Chapter Thirty-Eight: Gambit of Ares:
One thing Diana's Amazon training left her would be a thrill for the hunt and a desire to find her target to take him down. Joining Harry gave her someone who could fight beside her without her having any worry as to where he would stand. Diana knew one thing and Harry would stand by Diana's side no matter what. Diana hoped this lead didn't really pan out to be honest, but if it did, she was ready.
Harry gave her a recap of everything which happened since they parted ways. Diana whistled when Harry finished telling her everything. One thing Diana would say about Harry was he lived an adventure of a life through thick and thin. Diana wished she had been present for some of it.
"So, you finally left the circus," Diana said.
"There wasn't much left to do," Harry said. "Besides, there are other explored avenues….but from what my eyes and ears are telling me, the world hasn't fallen apart."
Diana raised her eyebrow when she looked at Harry. Harry chuckled at the most obvious "oh really" look passing over the face of the Amazon Princess.
"Well, not as much where it effects my life and the lives of people outside of the land of wand waving wonderment," Harry said. He perched himself from his position on the shadow. "But, we're not dealing with the past, we're dealing with the present."
Diana nodded and the present they dealt with could be pretty dangerous if they were not careful. The Amazon Princess braced herself, holding the crossbow she held. The two of them slipped outside of the penthouse underneath the cover of darkness.
"You've really done well for yourself though," Diana said.
"Yes," Harry said. He smiled when he looked at the door. "Locked."
Harry didn't think a locked door should be a deterrent to anyone and a locked door most certainly wasn't a deterrent to him. Harry learned about three dozen ways to break into a building which had been locked. Some of those methods looked to be a tad bit messier and a tad bit noisier than others. Harry decided to go for the more subtle way of picking the lock with magic.
The lazy way of doing it, but Harry managed to open the lock. He slipped inside the next room, with Diana following him.
The two of them entered the penthouse which looked to be a tacky Greek design. Harry closed the door behind them.
"So, it won't hurt to have a look around," Harry said.
Diana looked around, but despite the tacky layout of the penthouse, the Amazon Princess didn't know what they expected to find in this place, but maybe it was the idea. Harry seemed to know what he looked for and what he wanted.
The young man rifled through the desk drawer and found a crumpled up invoice shoved in the drawer. Harry perked up for a half of a second.
"Someone is coming," Harry said.
Harry did a back flip and made his way into the shadows, to make himself scarce. Diana followed, slipping into the shadows right next to him. She waited to see what would happen, with Harry reaching over and grabbing her around the hand tightly.
A figure swept into the room, in a bit of a bad mood. He looked to be a younger man.
"It has to be around here somewhere….ah, here it is."
The man activated a secret room from behind the penthouse. Harry shook his head. All of those penthouses had those secret rooms, it was almost like a feature.
The man walked down a set of stairs and Harry and Diana followed them, still in invisibility. The two of them crouched down into the darkness. Several more men surrounded be a large spear like device mounted on a large black platform. One of them pointed the weapon at a large statue.
"We're going to see what this bad boy can really do."
The blast of lightning connected with the statue. Harry noticed several other weapons on the ground. They resembled the HIVE weapons in some ways, but they were modified just enough to give their own flare. Harry didn't know what to expect.
Diana looked like she wanted to jump into battle, but Harry realized something. He made sure no one else could hear their words.
"There's bound to be more shipments….this is just the tip of the iceberg," Harry said.
"Make sure this one is on schedule."
A man dressed in elegant robes with dark hair walked down the steps. He walked in a hurry, not knowing Diana and Harry stood about three feet away from his shoulder.
Diana stifled a gasp when she realized Ares stood in the flesh. He placed his hand on the shoulders of four of the guards. Three of them transformed into soldiers, which divine armor and weaponry the likes the world had never seen. The fourth slumped to the ground, almost like he had a stroke.
"Not worthy," Ares said. "A pity."
Diana and Harry both realized they dealt with Ares. Who vanished as quickly as he arrived.
Harry made his move to sabotage this shipment, knowing there would be others out there, at other locations. Ares never seemed to be the type to throw all of his eggs into one basket, as far as Harry could tell anyway.
Across town, Ares needed to unload another shipment. With Intergang working their way into Starling City from Metropolis, Ares could start stirring up sentiment of the discontent within the Glades, before it had been destroyed. He met with Merlyn all of those years ago and the man came to him with a vision. Ares didn't need to corrupt this one, he had darkness in his soul already, but the God of War happily lead a helping hand.
"I hope you've got the goods, because my boys and I are going to need them if we have a chance to match up with Intergang, Mr. Ares."
The large well-built man folded his arms when he stared down Ares. Ares understood some of them didn't take him seriously because of his attire, but the proof happened to be in what he brought before them.
"I'm well aware of your problems with Intergang," Ares said. His three guards loaded out a particularly large crate before them. "And this is going to solve all of your problems with them."
A couple of the gang members snorted, but the leader turned his attention towards them with a warning glance in his eyes. The two of them fell back into line.
"We'll believe it when we'll see it. We've been the victim of a double-deal before….and we're not really in the mood to be tricked into one again."
Ares made a casual motion for his hand, causing the crate to be cracked open before them. A bright black weapon lifted out of the weapon. A red energy cell perched on the top of the weapon, shimmering in the light. The energy radiated between them.
"Nice looking flashlight, but does it work?" one of the goons asked.
Ares pulled the weapon out and pointed it at the goon. The third time the man mouthed off to him tonight was about three times too many. With a click, the weapon fired up and launched a red energy blast.
The other goons stepped back in horror. The weapon bombarded the goon and reduced him to a pile of ashes where the man once stood a few minutes ago.
The leader of the pack stared at the pile of ashes which was one of his boys for a few seconds. The well-built man started to chuckle. The chuckles started a bit low, but they turned into an insane amount of chuckles.
"Well, you do give us what we pay for," the man said.
"I always pay my end of the contract, Mr. Brickwell," Ares said. "These weapons have the potential to make you kings of this city….if you have the people to properly wield them."
"Mr. Ares, I like your style," Brickwell said. He cracked his knuckles and turned to the goons, all of them which stepped back, not wanting to experience the same fate as their friend. "And if you're going to start a war, you're going to start a war with style."
The do-gooders in this town fought with knives and arrows, well, it was time to tip the scales. Intergang had some Star Wars level shit, well they had weapons even more powerful and would pack a more destructive punch.
"Now these grenades, they can blow up half of a city block," Ares said. "But, they should only be used, sparingly."
"Of course, I know what I'm doing," Brickwell said. He cracked his knuckles together and gave a grimace when he looked at his men. "Well, what are you boys waiting for….gather up everything? Two at a time, come on, get it all."
The goons all walked around to each other and started to pick up the weapons. Some of them felt like live wire in their hand.
"Ugly think he has the real hook up, well, he's going to see what we can do," Brick said. "Time for us to take control….no little do-gooder in a green hood is going to stop us, no anyone."
The men cheered in response and they moved out, preparing to put their newly gotten gains to the test when they reclaimed their territory.
Ares watched these gentlemen leave, a crisp smile spreading over his face when he watched them leave. The danced around like some well formulated puppets on a string. Then again, those who always entered a war could be easily manipulated, especially when they had something to fight for.
Morgan Edge found himself looking over his shoulder. He tried to radio his guards from the front gate, but none of them answered.
"Where are they, what are they doing?" Edge asked.
Edge made his way outside the door and rolled over a figure who laid face first in the pavement. Blood flowed from a wound in the man's check. The man blinked and leaned down, seeing another figure, this time with a more prominent arrow in his chest.
"The vigilante," Edge said.
His bodyguard picked the worst night to take a night off, because something came up. Edge thought he could handle it with a small private security force. Edge reached into his pocket and pulled out a handgun.
"I know you're out there."
No answer, and Edge emptied a clip from the gun into the shadows. A barrage of bullets fired into the mist, but nothing.
Edge stepped back for a moment. He emptied the entire gun into absolutely nothing.
A figure swung down from the heavens and slammed both feet into the back of the head of Edge. The figure showed an immense amount of strength, before hurling Morgan Edge halfway across the parking lot.
Edge scrambled into the parking garage. He tried to reach into a case to grab a fire ax, anything to defend himself. One of the arrows caught him with a glancing blow to the wrist, shattering it and slicing into it.
The figure slammed his hand against the control panel, trapping him within the garage.
"Did you really think you would be able to get one over me?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Edge said.
Edge tried to pull himself up to a standing position, coming face to face with a figure dressed completely in black. The figure wielded a bow and arrow at him.
"Did you really think you could get away?" the Dark Archer asked.
Edge's arm became extremely numb from the injury. He closed his eyes and wished for something, someone to save you.
"Your security is pathetic, and….now I have everything I want, I don't need you."
Edge rose to his feet and threw the briefcase at the Archer's feet.
"Take it, there's money, millions in there even!"
The archer looked down at Edge and looked down at him. For a brief second, the businessman thought he would take the money and all would be good.
"You think you can buy me, don't you?" the archer asked.
"Please, take anything you want!" Edge yelled. The man tried to grab the axe handle on the ground one more time, but the figure lifted the axe off of the ground and hurled it halfway across the garage. "People are going to…they're going to find out what you're doing."
"If they find you dead, they'll assume the vigilante got to you," the Dark Archer said. "No one is surprised….you're a loose end….."
"Ares is trying to double-deal you….he wants something, I don't know what….."
"If Ares is going to betray me, I will deal with him in due time," the Dark Archer said. The figure pulled back his bow. "Just like I needed to deal with you."
An arrow caught Edge in a very vital spot. Blood spurted out the side of his neck which caused him to drop down to the ground.
"You bring this filth onto my streets," the Archer said, kicking one of the crates open and revealing several high tech weapons. "And you make everything worse….I won't stand for it."
The Archer attached an explosive device to the base of the crate. The figure stepped back and pressed a button, destroying several crates.
Intergang still would have leadership, but without their backer, they would less of a threat. One threat down, another several threats to go.
'Now time to get everything back on schedule.'
Sara flashed a smile at her older sister. The intense look on the face of older sister made Sara pretty pleased. The woman turned her hand over and motioned for Dinah to rush forward.
Dinah thought she became more aware of her surroundings. A kick fired at Sara, but she dodged around it. Sara made her way behind her, with Dinah flipping her down to the ground. The two Lance sisters circled each other.
Sara went to the stomach with a punch, but Dinah turned her arm around. Dinah shoved her back against the wall. Sara bounced off the wall doing a back flip and sticking the landing.
"Good, and again!"
Dinah charged her sister again and tried to take her down to the ground. Sara slipped out of the attack and made her way on the other side of her. A series of rapid fire kicks rocked the stunning young woman. Dinah blocked the punches and also blocked a snap kick as well on the rebound. Dinah rushed Sara in an attempt to take her head out with a huge roundhouse punch.
Sara dodged the attack, and staggered Dinah with another snap kick.
"One of these days, I'm going to avoid…." Dinah said.
Sara swung a punch at her which caused Dinah to avoid the sick assaults. Each punch was studied, and Sara varied up her attacks. Every single time the fought, Dinah became better.
Artemis stepped into the room and sat herself down. She took a drink of water and watched the intense battle before her.
Dinah focused on taking her sister down to the ground at least once and getting on top of the situation. A double leg takedown brought her down to the ground, taking the wind completely out of her.
"Good," Sara said, pulling herself to a standing position. "Watch your back, though."
Dinah avoided the kick which came precious seconds from nailing her flush in the face. Sara pulled back, which almost left the older sister open for a takedown. Dinah grabbed Sara, and took her down onto the ground, flipping her down.
"So, I am getting better?" Dinah asked.
Sara reached up, grabbed Dinah by the arm, and flipped her to the ground. The two of them broke apart.
"I don't know, you tell me," Sara said.
Dinah responded by flipping Sara back down onto the ground. The two of them rose to a standing position and faced off at each other.
"Well, I think it's time," Dinah said.
"Yes, sit down," Sara said. "To answer your question, you've improved….and you're getting a little bit more focused with each day."
Dinah flashed a tiny bit of a smile over her face and sat down. Rose joined the two of them.
"So, how is Thea doing?" Dinah asked. "I…..I feel bad I wasn't there for her….I mean, we had mutual grief with each other."
"She's excelling all expectations," Artemis said. She handed Dinah a water bottle who drank it with a flash of a smile spreading over her face. "Maybe she'll be out on the field before the end of the year."
"Are you sure it's a wise idea?" Dinah asked.
"Maybe not, but….Harry isn't big about wasting potential," Artemis said.
"And you wanted a sidekick," Rose said. Artemis gave her a side long glare.
Rose walked over to one of the bags. She kicked away at the bag, first at a softer tempo, and then at a harder tempo, putting an elegant looking dent in the back. The bag swung hanging from the chain.
"But, your focus is much better," Artemis said. She gave Dinah a teasing smile. "Being in a relationship with Harry will do it for you."
Dinah smiled and thought her focus was all over the map, at least until she started to sleep with Harry, on a regular basis.
The door opened up and Cassandra stepped inside. The normally reserved girl stepped inside, looking a bit agitated for some reason.
"Cass, what's up?" Sara asked.
"Turn on the television and see," Cass said.
Rose, being the nearest to the remote, clicked the television. The image on the television screen showed Morgan Edge.
"Morgan Edge has been assassinated, along with several members of his staff, by the mysterious Starling City Vigilante. A reward has been put out for one million dollars for anyone who comes forward with information on the archer."
Artemis snorted, a million dollars, why would they insult her?
"And this just in, a group of Intergang members are fighting a group of local toughs….Starling City Law Enforcement are commanding the people stay off the streets."
"And, without Edge to keep them on a leash, Intergang is going to be even more trouble," Artemis said.
"You didn't take him out?" Dinah asked. Artemis looked towards Dinah for a long second, eyes burned onto her. "Sorry, it's just….."
"Don't worry, you didn't know," Artemis said. She moved her way over to the secret compartment and began to get her gear. "Someone wanted to start a war….."
"Ares," Sara said.
"You mean like the God of War, Ares?" Dinah asked.
"No, not like the God of War, Ares," Sara said. Dinah relaxed for a brief moment. "He is the God of War, Ares."
"No, as in the Greek…"
"Laurel, you're going to have to trust me on this one….you haven't seen a lot of the insane things which Harry encounters on a daily basis. A living, breathing, Greek God is pretty low on the list of insanity."
Cass and Rose nodded somberly. Artemis already geared up and made her way out the door.
"Wait," Cass said.
"I can't wait for too long," Artemis said.
"Both sides have weapons," Cass said. "Dangerous weapons…..you aren't going to be able to fight them….not with your bow and arrow alone."
"Well, what good I am anyway?"
Cass didn't really blink because of Artemis's impassionate words.
"We're going to need a plan and some heavy duty help," Sara said. She turned towards Dinah. "So, how is your vocal control?"
"Better," Dinah said. "What are you….."
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to," Sara said. "And I never want you to put yourself in danger if I can help it."
"Hey, don't worry about putting me in danger," Dinah said. She stood up straighter, looking her younger sister in the eye. "If you put me in danger, I'll be the one who worries about it."
Sara nodded, but they would need more than her older sister's new powers. Some real super powered help, and thankfully, Sara knew where to get it.
Diana and Harry slipped past the three guards which Ares made. The Amazon Princess stepped forward for the battle, a crossbow in one hand. She looked at the crossbow and put it away.
Anyone could receive god like powers, but receiving the god like powers and actually using them were two different things?
"Show yourself!"
One of the guards stepped towards the shadow. Harry reached forward and grabbed the guard around the arm, before snapping his arm behind his back. The guard fell to the ground.
Not allowing Harry to have all of the fun, Diana grabbed the goon around the waist and brought him down to the ground with a sickening smash.
"Tell me what Ares plans," Harry said.
"How dare do you?" he asked.
The shadow images bombarded the head of the goon and started to force the information out of him.
"Ares managed to arm some local goons with some weapons," Harry said.
The good news was, given they copied the same general design of the HIVE weapons which Harry procured all those months ago, he could have a counter.
"What worries me is what Ares will do when his plan is foiled?" Diana asked.
Harry didn't say anything, but he found intrigued. If he knew Ares and how he worked, the Starling City gang war only looked to be part one of a two phase plan.
"Yes, Sara, I know….I'll be with you in a minute."
To Be Continued.