Crack!

A sound that barely registers in his mind before he screams out in pain as he feels an electrical current racing through his entire body. This intense pain that snaps him wide awake and screams out loudly as he feels like his whole entire body is on fire. A current as quickly as it was there vanishes leaving him panting on the ground. Leaving Rene gasping for breath while his body spasms on the cold ground. A feeling that leaves him reeling as he tries to remember everything that happened the previous night. Memories that come flashing back to him. Memories of finishing his patrol around the city and heading home to his apartment. The memory of finding his apartment broken into and him going in to investigate. The memory of….

Thoughts that are suddenly snapped as a cackling sound coming from above makes him snap his eyes up to see her. The last woman he can remember seeing before he had been knocked out. Laurel Lance no! Black Siren standing smirking down at him with an object in his hands that makes his eyes go wide. This cattle prod he can see being activated causing small electrical currents to be seen coming out from the ends. A cattle prod that makes his eyes widen before this cold fury fills him. Before his body reacts on its own and he lunges forward only to find that his body is stopped as this intense pain coming from his neck forces him back down. A feeling that makes him quickly look over his shoulder before his eyes widen when he finds a chain attached to a far end wall. A chain linked to a collar around his neck. A collar he suddenly reaches down for before he once again screams out in pain and drops down to the floor when Laurel without any emotion shoves the end of the cattle prod to his exposed chest sending another electrical current through his body. An electrical current she leaves on him for a couple of seconds before she removes the cattle prod from his chest making his body spasm on the cold floor. A sight she merely smirks at before she kneels down to stare him directly in the eyes.

" Bark for me."

Staring up towards her with nothing but defiance in his eyes as he sees her patiently awaiting for him to answer rearing back Rene spits in Laurel's face and watches with a small amount of satisfaction her face turn slightly red in anger. Anger that is wiped away along the remains of saliva on the sleeve of her leather jacket before to his horror a vicious smirk comes across her face.

" Good, I was afraid there for a second you had already been tamed."

Snapping her attention back towards Rene without giving him a chance to respond instantly Laurel smashes the end of the cattle prod back into his chest causing him to spasm on the ground uncontrollably. Spasms that get worse by the second as he starts foaming at the mouth from the intense shocks being received.

" Don't worry though. I'll have you neutered in no time…."

" Stop it!?"

A voice coming from behind making her glance over her shoulder towards the far end of the room. Towards the only other occupientant in the room. A man who looks her way through swollen black eyes. With blood trickling down from the cut across his right cheek. A man that looks pleadingly at her to stop. To show mercy.

" Please!? You're killing him!?"

Casually shrugging her shoulders to his horror, deciding to take pity on the man foaming by the mouth on the ground removing the cattle prod from his chest making back up to her feet slowly Laurel stalks her way over to stand directly in front of Curtis. A man who looks as though he is about to faint the moment she leans down forward with the cattle prod still active.

" You know something? Out of everything that has happened so far, I'm most disappointed in you. Retrieving you was so easy but I suppose it can't be helped. You were only the brains of the misfits afterall or so what I'm told."

Glancing away from Curtis to look across the room at a nearby table with an object covered with this small cloth turning her attention back forward a small smile comes across Laurel's face.

" Let's test that theory shall we?"

Without giving anything away, moving across the room towards the table to slowly push it over towards Curtis in a sudden move Laurel rips away the cloth on the table revealing a metallic object from underneath. An object that doesn't take him more than a few seconds to recognize as his eyes go wide in realization.

" Oh I see that you recognize this? I have to admit it was rather impressive. To create a device that rendered my canary cry useless for the local boys in blue to take me away. Pure genius but i've found another use for this. You see, I've made some modifications to the original design."

Gently placing the cattle prod down onto the table plucking the collar off from the table that seems to make Curtis start to panic as he thrashes in his chair deciding to put an end to this resistance rearing back Laurel punches him hard in the stomach causing him to hunch over gasping for breath. A sight she looks down sadly at for a second before without any trouble she successfully attaches the collar around his neck causing a small red dot in the front to light up. A collar she takes a few steps back away from before she looks proudly down at her work.

" I do hope you appreciate the extra effort, I put into it."

With the words barely registering in his mind taking a couple of long deep breaths suddenly to his shock the sound of a click echoes in his eardrums. A click followed by another as he feels the restraints on his wrists being unlocked. This feeling that makes him look up to see Laurel tossing away a pair of handcuffs into the darkness with a clang as she holds the cattle prod in the other hand. This sense of freedom that makes him look at her in nothing but confusion as she kicks the table away sending it rolling across the room before she turns her sights back towards him with this look that sends a chill up and down his spine.

" You're free to go."

Casually waving her hand in dismissal shocking both of the other occupants in the room making a show to take a couple of steps back towards Rene on the ground just as Curtis cautiously makes to stand with his eyes trained on the open doorway in the far distance a snap of Laurel's fingers make him pause.

" Oh yeah. Just one more thing. I should have mentioned this a little earlier. The modifications I made to your little design are quite….deadly."

Reaching into her pocket ignoring the alarmed expressions across their faces to grasp a hold of the concealed object from within with a flick of her wrist Laurel sends the object soaring over her shoulder in Curtis's direction. An object that lands at his feet with a clang. An object that brings him nothing but confusion. A simple key chain filled with several keys. Keys that look almost exactly the same.

" Call it a game of chance. On that key chain you will find twelve keys attached. Now this is the part where you should pay close attention. The moment the collar was attached to your neck it had become active. From that moment you have had three minutes to find the right key to remove it from your neck. If you don't…."

Making an explosion motion with her free hand totally oblivious to the way Curtis's eyes go wide in horror as his skin pales considerably raising her free hand up to her face Laurel looks down towards her wrist as though checking the time.

" By my count you have one minute and change left."

Glancing down towards the keys in horror then back towards the back of her head as he sees her turn her head to look him in the eyes knowing then and there that she isn't bluffing without any hesitation Curtis dives down towards the ground and plucks the keychain off before he quickly feels all around the collar looking for a key slot. A key slot he finds quickly in the back before with shaky hands he quickly tries to lodge the first key into the key slot. An attempt that is in vain as the key doesn't fit the slot making him panic and reach for the next. This quick movement to his horror makes him drop the keychain down to the ground with a silent clang making Rene look in horror at him while Laurel looks at him with indifference. A look that doesn't change even after he scrambles down to his knees and retrieves the keychain from the ground before quickly returning back to the lock. A lock that doesn't budge even after a couple more attempts before to his and Rene's horror the light on the front of the collar starts to blink. This blinking that makes Curtis sweat bullets as his face pales considerably while his body starts to tremble until it finally happens. Until the collar activates and explodes causing this red cloud to burst where his head used to be spraying blood all over the room before his lifeless body crumbles down to the ground in a heap.

A gruesome sight that makes Rene scream out in fury as he reaches around and pulls on the chain attached to the collar around his neck while Laurel wipes away the blood that had splattered across her leather jacket in disgust. Blood that is flicked to the ground before she turns her sights back towards him and slowly making her way over to kneel before him once again with the cattle prod once again activated.

" I believe, I asked you to bark for me."

Earning his attention from the way he snaps his head to look towards her in nothing but anger smirking down at his defiance Laurel inches the end of the cattle prod closer to him until it is nearly centimeters away from his face.

" Bark for me."


The clicking of her fingers working her magic on the keyboard in front of her. The sound of a silent sob escaping her lips every now and then. The silent breathing of an armed guards holding her at gunpoint making sure she does as she was told. She still couldn't believe all of this was happening. Couldn't believe the resources this man had at his disposal. A man that she knew now she shouldn't have helped escape his prison. Even if it came at the cost of finding out Prometheus's real identity but she had. She had helped Helix rescue their leader. She had been the one to track him down. Had been the one to get through the security measures Argus had put forward to ensure he would remain in his cell and now she was paying for it. What they were exactly after was still a question to her. From what they are making her do it seems like they are after everything. Detailed files that only she would be able to retrieve from secure networks. Secure bank accounts being filled with funds all over the world using untraceable hacks that not even the best hackers the FBI have at their disposal would be able to solve. It was almost like they were starting their own enterprise. As though they are planning to turn Star City into their very own base of operations.

A thought though sinister has given her somewhat of hope. All those before them that have tried the same thing have failed. Malcolm Merlyn….Slade Wilson….Ra's al Ghul….Damian Darhk. Every single one of them had their own goals for this city and each and every single one of them has failed and this time would be no different. Oliver may be gone but his spirit remains alive in each and every single member of Team Arrow and she knows deep down in her heart this latest crisis will end the same as the others. Such a thought that makes her pause her typing earning her a shove in the back by one of the guards with their firearm making her grimace slightly from the contact but she would not give them anything. Would not give them the satisfaction of seeing a scared look come across her face. Would not give them the satisfaction of knowing how truly terrified she is right now. Instead she just sits there looking defiantly at the computer screen in front of her almost daring them to say something. Almost daring them to do something to make her cooperate.

An action that doesn't come as the sound of a door creaking open draws his attention away from her. A doorway that Felicity herself can't help but look towards before her eyes widen when she sees a familiar face making her way over towards them. A woman that couldn't be here. It simply wasn't possible. She is dead. She had been lost on that island. This look of shock that doesn't go unnoticed making a faint smile grace Laurel's lips before she turns her sights fully to stare directly at the armed guards in between them.

" Why don't you boys take a little break? I'll watch her until you return."

Sharing a look between them turning back to look towards Laurel with a faint nod, the guards slowly leave the room, closing the door behind them leaving the two ladies alone. A moment of silence that is suddenly broken up when Laurel grabs a hold of an unoccupied seat and flips it around before taking a seat with her elbows resting on the back while her eyes train on the blonde in front of her. A stare that makes to her amusement Felicity's eyes get even wider before after a couple of seconds of having a staring contest with her silently Laurel hears her gasp out.

" How are you alive? Nobody could have survived that."

" Oh I have my ways. What? You didn't honestly think you could get rid of me so easily did you?"

Left reeling at the lack of an answer staring directly at the smirking woman sitting across from her suddenly as though all of the pieces of the puzzle line up for her instantly Felicity's eyes go wide. Off course! It had to be her. It had to be this woman who revealed The Lair's location to Cayden James. It had to be her who showed them how to get through the base's defenses undetected. It just had to be. Everyone else that knew how was gone.

" It was you."

Receiving nothing but an interested look for this revelation a furious look comes across Felicity's face.

" It was you who told them the location of The Lair. It was you who told them how to get by the defenses."

" Yes it was me. I'm the one responsible for leading these men to your little hideout. Among other things."

Shrugging her shoulders like it is no big deal rolling her eyes at the way Felicity's hands clutch into tight fists in her lap without looking away Laurel reaches her right hand into her jacket pocket.

" Do you like chess?"

A question that catches Felicity by total surprise as to her confusion she watches Laurel dig out chess piece one after another out from her jacket pocket. Pieces she places down in a pile on the workplace in front of them except for two. A white queen and a black queen that she starts to play with between her fingers.

" I do. I always found the game to be so fascinating. A game that is said to be for children and adults for all ages but truly? The game is really meant for only the strongest minded people."

Scoffing at the mere thought of children playing such a game looking back towards Felicity with a smirk with a flick of her index finger slowly Laurel sends pieces one after another down to the ground as though they don't mean anything to her until none remain.

" I always loved playing when I was younger. The strategy involved in it. To have to think one step ahead of the person sitting across from you."

Seeing that she has Felicity's full attention as she stops playing with the chess pieces in her hand gently Laurel places down the white queen in front of Felicity before she places the black queen down in front of herself.

" I will admit the first time we played, I underestimated you. The strategy you used resulting in my capture was truly a work of art."

Letting out a sigh remembering that night so perfectly vanishing the thought as quickly as it enters a small smile comes across Laurel's face.

" But the next time we played it was I who returned the favor resulting in your placement on Lian Yu."

Now that was something worth remembering. Truly an easy job to accomplish. A feat that makes Laurel lean back in her seat with her arms crossed over her chest looking rather proud of herself.

" And now it's all come full circle. One last game to decide it all. Winner takes all."

Rooted to her spot with so many questions running through her mind just as she is about to respond an alarmed look comes across Felicity's face when she sees Laurel once again reach into her leather jacket's pockets. Only this time what she pulls out makes her confusion deepen even further. Nothing but five white pawns that she puts directly in front of the white queen.

" Ah yes Team Arrow. That is what you like to refer to yourselves as isn't it? A band of misguided individuals doing what they feel must be done to ensure the survival of one lone corrupt city."

Letting out a snort at how ridiculous such a thought truly is once again Laurel reaches into her leather jacket pocket only this time she doesn't reveal the chess piece she holds gently within.

" But I do not care for such a thing. To dedicate yourself to a cause with no such reward. To no praise from your peers for your accomplishments. To have no happy endings awaiting for you when the time comes to finally hang it up. No, I don't care for such a thing but there is one thing I do care about."

Deciding to no longer keep her in suspense, retracting her hand out of her pocket Laurel watches out of the corner of her eye Felicity's eyes go wide as saucers with a hint of tears about to break out. A chess piece far different than the rest she has pulled out. A lone white king piece she holds so gently between her fingers before she puts it down behind the lone black queen chess piece on the workplace.

" I always thought this part of the game was a bit feminist at first. To have the king be the lone piece needed to be protected by every single piece on the board. The lone piece that could not be lost but after time it started to make sense to me. The king although considered to be the most important piece on the board it is truly the queen that is the strongest. A piece that can cripple every other piece on the board. A piece that can lay waste to any defense the other player comes up with. A piece that can win you the game before the other player knows what hits them. A piece that is always counted on to protect the king never abandoning him for any reason."

Looking up from the chess pieces as she sees her silent message being heard loud and clear by the way Felicity's eyes keep widening with a few tears trickling out scoffing at such a weak scene reaching out Laurel grabs a hold of one of the white pawns in front of Felicity.

" Rene Gonzalez aka Wild Dog. A no good for nothing mutt who is more bark than bite."

Without showing any emotion with a flick of her wrist Laurel sends the chess piece over her shoulder to the shock of Felicity.

" Dead."

A word that makes Felicity's eyes get even wider knowing deep down in her heart that this woman sitting across from her isn't bluffing. A woman who ignores her shocked look to grab another white pawn from the workplace.

" Curtis Holt aka Mr Terrific. Horrible name by the way. So-called genius in his field."

Looking back towards Felicity's face seeing the situation she is in finally sinking in once again without showing any emotion Laurel flicks the chess piece over her shoulder.

" Dead."

Without wasting anytime reaching out Laurel grabs a hold of another pawn from the workplace and brings it up to eye level while ignoring the way Felicity's cheeks stare to pale.

" John Diggle aka Spartan."

A name that gets the biggest reaction out of them so far by the way Felicity shakes her head with tears trickling down her pale cheeks.

" Green Arrow wannabe and all in sense and purposes."

Turning her sights away from the chess piece to look into the terror filled eyes that beg for her not to hear what she is about to say next smirking at this reaction with a flick of her wrist Laurel sends the chess piece over her shoulder to the ground below to join the rest.

" Dead."

It just wasn't possible! None of this was possible! She just had to be lying! That was it! This was just some sort of mind game she is playing with her in hopes of breaking her. That is what her mind is screaming at her right now but her heart? In her heart Felicity knew this wasn't the case. Not with the way Laurel looks at her with this sense of victory in her eyes. With this triumph look that silently screams she is speaking the truth. That her teammates are gone. That Rene is gone. That Curtis is gone. That John is…."

" Quentin Lance."

A name she doesn't expect from the way a silent gasp escapes her lips. Surely she wouldn't? Not to her own father? Or atleast to a man that is a carbon copy of her father from another world. No one is that heartless.

" A once loving father. A once dedicated and honorable man."

Shaking her head sadly without any delay Laurel crushes the white pawn within her gloved hand to Felicity's horror before to her delight she sees the blonde's eyes almost pop out of her hand when she simply allows the remains of the white pawn to pour down onto the workplace.

" Dead."

It was too much. Rene….Curtis….John….now Quentin. Lives of good men lost. Lives of honorable men lost. Families that will now be forever torn apart. Children that will never see their father's ever again. Loved ones that will never know the truth about what happened to them. Too much for her to take as her nails dig deep into her palms. Heroes that will never be remembered. Heroes who lost their lives to this monster in front of her and she was next but if she was going to go down she was going to go down fighting. This thought that suddenly without any warning makes Felicity burst out of her chair and tackle a slightly surprised Laurel to the ground. Surprise she uses to her advantage to land a solid punch to the dirty blonde's face before her next blow is blocked by a raised forearm. The only offense she can muster up before a punch catches her clean in the jaw making her slump backwards knocking her computer chair down as she tries to keep her balance. A punch that leaves her dazed on the ground before this sudden weight on her chest coming from above makes her look up before Felicity's head is rocked to the side by a vicious punch causing a cut to open up across her cheek. A blow that leaves her even more dazed as the sound of movement above goes ignored in favor of staying down before she opens her eyes back up finding a smirking Laurel leaning down close to her displaying the white queen a few inches away from her face.

" Now only three remain."

Emerging back to her feet deciding to give the blonde below her one lasting parting gift rearing back Laurel drives her heel hard into Felicity's chest making her scream out in pain before with a smirk she removes her heel and drops the white queen down onto the screaming blonde's fallen form.

" All hail the king."