Chapter 28
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners.
AN1: Thank you so much for the support. You really have no idea how much it means to me. ESPECIALLY, thank you to all those who are still reviewing this story, thank you to everyone who still cares.
An2: Okay. So it has been a while. In the last month I have been catching up on Arrow because I have really liked what I heard about Earth 2 Laurel. So I decided to try to write some more of this story, as well as planning another arrowverse story that I am still planning the details off.
Three and a half hours have past since Thea and John returned to the Clocktower after talking to Quinten, and six hours have passed since Laurel handed herself over to ARGUS to protect her father.
As it is the safest place for them at the moment John, Ted, Thea, Roy, and Sin haven't left the clocktower, though Ted and John have both been doing random outside perimeter checks. While Sin is working at her computer station, trying to get the images they need from the cameras Roy, Thea, John, and Ted, are all sitting around the main level of the Clock Tower.
As Thea is sitting alone, away from the others, Ted walks up to her and hands her a cup of coffee,
"Here, coffee." Ted says, as he hands it to her and sits down next to her.
"You always give Laurel and I a hard time about how much Coffee we drink." Thea comments, though she is glad to have the coffee.
"True, but considering your working on no sleep I figured coffee was needed." Ted explains.
"Thanks Ted." Thea says, looking grateful, "Even though I'm gonna be calling in sick for school today the caffeine is definitely needed." She admits.
"I figured." Ted reveals, as Thea takes a drink of her coffee.
"You're worried about Laurel, aren't you?" Thea asks curious.
"Of course, I am." Ted admits, "But I also know that D will be doing everything she can to come back to you, to us, which means we have to do whatever we can to make things easier for her to do that."
"Yeah, we do." Thea confirms, "Which is why I'm starting to go a little stir crazy, I feel like I should be doing something." She reveals.
"Okay, put the coffee down." Ted says, and feeling a little confused Thea takes one more drink and puts the coffee down.
"What are we going to do?" Thea asks curious.
"Spar." Ted explains, "You've got to do something to stop going stair crazy, sparing is a good something for you to do." He reveals, also thinking that it could do Thea some good to get some extra training in.
"Okay." Thea says, standing up and heading over to the training area, and Ted does the same thing.
Across the room Diggle sees what is going on and smiles.
"What's with the smirk?" Roy asks curious.
"Training to deal with emotions, I guess Thea's more like her brother than I thought." Diggle reveals, and Roy laughs a little at that,
"I'm pretty sure she learnt that from Laurel." Roy explains.
"Of course." Diggle says, not overly surprised, and the two of them drift into silence as they watch Ted and Thea train and Sin continues to work on decrypting the camera feeds.
Back at Argus headquarters Laurel and Lyla are waiting in a conference room, waiting for Waller to come and see them.
"It is understandable if you were feeling nervous, hesitant," Lyla comments, being able to read Laurel's body language.
"The only thing I'm nervous about is not seeing my kids anytime soon," Laurel responds, and before Lyla has a chance to reassure her that she will see her kids again soon the door opens and Waller walks in.
"Miss Lance, Agent Michaels," Waller greats.
"You've run your tests, what do you want me to do?" Laurel asks, an edge to her voice.
"You and Agent Michaels will leave for Corto Matese within the hour," Waller says as she puts images on the screen. "We have received intelligence that a weapon has been made, a weapon that is capable of destroying approximately half of the United States," Waller explains, and Laurel has to hold in a gasp as she knows how many people that could kill. "The weapon is being held inside a building that is protected from outside attack, a building that we will not be able to get any weapon into," Waller explains.
"I don't understand, why do you need me?" Laurel asks, wanting to know more but also feeling like if there is something she can do to protect, something she can do to save people then she is going to do it.
"Through intelligence gained through an asset we have learnt that the weapon can be disrupted and destroyed by a sonic wave," Waller explains.
"I could destroy it," Laurel realises, feeling like things make sense now.
"There is a party being held at the building tonight. The two of you can go in, but with no coms or weapons," Waller explains. "This is the only opening we have. Intelligence indicates that the weapon will be used very soon," Waller says as she takes a step closer to Laurel. "You may not like my methods Ms Lance, but intelligence indicates that you are the only person capable of destroying this without a weapon," Waller explains. "People have died to get us this information, and more will die unless we act, unless you do," Waller says, handing file over to Laurel.
"I'm in," Laurel says, taking the file as she doesn't even have to think about it. This is something she has to try to stop.
"Agent Michaels will help you get sorted. You leave in forty minutes," Waller informs Laurel, before leaving, and once Waller leaves Laurel turns to Lyla.
"Is she always so blunt?" Laurel asks curious.
"That was actually her being tactful," Lyla reveals. "Come on, we've got a lot to do in forty minutes," Lyla assures her and she heads out, with Laurel right behind, as they head to where they need to go.
At the clocktower Thea and Ted weren't the only ones who spared as both Roy and Dig joined in on some training as it became more than clear that everyone was going a little stir crazy. As he knew that everyone needs to eat Ted has left to get them some food, as well as doing a perimeter check.
"How's it going?" Thea asks Sin, as she sits down next to her best friend, sitting cross legged in the chair.
"I think I might almost be there," Sin admits.
"Really?" Roy asks from across the room, where he is sitting with Diggle.
"Yeah, I can't be sure," Sin admits. "But there is a lot of feeling when it comes to computer science, and I just have a feeling that I am getting close," Sin reveals.
"Good, that's good," Thea says, feeling relieved. "I know you must be tired, so thanks," Thea tells her friend as she puts her hand on Sin's leg.
"I love Laurel too," Sin reminds Thea. "I don't need a thank you," Sin says, completely meaning that, as there is nothing she wouldn't do for Laurel, and once she speaks the trap door opens and Ted walks in, carrying a whole lot of food.
"I have breakfast and more caffeine," Ted reveals.
"Wow, you must really be worried," Roy comments. "You've drunk more coffee in the last few hours than I usually see you drink in a week," Roy reveals.
"Yeah, well, it's necessary," Ted comments. "We're all going to eat, and take turns getting some sleep on the racks downstairs,"
"No,"
"No way,"
"Not going to happen,"
Roy, Thea and Sin respectively say.
"Saw that one coming," Diggle comments, as he walks over to collect some food, being pretty sure that there will be nothing that he or Ted can say or do that will get the three of them to rest.
"I may not have D's arguing ability, but I can be pretty convincing. By the end of breakfast, the three of you will agree to sleep," Ted comments, feeling pretty confident in that assumption.
"Sure you will," The comments, sounding disbelieving.
A couple of hours after Waller explained the mission to them Laurel and Lyla, the former of whom still has a collar around her neck, are on a pretty small plane on their way to Corto Matese. As she wants to try and know exactly what to expect Laurel is reading the file Waller gave her when Lyla walks over.
As she heard the footsteps Laurel looks up in time to see Lyla press a button which causes the collar to open, and while she cannot see the collar the second Lyla presses the button the feeling Laurel has had which told her that her powers have been dampened is gone.
"I have a feeling wouldn't approve of you doing that," Laurel says, taking off the collar, though she is thankful. While she may not have her powers for long, and she may not be completely comfortable when it comes to using them, she does know that not having access to them feels wrong and is something she does not want to experience.
"Probably not, but I'm using my judgement. I don't think it's necessary," Lyla says as she sits down next to Laurel.
"I could take down this entire plane without breaking a sweat," Laurel comments, as while that isn't something she would do it is something she can do.
"But you won't," Lyla says, knowing that.
"How can you be so sure?" Laurel asks, as while Lyla is right she wants to know why Lyla thinks that.
"I was watching you when Waller was explaining the mission, saw the look in your eye. You want to protect people, so if there is even a chance of people dying you won't do nothing," Lyla says, knowing that, and feeling like Laurel has the potential to be a real hero.
"I can't do nothing," Laurel admits. "Especially if I am the only one who can stop this weapon," Laurel admits. From reading the file it definitely seems like she is the only one who can stop the weapon, but Laurel isn't overly sure how much she should trust it.
"Which is exactly why you're the right person for this mission," Lyla admits.
"You know if Waller had come to me, given me this information I would have agreed. She didn't have to use my Dad, or abduct me," Laurel reveals.
"That's not exactly Waller's style," Lyla reveals.
"You know, that doesn't surprise me," Laurel admits, and the two of them exchange amused looks before drifting into silence.
Hours have passed since Ted brought food to the tower, and to his disappointment he didn't really succeed at getting Thea, Roy and Sin to sleep. It is about lunch time and as she feels like her brother should have woken up by now Thea is sitting near her brothers' bed.
"Come on, Ollie, wake up," Thea begs. "We need you, Laurel needs you," Thea says, and to her relief she sees Oliver's hand start to twitch. "Ollie? Can you hear me? It's me, Speedy!" Thea says, hoping that this means her brother is finally going to wake up.
In a flash Oliver's eyes open and he bolts upright.
"Ollie, hey, it's okay," Thea says, not sure what to do, wondering if she should call Diggle, or even Ted down.
"Speedy?" Oliver asks, as he starts to get his baring's. "What happened?" Oliver asks, feeling confused.
"The Dark Archer," Thea explains. "You saved the hostages and the two of you fought," Thea reveals. "Dig and I arrived and helped, got you before anyone could see under your hood,".
"Thank you," Oliver says, and as he does exactly what happened before he woke up comes back to him. "Laurel? Have we found her? Is she okay? Where is she?" Oliver asks, looking almost terrified about what could have happened to her.
"We still don't know," Thea says, hating that. "Sin is still trying to get a lead from the cameras Roy collected. Dig and I talked to Quinten, he thinks Laurel sent me, Roy and Sin to a safe place with you and Dig before she turned herself over," Thea reveals, and as she does Oliver goes to stand up. "Wow, what are you doing?" The asks, sounding confused.
"We need to find Laurel, I can't do it form this gurney," Oliver explains, standing up. "is there anything else I should know?" Oliver asks curious.
"Ted heard about what happened to Laurel so he showed up, he has access to this place," Thea explains, and Oliver can guess where this is going. "I thought that Dig should make the call and he told Ted about you being The Hood, and you really need a better name for that," Thea tells her brother.
"Great," Oliver says sarcastically, feeling anger and he isn't sure what else, but he is pretty sure that anger won't help him get Laurel back, which is what matters most, and ignoring Thea's other comment.
"Hey, I know you don't know, or trust, Ted, but Laurel and I do," Thea admits. "You can trust him too, Ollie," Thea tells her brother.
"We'll see," Oliver responds, and before Thea has a chance to say something they are interrupted by Sin's voice coming through the Clock Towers PA system.
"Thea, you need to get up here, I've uncorrupted the images," Sin reveals, and once she does Oliver and Thea go running upstairs.
As Oliver is waking up back in Staring City Laurel and Lyla are in a safe house in Corto Matese as it is a couple of hours until the party which will give them their opportunity to destroy the weapon. While Laurel is reading the intel file for what feels like the hundredth time, Lyla walks in and puts a cup of coffee in front of Laurel.
"Every Lawyer and Solider I know are addicted to coffee. I guessed you would be too," Lyla admits.
"Good guess," Laurel responds, putting the file down so that she can drink the coffee. "Lyla, how are we going to do this?" Laurel asks.
"What do you mean?" Lyla asks curious, as she though the plan was pretty obvious.
"I get how we're going to get into the party, how I am going to destroy the weapon, but what I don't get is how we're going to get to the weapon without any weapons of our own. It's going to be seriously protected," Laurel explains as she is pretty sure that is one big flaw.
"You and me, Laurel, we are weapons, never forget that," Lyla says, and not sure what to say Laurel just nods. "As for how we're going to get to the weapon it's simple," Lyla admits. "As I am sure you've read our informant says that the weapon is being kept in a subbasement," Lyla reveals.
"With some pretty intense protection. Including a door that seems like it will be basically impossible to break through," Laurel comments.
"Which is exactly why we'll deal with any human guards and then you'll use your Cry on the door, and then the weapon," Lyla explains.
"Something tells me it won't be as simple as you just made it sound," Laurel comments.
"It probably won't be," Lyla admits. "Once the weapon is destroyed we get out as quick as possible. We won't have long before the extraction team leave. They cannot wait long for us, as soon as we destroy the weapon it will become too dangerous," Lyla explains.
"For us as well," Laurel says and as she does she knows what will motivate her to make sure she gets out, and the extraction quickly is the thought of being reunited with her kids, and Oliver.
"That goes without saying," Lyla comments, and once she does her phone starts to ring. Looking down at the phone she is more surprised than she should be to see 'John Diggle' on the caller ID.