Chapter 37

"Felicity," Oliver called as he ran down the stairs in the Foundry, "what's the damage? How many escaped?"

"Police are still looking through the rubble for those that were killed in the explosion," she stated as she worked through multiple news reports. Current findings were sketchy, and police were obviously downplaying who and how many were released. "Oliver…" she said as she glanced over her shoulder. Both Malcolm and Oliver were ditching their archer uniforms and bows. Each man moved with a stiffness that spoke to the injuries that they were sporting and hadn't given time to heal.

Shirt and hood gone, Oliver moved over towards Felicity to see what she wanted. He leaned across her chair to see a single report about how a certain Chinese triad member was now missing and considered incredibly dangerous. Under his breath, he cursed; it wasn't like he couldn't take China White in a fight. The issue was how difficult it had been to get her to the police the first time; they had met on multiple occasions, and she had always slipped away until the last time. If she was free, she would be at the top of his list to track down.

The triad had suffered without her, and after all the damage Helena had done, the organization was floundering. Her return could re-establish them as not just a nuisance but formidable. Malcolm glanced past Oliver's shoulder to see the woman's picture, and while he buttoned up a dress shirt, he scowled. He had heard of China White, and he had tried multiple times prior to the Undertaking to removing them with little success. The triad was resilient.

"So what now Oliver?" Diggle asked. He, too, had seen the reports, and he wondered how the young man was dealing with the additional stress. Things were piling up, and he worried how well Ollie would be able to handle it all.

"Now," he replied, his eyes trailing to his bow for only a brief second, "we wait."

"You're going to let those lunatics run wild?" Digg asked incredulous.

"I don't know who's loose or how many," Oliver said with a frown. "Once we have an actual list of names, we can work through them to find them."

To that, Diggle nodded; he felt foolish for doubting for a moment that Oliver would ignore the break-out. He tried to keep his gaze off Malcolm, but the Dark Archer's presence was anything but serene to Diggle. He understood the need for allies, but he didn't understand why the Dark Archer had to be here right now. This wasn't Malcolm's problem…

Somehow, it was like Mr. Merlyn read Digg's mind as he quickly said, "When you know more, here is my private number. Call me and I will come help in the ways I can."

"Wait… you're actually going to help? I thought you were just here to get our assistance with the hunters?" Felicity asked. "I mean not that I'm trying to dissuade you from helping or anything." She couldn't help but trail off when she realized who she was talking to. "We can take all the help we can get. Not that we can't handle this. We could totally handle this."

"Felicity," Oliver muttered, rubbing his forehead.

"It's only fair I help Oliver with this mirakuru if he helps me with the hunters," Malcolm explained, unaffected by her ramblings. He had begun to understand that it was just a common occurrence for her, and when she got started, he usually stopped listening.

"When do you care about fair play?" Digg interrogated.

The Dark Archer did not look amused, but he bit back his retorts and calmly continued, "This is my city too. I wanted to save it, and whoever is running this mirakuru is trying to destroy it."

"Killing hundreds of people is not saving anything…" Digg began, but Oliver interceded. The last thing any of them needed was this turning to a fight.

"No it's not," Oliver agreed. "But we can't change that. We can prevent the city from tearing itself apart because of mirakuru, and right now," he lowered his voice to a whisper to Digg, "the extra help would be appreciative. I'm running on fumes here Digg."

That the bodyguard couldn't argue. The last few days had been nonstop, and for Oliver to actually admit he was at the end of his rope, he had probably already fallen off said rope. The younger archer had a lot of things going on, and it had begun to blend together- the business, Felicity, Sara, Thea, Malcolm… Digg trusted Oliver; sometimes judgment could be lacking, but Digg knew that right now he was just stuck in his ways. He wanted to hate Malcolm and thus throw the older man into a jail cell, but Oliver was right. They needed the help against the mirakuru, and soon, they'd need it with the hunters.

"Alright, so what do you want to do?" Digg asked conceding defeat.

"I need names, Felicity and numbers," he reiterated. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do now, but he had considered heading back to the mansion when Felicity called his name again pulling his attention once more to her. "Then we'll…"

"Work it from there," Malcolm said. "While I am certain that some of the prisoners knew this was coming, not all of them could have. That means that a proportion of them aren't ready to take the necessary steps to hide. They won't be difficult to track."

"But what about the ones that did know?" Felicity said, mostly to herself but everyone heard.

"Then we find who this man in the skull mask is," Oliver stated. He had a feeling that this was all a bit more connected then the picture currently let on. Things were happening too quickly otherwise.

"The cure for this mirakuru would be useful as well," Malcolm said to both Felicity and Diggle's shock.

"There's a cure?" Felicity asked.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Digg quickly followed up with.

"Because I don't have the cure," he growled. He didn't blame Malcolm for saying something, but they were heading into dangerous territory with his past. "It was destroyed a long time ago, but it could maybe be synthesized again from someone who has mirakuru in them."

"Like this Roy kid?" Malcolm asked to which Oliver nodded. He chanced a glance at Diggle and Felicity to see hurt written across their faces; Malcolm had known about the cure and Roy prior to them. He hadn't meant for it to turn out like that, but it had. Oliver trusted his team and he should have kept them in the circle a bit more thoroughly.

"We still need someone who can synthesize it," Oliver added with a frown.

While upset, Felicity still piped up with, "I think I know just the people. We just need a blood sample that we can send."

"I'll call Sara and let her know then," the younger archer said.

"When you need me, call me as well," Malcolm said as he turned, grabbing his bow as he did so.

"And where are you going?" Diggle asked.

"Someplace I'm sure the tracker you placed on me can find," he responded easily. He could pull the tracker off and destroy it, but for the moment, he figured the arrow team as ease was simpler. They wouldn't be constantly fretting about him that way; as it was, he wouldn't be far. There was a hotel he knew where he could get privacy, and his identity wouldn't matter as long as he had money.

Diggle moved away, so Felicity and Oliver could speak. Somehow the bodyguard had finally picked up on the tension that had been going back and forth for the last few days. Oliver stood nearby and watched as Felicity marched up to meet him. She didn't look thrilled, but she wasn't as mad as he had seen her in the past.

"He was with me in the field, and he saw…" Oliver started, but he realized abruptly that his explanation probably wouldn't sooth her. "I'm sorry," he said.

"It's not that you told him things Oliver," she countered. "It's that we had to hear what you told him from him. We're a team." She poked him hard in the chest before realizing that he hadn't dressed completely yet. She pulled back and tried not to look completely embarrassed.

"I know," he sighed as he reached for her hand. "I trust you Felicity. Don't forget that. I need you to keep me rooted here. To remind me that I am not a murderer."

"You're a hero," she frowned. "You're my hero," she repeated to make him believe it. She watched as he smiled, and some of the tension washed away. Working with a past enemy was stressful for the younger archer; he didn't worry about if others thought less of him. It was Felicity's opinion that mattered to him and his own.

"Thanks," he mumbled, and before he could pull away or do something else, he watched as Felicity closed the distance and kissed him. He hadn't made a move or indication, but he was thankful. He ran his hands up her arms and squeezed gently as he deepened the kiss.

"I will always believe in you," she whispered when they pulled away briefly. They both glanced towards the direction Diggle went. "How many times do you think he can walk in on us?"

"Not again if you initiate lockdown," he whispered against her lips, and he felt her smile.

…

Slade watched from the shadows. The prison break hadn't been the easiest of things to organize, but in the end, it had been worth it. It would take a lot of serum for them to be ready for what he had planned, but he had time. After tonight, it would feel quite the opposite for Oliver, but Slade had this completely laid out. He knew exactly when and where to push the young man, and now, it was time to start to plant little seeds of doubt.

Malcolm Merlyn had been unexpected but useful. Slade had seen through the video feed that the two men were now working together, which was disappointing. The former ASIS could have used an archer like Merlyn, but no matter, it worked out better this way. Working with an enemy would always cause rifts, and Slade knew exactly where to place those rips, so that it would eventually rip and fall apart. There was Mrs. Queen, Thea, Laurel, Sara… so many to choose from, and as he stared at the feed from the Foundry, he discovered an even better quarry.

However, for now, he had a plan to enact tonight. Family mattered the most to the kid, so Slade was going to enjoy ripping his apart and from him. Next to him stood a very specific triad member, and while the entire situation seemed confusing to her, money did not.

"Just the mother," Slade explained. "Leave Oliver and Thea Queen alive."

"That will not be a problem," China White replied as she watched fifty plus of the others that had escaped sit in their new accommodations. Blood was standing the middle talking about change and what would to come if they would only submit themselves to becoming powerful and unstoppable. She didn't think the prisoners cared that much about change, but she knew they wouldn't be able to resist being near unstoppable. She too knew what mirakuru was, and until now thought it was a myth. She was pleased to see she had been wrong, but she was not about to let that stuff be injected into her veins. From how the man held himself next to her, she could practically see the aura of danger and insanity rolling off of him, but she wasn't about to turn down extremely good money.

"You do not care why I'm asking this," Slade asked.

"You paid. This is a business contract," she replied with a smile. "It will be done as you ask."

"Good," he said pleased with her answer. He didn't like people who snooped around.

…..

Oliver stepped into the Queen mansion, a stupid smile plastered on his face. He couldn't help but be happy, even if they hadn't done more than kiss. Felicity had initiated the lock-down, but they hadn't gotten far when she had become uncertain. All of her bravado had drained away with the realization that apparently that was going to happen, so she had stated that this wasn't the ideal time or really place. He had laughed, and while frustrated, he had agreed. There was a lot going on, and Diggle had begun to knock loudly on one of the doors when he realized he couldn't get in.

Nonetheless, Oliver was still happy, and it was only the sight of his mother still up so late that sobered his mood. She was staring at a scrapbook of sorts, and from where he stood at the entry to the living room, he could see it was wedding pics. There were a few of his father, then there were a lot of Walter. He watched as his mother smiled sadly at almost every picture, and she ran her fingers longingly across them. In some, he could even see Malcolm, smiling with Rebecca.

"Hey Mom," Ollie said announcing his presence and startling her. She shut the book quickly.

"What are you doing up at this hour?" she asked, her lips pursed.

"Nightclub is still mine," he explained. "With everything that went on, I figured I should show my face a few times to calm the patrons." He stepped into the living room, hands in pockets. "Are you okay?"

"Oh I'm fine Oliver," she said with a wave of her hand. She placed the book away and stood. "I simply lost track of time." She looked ready to bolt, but Oliver stood in her way.

"Mom," he said again. "What's going…" He didn't finish his statement when the window nearby completely blew out. Instinct caused him to pull her to the floor with himself. He watched as a group of men entered, armed with assault rifles, and from where he laid on the floor, he recognized a few triad members. Apparently, he didn't need to find China White. "Come on," he said to his mom, yanking her back up.

"Oliver…" she said, fear in her voice, but he ignored the tone and pulled her up the stairs. The security had their hands full, and the men they had hired were slowly dying. He had to get his mom to safety first, then he would deal with the intruders.

"Mrs. Queen," China White said in the hallway, stopping the two Queens in their tracks. Oliver placed himself directly in front of his mother without second thought. His options were limited, so he quickly stuffed his hand into his pocket and fished out his phone. "Calling the police will do nothing Mr. Queen."

He wanted to smarmily reply that he wasn't calling the police, but he could see what she meant. His phone service was knocked out. He quickly typed up a text and returned the phone back to his pocket. He continuously hit send with the hope that service would come back long enough for the short message to send. "Stay behind me," he said to Moira, who looked a bit stuck between terrified and angry at the intruders.

"Come now," China said, cocking her head. "Move aside Mr. Queen. We weren't paid for your life, only hers."

"Good to know," he snarled snatching a vase off a nearby stand and throwing it with deadly accuracy. China hadn't been expecting that, so she ducked giving both Queens time to dash into a nearby hallway.

Oliver barricaded them into a room that he knew had a side door they could escape through. He looked at his phone again and saw he had one bar; he didn't waste any time in sending out the text. "Where's Thea?" Oliver asked blatantly frightened for his sister.

"Her boyfriend was found," Moira explained. "She went to the hospital a few hours ago."

"Good," Oliver stated. "Any idea who did this?"

"I have one," she growled as her thoughts flashed to Malcolm. It made the most sense as he wanted their daughter, and she wasn't willing to hand Thea over to the psychopath. She couldn't be happier that she had told the League about him now; he didn't even have the decency to come kill her himself.

"Tell me about it when we get out this," Oliver said pushing her back. He could hear someone at the door, and he was going to let them breakthrough. The doorway would limit their movements but not his.

"Oliver this way," Moira stated running through a nearby door, and he growled to himself. He couldn't leave his mom alone, so he took off after her. "If we can get to the panic room," she stated. It had been a new addition after the last break-in with assassins.

Moira had maneuvered her way silently and quickly through a large chunk of rooms in time to burst into the kitchen. She startled two of the triad members there, who raised their guns in response. Her eyes went wide with the realization she probably just killed herself and her son who was going to sprint into the bullets. She was ready to through herself forward to protect him the best she could when she felt, not saw, Oliver run by.

In a mix of absolute horror and surprise, she watched Oliver snatch one gun and push it back into the triad member's face. The triad member's nose splattered with blood, and he collapsed in a heap. Oliver then spun and caught the other around the neck, and with a quick toss had that triad member sprawled along the kitchen's island. Ollie brought his elbow down on the man's trachea effectively cutting off oxygen, and he didn't waste any time in getting the man in an effective chokehold. Thirteen seconds later, the triad member was unconscious.

"Oliver," Moira said breathlessly unable to process what she had just seen, but she wasn't given much time to either as more members burst into her kitchen dinette area. This time China White was with them, but Ollie didn't hesitate in again placing himself between the triad and his mother.

China eyed up her two unconscious members, and she stared at the young Queen scion with suspicion. He wasn't staring at her in fear or confusion; no, she could see the rage on his face. She'd have to apologize to Mr. Wilson later, but she wasn't sure that the boy was going to let them easily kill his mother. They'd have to at least incapacitate him, and when she moved forward to do just that, she watched as he stepped forward as well.

"Brave aren't you?" she asked.

"You have no idea," he snarled as he observed the six triad members. He could brush off the two behind him as adrenaline, but to deal with the rest, he'd have to show his full set of skills. While he didn't want his mom to know the truth, he couldn't afford to have China White know.

Oliver saw the knife in her hand, and he thought of a dozen ways he could disarm her then kill her with it. However before he could implement any of those, the window in the kitchen also shattered. Oliver yanked Moira behind the kitchen island just as Malcolm came zip-lining in. He was suddenly thankful that he not only had texted the other archer, but he had purposefully left out the fact Thea wasn't here.

The Dark Archer didn't hesitate in putting two arrows in a triad member's chest, and he rushed in slapping China's face with his bow. He glanced over his shoulder to see Oliver had Moira protected. Whatever White had been expecting, this wasn't it; she was tired of these archers. She raised her knife with the intention of ending this quickly, but Malcolm spun and landed a kick squarely in her chest. She stumbled back, and she watched as he was easily dispatching her men.

Deciding this still wasn't worth her life since the Dark Archer didn't seem to have the same code as the green archer, she took to the hallway. Three more men stood there with semi-automatic rifles. She sent them in while she found an exit. She disliked surprises, and she wasn't willing to give up her newfound freedom just yet. She'd return to Slade and re-group with a new plan that hopefully didn't involve any archers.

Inside the house, Malcolm had killed an additional two triad members which just left four. "Stay here," Oliver ordered Moira as he stood.

"Where are you going?" she asked as she grasped his arm.

"Stay here and stay down," he repeated when he heard Malcolm snarl and cry out. A blade stuck awkwardly out of the older man's shoulder. It wasn't deep, but it had obviously caught the Dark Archer in surprise. He went to help, but Malcolm held up a hand stilling the younger Queen. Something passed between the men, and Oliver nodded and stayed back with his mother.

Moira watched at the impossibility of her son interacting with Malcolm. Within minutes, the Dark Archer had easily dispatched every triad member, and he didn't hesitated to kill those remaining. They couldn't risk anyone returning and blabbing Oliver's secret, and for that the Queen scion was thankful. He wasn't thrilled that the men had to die, but they did. There was no way around it.

"Oliver! Get away from him!" Moira cried when Oliver had approached Malcolm as he finished the last member.

"Thank-you," he said for the elder archer's ears only. "I was worried you hadn't gotten my message."

"It was a bit jumbled," Malcolm frowned as he removed his cowl. "But the word triad and house were apparent enough."

"Oliver," Moira repeated slowly as she came up to the men, and as she looked from Oliver then to Malcolm and back, her mouth formed an 'o'. "Oliver," she whispered, her eyes wide as the truth hit her like a freight train.

…

Sara stood atop the clock tower again, enjoying the breeze licking her face. She had just returned from the hospital with the promise she'd visit her father and sister later. Their mother was apparently leaving town soon, and she wanted a good-bye. Sara could do that even if she hated that word.

The ex-League member would have gone to the Foundry but a text from Felicity had stalled her tracks. The text hadn't made much sense, and it looked like the young IT girl might have accidently sent it via butt text. When she had followed it up with Diggle, she had been told that it would be better if she took the night off. That had brought a smile to her face; Oliver did deserve to be happy. He truly did, and she was thankful it was someone other than her. She wasn't good for him; he was overcoming the darkness that stained his soul… she… she wasn't even sure if she wanted to.

"Sara," her name brought her spinning around and pinning the person to the tower. Her eyes went wide at the sight of Nyssa. She quickly released the Al Ghul and stepped away. "It is good to see your reflexes are still at the level they should be."

"You shouldn't be here," Sara said. "You should be back in Nanda Parbat."

"It will take my Father a few days to realize I did not board the plane I was supposed to," Nyssa said with a sad smile. The two took a moment of silence before she asked, "How is your mother?"

Sara scowled and put distance between them. She did not look thrilled with her ex-lover. "She will live, but she is having nightmares."

"I am sorry for involving your family," Nyssa said slowly. "You must understand that. I did not want to, but you were League… you belonged with us."

"With you?" she growled, narrowing her gaze.

"I did not want to watch you die," she whispered in response. "You know I would have. If a hunter had come for you and you had been dragged back to the League, they would have killed you in front of me. I could not…" She needed Sara to understand. "I had to convince you that it was safer to return with me."

"So you kidnapped my mother?" Sara rolled her eyes before adding, "I mean you had Viper do it."

"You hate me," Nyssa said matter-of-factly.

There was a moment of silence before Sara sighed, "No, I don't hate you. I knew what you would have to do, or at least, what the hunters would do. It's our code. Was my code." She licked her lips slowly, and she could see Nyssa's eyes were drawn to the movement. "I just hadn't thought you would do it."

Nyssa didn't lower her head or shy away; she was proud, perhaps not of her actions but of her devotion to both the League and Sara. "I am sorry. But would you have really preferred a hunter to do it? I had ordered your mother kidnapped, but she was safe with me. I would not have allowed harm to come to her, no matter what I said. You know that, or I thought you did."

Sara had to give Nyssa that, and she frowned with the realization of how little she had thought of Nyssa during that. The Al Ghul had restraint and wouldn't have pushed it unless backed into a corner. Sara had done just that, and still Nyssa had held back. The League member could have ordered Viper to kill her entire family, but she hadn't.

"Why are you here Nyssa?" Sara asked again wanting to reach out for Nyssa. Her fingertips brushed air for a brief second before the other woman's hand met hers mid-air. Fingers clasped, they pulled themselves together. "I cannot forgive you for what you've done."

"I understand," Nyssa said.

"At least not yet," Sara clarified. "But I will." She leaned forward and kissed the other woman chastely. "You shouldn't be here," she whispered against Nyssa's lips. She wouldn't lie, she was happy that Nyssa was still here.

"I had to stay and warn you," Nyssa explained pulling back far enough.

"Yes the other hunters," Sara sighed. "I'm sure Talia is already here, which makes this all the more dangerous for you."

"It's not Talia," Nyssa frowned and continued with Sara's confusion. "I would have told you sooner but this is the first time I could slip by my sister's surveillance, and I had thought you would be gone with me already. I did not think this man would be an issue to you."

"Who are you talking about?" Sara asked.

"I remember the man from your nightmares, from your beginning time in the League," Nyssa continued. "He's here… Slade Wilson is here in Starling."

…..

Slade watched the pacing woman in his office. China White looked absolutely furious, and he found it rather annoying that she was still here. She had burst into his office with a mixture of apologies and determination to continue. "Your job is done," Slade stated.

"Our quarry is not dead," China argued.

"You did what I wanted," Slade repeated. He raised his hand to the door. "You may keep the payment in full."

"I don't understand," she said.

"I thought you didn't ask questions."

China nodded and apologized one more time before taking her leave. From the shadows, another woman melted out. Dressed similar to Nyssa's League gear, she stood with her arms crossed. Her short hair was spiked up, and her dark gaze narrowed as the triad member's footsteps finally faded away. Talia turned, her sword clinging as she did so, towards Slade, and she took a seat across from the other man.

"I thought you wanted Oliver Queen utterly alone," she said, her tone emotionless. There wasn't curiosity or interest in her voice; she was simply stating a fact.

"Yes but that doesn't mean they have to be dead," Slade smiled. "Is it worse for family to die and leave you or for them to voluntarily pull away?" He showed her the clip from the Queen Mansion of Oliver using his training. It was obvious from the picture that Moira had begun to put the pieces in place.

Talia nodded her understanding before she changed the subject. "I will assume our deal is still in place?"

"Yes although it took you much longer to get here than you had said," Slade said. Shado was purring in his ear, her arms flung across his chest as she leaned against his back.

"Malcolm Merlyn's presence was… unexpected," she stated. "We had all thought he was dead, so his return to Starling resulted in the halting of our plans. I could not travel here on a whim anymore with Malcolm here, and my father was unwilling to send me without reason. Hence why I told you to kidnap my sister."

"Malcolm Merlyn beat me to that," Slade smiled.

"Yes, and that works out even better," Talia nodded. "It does however mean I have to deal with him first before I can continue with you. My Father expects results, and I will not fail him."

"And yet here you are with me?" Slade asked. He wanted to understand this partner; they each had something the other wanted.

"My Father's vision is old. He will come to see my way is the only way in time." She considered the mercenary across from her, and she knew to tread lightly. Mirakuru was nothing to mess with, and insanity made people unpredictable. On the other hand, Talia enjoyed the rush of finally being in this room. "The additional twenty League members I promised will be here within a few days," she explained a breath later. "Your mirakuru for my help, correct?"

Slade smiled at the thought of twenty highly-trained League members with mirakuru in their veins. "That is the deal."

Note: Did I turn this into a reveal fic? Yes I did :P. Anyway, this is a huge chapter, wow. So I made an executive decision, and it's not bad or anything just a bit of re-ordering. The next chapter will finish this arc a bit more (markov will probably overlap into this at the end), and after that, we will have a chapter or two dedicated to the markov device. Then the interlude, and finally the hunters are back in full swing… with Slade. I'm evil, what can I say? Things cannot be easy for Oliver, and for those wondering what I plan to do with Thea- since she's still very trusting of her brother (I got that covered)- and Moira, who died in the show… well I'm not spoiling anything.
Just know this final part that pulls everything together is going to be insane.