hissed.
Roy meant to go find Oliver, but somehow, he ended up in front of a cell. His father looked up at him, several days of not shaving visible on his face.
"Hello son. It's good to see you." Will said as he got to his feet.
"I promised myself that I'd never come here." Roy told him.
"Then why are you here?" Will inquired out of curiosity.
"I don't know." Roy said honestly before turning and walking away.
"You may hate me, but I promise you one thing: I'll always be here if you need me son." Will called out but Roy simply ignored him as he walked away.
Star City
Later
Speedy and Lyla, after entering the warehouse where the device was stored, quickly encountered a guard. Before he could even raise his gun, Speedy fired an arrow. It got him in the shoulder and he went down with a cry of pain.
"Come on, let's go before they realize we're here." Lyla said and Speedy nodded as they moved out.
Argus base
Same time
"So far so good." Black Canary said on a rooftop overlooking the obvious entrance, the front gate.
"I'm not seeing anyone yet." Arsenal said, arrow notched n his bow as he stood guard over the entrance to Waller's cell section.
"We all know Merlyn won't just back off after telling Thea he has nothing to lose. He'll be here." Spartan said as he searched his section of the base.
Oliver was about to respond when he rounded a corner and paused. There was a member of the League moving about, searching for something. Oliver quickly sprang into action, rushing forward before sliding behind them silently. The assassin whirled around, attempting to strike Oliver with his sword. However, Oliver ducked, grabbed the assassin under his arm, and flipped him onto his back, taking his sword in the process. Oliver then slugged the assassin hard enough to knock him out.
"I just encountered a scout, they're already inside." Oliver said over the comms.
"Not just that." Black Canary said as she saw Nyssa and a group of assassins approach the entrance, Nyssa firing and incapacitating the front guard.
"You guys better get down, fast." Arsenal said as five assassins started walking down the other end of the hall towards him.
"Move aside, Wareeth Al-Sah-Him." One of them said, drawing his sword.
"Not happening." Arsenal said, firing at them.
His arrow got one of them in the shoulder, sending them down as the other four rushed Arsenal. Arsenal whirled his bow like an escirma stick, rushing them as his bow met their swords.
Outside, Nyssa and the other assassins were moving towards the gate when they were blasted back by a sonic scream. They all landed painfully on their backs as Black Canary jumped down to the ground. Nyssa stood up, facing her friend as the assassins drew their weapons. However, Nyssa waved them off, stopping them before they could strike Laurel.
"Stand down my friend. I do not wish to fight you." Nyssa told Black Canary.
"We both know that I can't do that." Black Canary said and Nyssa sighed.
"So be it." Nyssa said, resigned as she drew her sword before rushing the vigilante.
Oliver was moving out when he rounded a corner and froze.
"Hello Oliver," Malcolm said, sword drawn as through he was waiting for him, "I figured you'd be here. I've been waiting a long time for this."
"You're not getting anywhere near my son." Oliver growled and Malcolm smiled coldly.
"To stop me, you'll have to kill me. And you don't have that in you anymore." Malcolm goaded.
With a roar of rage, Oliver rushed Malcolm, swinging the sword he had taken from the assassin at Malcolm. Malcolm brought up his sword, blocking Oliver's strike before pushing back, sending Oliver back. Malcolm attempted a strike at Oliver but Oliver blocked with his sword and the two began exchanging blows.
Black Canary dodged Nyssa's strikes, sending a kick to Nyssa's abdomen. Nyssa stumbled back as Black Canary unleashed her Canary Cry, sending Nyssa flying back. Nyssa hit the gate as the other assassins drew there weapons, preparing to attack. However, once again, Nyssa waved them off.
"You are not this person," Black Canary desperately tried to reach her friend, "Helping Malcolm Merlyn go after a child, that is not who you are."
"Maybe you never knew me at all." Nyssa sneered as she stood up, preparing to attack once more.
"I don't believe that," Nyssa was surprised at the confidence Black Canary said this with, "I know that underneath your upbringing, there is a good person. It's what my sister saw in you and what I see now. This, this is not you, this is your father. He may be dead, but the League has made you his prisoner. Don't be a prisoner anymore Nyssa. For once, look inside your own heart and make a choice: What is it you want?"
Arsenal pushed back against the assassin in front of him before jumping away, moving to strike another with his bow. However, the assassin used his sword to block. Another kicked Arsenal in the side and he was sent crashing to the floor. The four assassins moved to attack but a gun shot rang out and one of the assassin fell to the ground. The trio of assassins and Arsenal looked up to see Spartan.
"Sorry I'm late." Spartan said and Arsenal grinned.
"Better late than never." The archer quipped.
Oliver pushed Malcolm back, kicking him in the abdomen. Malcolm stumbled before finding is footing, striking at Oliver again. Oliver met his sword with his own before swiping at Malcolm's feet, knocking Malcolm off balance. With a precise strike, Oliver struck Malcolm's lhand and Malcolm cried out in agony as his servered hand fell to the floor, his sword clattering to the floor along with it.
Arsenal was held in a chokehold, suffocating as Spartan fought off the other two assassins. Seeing the sword of one of the fallen assassins, Arsenal desperately reached for it. Grabbing it by the hilt, he made his move. Elbowing the assassin into letting him go, Arsenal jumped up and let his instincts take over. He whirled around and made a vertical cut around the assassin's chest. The assassin's blood spilled as he fell back, dead. Arsenal froze as he realized what he had done. As one of the assassins fighting Spartan realized this opportunity, they turned and notched an arrow towards Arsenal.
"Roy look out!" Spartan cried out.
Coming back to his sensed, Arsenal dodged the arrow, grabbing one from his quiver and firing. The arrow got the other assassin as Spartan fired, getting the other one.
Nyssa notched an arrow and took aim at Black Canary. Black Canary was disappointed, thinking her friend was too far gone to be reached. But then, to her relief and joy, Nyssa whirling around and fired, getting one of the other assassins. As they drew their weapons and attempted to rush Nyssa, Black Canary unleashed her Canary Cry, sending them all crashing into the gate, knocking them out cold.
"It's over Malcolm," Oliver said, aiming the sword at Malcolm, "you can't fight me with one hand. Give up."
Malcolm glared at Oliver, seething. After a tense moment where Oliver honestly was not sure what Malcolm would do, Malcolm got on his knees, appearing to give up. However, then he reached inside his suit and pulled out a small explosive, which he threw at Oliver's feet. An explosion of sparks took place, momentarily blinding Oliver. When Oliver's vision cleared once more, Malcolm was gone.
Star City
Same time
Speed and Lyla entered a room, looking around for any guards. Lyla walked over to a glass case, pulling out a small device. She placed it on the case and, after a moment, there was a beep. Lyla all but yanked the door open and pulled out the device.
"Okay, we have it. Now we need to go, now!" Lyla shouted and the two women all but ran from the room.
Arrow lair
Later
"Did you get it?" Diggle asked as Lyla and Thea walked in.
"Yeah, just needed to make sure it worked." Lyla said as she pulled out a tablet.
The pixilated picture of Adrian as Prometheus came up on the screen and, within seconds, it became clear it was Adrian.
"Yes, this is what we needed! Something he couldn't plan for: His own hubris." Oliver said victoriously.
"So Roy, wanna walk this into SCPD?" Laurel asked with a smirk.
"Pass." Roy said and they all look towards him, concerned at the look on his face.
"Hey...are you okay?" Thea asked as she quietly walked over to him.
"No. I killed a man tonight," Roy said to her shock, "No Mirakuru, no mind control, just all me."
"Roy, I was there. It was self defense." Diggle told him but Roy shook his head.
"Say it however you want, but I killed a man. And when I did, I realized I am my father's son. And I don't know how to live with that." Roy said in self-loathing.
"By being Arsenal," Oliver said and Roy looked over at him, "You want redemption? Fine, but don't do it by curling up in a ball of self loathing, do it by being Arsenal."
"Maybe," Roy mused, "so, we back in business then?"
"Aside from a few minor changes, yeah." Oliver said, walking over to the side.
They fallowed him as the display cases of their suits lite up. Five mannequins were there. From right to left, there was Roy's suit, Diggle's, Thea's, a blank mannequin, and finally Laurel's.
"I can't help but notice a very visible lack of green Ollie." Thea pointed out.
"I'm not there yet," Oliver admitted, "but with all of you behind me, I think it will be sooner rather than later."
Safe house
Later
Adrian was at his desk in the safe house, doing some paperwork when he heard the phone of one of his two guards go after. He heard one of them stand up and quickly realized Oliver had somehow exposed him just by the way the man stood up: Cautiously, as though dealing with a wild animal that would attack at the slightest movement.
Snapping into action, Adrian turned around in his seat and threw his pen. It went into the eye of one of the guards, who went down. Adrian stood up and rushed the other one, taking off his tie. He tied the end around the other guard's neck, strangling him in the process. After he was sure the guard was dead, he dropped the body to the floor.
The loft
Same time
Thea walked in, having used the key she had kept after she moved out. She cautiously walked through, not sure what state she would find her ex in. She saw Roy at the table, pouring himself a drink. Judging by the empty bottles, it was not the first.
"Roy?" She called out cautiously.
"What do you want?" Roy asked roughly.
"I was worried about you. Looks like I was right to." Thea said as she approached him.
"Well don't," Roy snapped as he got to his feet, "I am beyond redemption. I'm a murderer. A killer. You were right about me, I am a waste. Worse, I'm a monster."
Roy's head whipped to the side as Thea slapped him.
"Don't you dare say that!" Thea shouted as she grabbed his head, making him look at her. "You are not a monster! You're a good man, a good person. You are one of the most ethical people I have ever met. You have come so far, helped so many people. Don't doubt yourself now."
"Why do you keep trying to save me? Why bother?" Roy asked, noticing Thea was beginning to cry.
"You know why." Thea said tearfully as she kissed him.
Arrow lair
Later
"What are you still doing here?" Laurel asked as she walked up to Oliver at the computers.
"Could ask you the same thing." Oliver said dryly.
"I was worried about you. What are you doing?" Laurel repeated.
"Thinking. Merlyn, he's not gonna let this go. He'll be back." Oliver noted grimly.
"And when he is, we'll be ready,. Nyssa's on the run from him, so we can count on her help to take him down if we call," Laurel told him and Oliver was silent, "Ollie, I think we need to talk."
"I think that's an understatement." Oliver quipped but Laurel pressed on.
"At your office, you told me you loved me. You can't just expect me to forget that," Laurel said as there was a beep, "what's that?"
"Proximity alert, I upgraded our security system to show if anyone besides us ever entered the lair. Someone's here." Oliver realized as he saw the screen.
Before Laurel could respond, there was an explosion and the two were thrown back by the force.
So, I had the assassins call Roy that because I consider Roy to be the Dick Grayson of Arrow. That being, he is the true heir to Oliver's legacy. If Oliver were to die or be forced to retire, Roy would be the one to make the most sense to replace Oliver as Green Arrow.
Yes, we're skipping right to 5x20 because with no Helix plot, it just makes no sense for 5x19 to happen.
