Chapter Twenty-Three:
Some people might argue that Central City was a complete reversal of fortune from the insanity of Starling City. There were many people who compared the relationship between Starling and Central, comparing it to Gotham City and Metropolis, although a less extreme version.
Still, Central was not without its criminals and some very eccentric people. Although, some of them were just passing through the city. And they caught the attention of some very interesting people. People who wanted to shut them down.
Deciding to head on a business trip, Oliver headed into town. He had been joined by Diana, who gave Aresia and Lexi some time off by being his bodyguard. Plus, this entire mission required Diana's very impressive skill set, so Oliver decided to take her to town. And she had been happy about being along for this mission.
The two of them would not be alone on this mission however. They waited for the third member of their party to arrive and she did, slipping on through at the darks. The lovely Mari McCabe other than Vixen slipped into the shadows. Mari greeted the two of them with a smile, although the way she wanted to greet them, would get in the way of their little investigation.
Mari decided to break the ice as the three of them headed into Oliver's car and drove into the city.
"So, the guy you're after you…."
"Yes," Oliver said. "The name's Bird, he's an arm's dealer, and his boss has been partnering up with HIVE."
Mari sighed. HIVE, the organization which Oliver had been tracking for months. Diana picked off where Oliver had left off.
"We haven't been able to get ahold of Bird's boss, but if anyone knows what deal Bird's boss has with HIVE, it's Bird."
The three made a short drive and arrived outside of the Central City Police Department. Barbara Gordon stood outside waiting for them and Oliver really should have figured out she had been a part of this investigation.
"So, what do you got?"
"Well, Bane's gone deep underground, back into Santa Prisca," Barbara explained. "Bird's still working his end of the operation, the smuggling in this city. There've been military trucks which have gone missing, along with a few high tech cases."
Barbara craned her neck and drew in a deep breath for a moment before speaking.
"I have a contact there who has been working on one of the cases. I'm hoping she will part with more information, because there is a missing piece of the puzzle."
"You know someone?"
"Yeah, I've been working with her for some time, although she's a bit...well, she has her own obsessions," Barbara said. "Mother dead, father in prison, that sort of thing. Father blamed for the death, although evidence is rather circumstantial at best."
Oliver nodded, oh one of those complex situations.
"Shall we head in?" Diana suggested.
"We better," Mari added. "This trail is bound to go cold sooner or later."
A lovely dark-haired woman in her mid-twenties stood in the midst of the CSI department of the Central City Police Station. She had a tendency to just let her mind wander. Her sister, Iris, said Brianna's mind had a tendency to go on for a run.
However, this tendency also allowed Brianna to daydream some cases. Dark hair, soft features, and a nice body, although Brianna had self confidence issues which prevented her from truly appreciating it. Also, bi-curious at times, but that was beside the point.
"Brianna?"
"Oh, hey, Captain Singh, listen I'm….you're not Captain Singh," Brianna said as she snapped out of her vision. "Barbara...you're here?"
And Barbara was not alone. Brianna recognized the man next to her and she looked into his face, who gave her a smile.
"Oliver Queen, here in my lab, in Central City?" Brianna asked. "Why?"
"Well, I need your help, Ms. Allen," Oliver said. "And Barbara told me you are the best at what you do."
Brianna turned to Barbara who flashed her an encouraging smile. Wow, this made her heart race a little bit more and Brianna turned her attention to Oliver and nodded.
"One of the trucks which were hijacked last night had merchandise on it, belonging to my company," Oliver said. "I hope you might have had an idea where it could be going."
"Oh, well, we've been investigating it, they all seem to be going down one of these three roads," Brianna said. "Here."
She fumbled through the clutter on her desk to find a map and a red pen. She marked the map, with a couple of Xs which indicated the roads. Oliver and Barbara looked at it, with Barbara inputting the locations in on her tablet, and Oliver just analyzing them the good old fashion way.
"What did he steal?" Brianna asked. "I know I shouldn't ask, as the driver of the truck told me it was a matter of security. Only in different words, and far less private…."
'It's a powerful microchip, which can boost any computer," Oliver said. "It was designed for better cell phone reception, although there are other purposes in the hands."
"This guy though, he's lavishly dressed, walks with a stick, and he has a bad attitude," Brianna said. "One of the drivers overheard one of the man's henchmen called him Bird. He's like something out of Gotham City, we haven't had anything quite like that."
Barbara and Oliver exchanged knowing looks. Oh, belive them, Bird seemed like he was something out of Gotham City because he was something out of Gotham City.
"Wow, Babs, all of this time, and I didn't know you were friends with Oliver Queen."
"Well, friends are pushing it," Barbara said. "But, I'm friends with one of his wives, Laurel….."
Barbara trailed off. Not that she did not reap the benefits of that one recently. Still she was more of a frenemy, with benefits.
"So, you really are in a Polymagus relationship?" Brianna blurted out. "Um, how does that work out?"
"Very well," Oliver said. "Better than you would think."
"Well, that's something," Brianna said. "Can't blame them though."
Brianna did not mean to say that last bit out loud. Thankfully, Oliver did not call her out on it and he and Barbara departed some time later, to allow Brianna to get a cup of hot coffee and hopefully ease her nerves a little bit.
A small group of hoodlums stood around. They had several weapons on a ship, about ready to be shipped out. They had to move fast because their boss had them on a time table. One particularly large men craned his neck and looked out into the shadows.
A figure swooped down and wrapped their legs around the man's neck. The man dropped down to the ground with a solid thump from the attack of this particular individual.
Two more men dropped to the ground in rapid fire succession. It took a moment for the goons to relaize they had been compromised. One of them whipped out a gun only to have an arrow pierce into his shoulder and disarm it.
Everyone looked up in horror as the Hood dropped down from the heavens and smashed the individual down across the chest. A very loud crack echoed throughout the room the moment the goon dropped down onto the back of the man's neck, causing him to crack against the ground.
"EVERYONE RUN!"
The man who said this had no chance. A lasso ensnared him around the waist. An armored woman slid into the attack and kicked him into the back of the man. She dodged a pipe swing and destroyed the pipe with a sword from a second goon. The goon went flying down onto the ground and smashed down to the ground with a huge move.
One of the goons withdrew two knives and pointed to the Hood. The Hood dodged the attacks from the knives. This guy had been very skilled. Three swipes with a third concealed knife missed the Hood. The Hood moved around and disarmed the man, yanking off his overcoat. Many more concealed knives clattered to the ground.
The knife wielding man spit a knife at the Hood who dodged. One arrow caught him in the chest and caused the man to fall back with blood easing from his chest.
The leader of the entire group dropped to his knees from the thunderous attack and running kick combination. The Hood hoisted him up off of the ground and slammed him down to the ground.
Vixen, Wonder Woman, and the Hood all looked down at the man who struggled underneath Oliver's grip.
"Where is Bird?"
"You can…."
Diana looped the lasso around the man's waist. His attempts to lie had been dashed.
"He's across town. Hotel on Grand Avenue. He's on the top floor. You'll never get up there."
Oliver put the man to sleep. It was time for them to head off and clip Bird's wings. Diana, Mari, and Oliver rushed off before Bird could come to terms something happened.
Bird sat in the hotel room, downing a bottle of fancy wine in celebration. Dressed in a sequined jacket, with feathers on it, with white hair and outlandish looking glasses, and carrying a walking stick with doubled a sword, Bird had been quite the eccentric character.
He lived the high life. Bird downed another drink and soon, HIVE would be one with his boss's organization. Unfortunately, his boss had to deal with an old foe, who had driven him back to Santa Prisca. But, Bane would rise again.
An arrow pierced the window and caught Bird's bodyguard in the chest. Bird pulled himself to his feet and brandished his cane stick.
"Bird?"
"You want some of this?" Bird asked. "You don't want any of this."
Bird rushed the man in the Hood and charged him. Despite having a few good drinks, for Bird, it was like drinking water. He swiped the cane at the hood and only slashed the curtains.
Spinning around, Bird ended up getting his leg swept out from underneath him. He jumped up and tried to stab him with a dart. The Hood blocked the attack and came back to slam Bird hard into the wall. Bird took a deep breath as all of his ribs had been cracked.
"Better back off, Jack, you have no idea who you're dealing with, Daddy!"
"You are working with HIVE."
'Hey, they cut a deal, and they're desperate ..."
Bird clammed up instantly. He was not going to sing like a canary to the Hood. No, no, the Bird was no stool pigeon, you see.
"Your boss had better stay away from the League's interest, or there will be trouble."
The Bird's crooked teeth loosened in his mouth from how hard the Hood nailed him into the wall. He smiled and broke out into a bit of a laugh.
"He broke the Bat. My boss broke him."
"I'm not him."
Oliver hurled Bird out of the window. Bird scrambled for the walking stick only for three arrows to be put into him in succession. Oliver grabbed Bird and snapped his neck to drop the dangerous criminal down to the ground and put him to sleep for good.
The Hood pulled back, and pulled Bird's tablet off of him. With any luck, he could crack it and find out information on Bird. and if not, well Barbara could obviously do what he could not. Between the two of them they would have the information and be one step closer to HIVE.
Oliver got the news. An arm's shipment had been taken down and a HIVE outpost, although a small one had been wiped out. Baby steps, towards a larger goal. Oliver leaned back and savored today's moment.
He had business to attend to in Central City in the morning. That could wait though. For Mari now slipped into the room, flashing Oliver "come-fuck-me" eyes. She dressed in a leopard print lingerie set as she stepped into the room. She put a hand on Oliver's chest.
"Shouldn't we wait for Diana?"
"She'll make up for lost time later," Mari said. 'I can't wait. And you know what I'm like after the hunt."
Oliver knew indeed and she already had been groping him before kissing him. He pulled Mari in, touching her body and making the totem bearer come undone with all of the ways she was being touched.
They moved beyond heavy, aggressive petting very quickly.
The Shameless Smut Commences In the Next Chapter.