Empty Building in Starling City, Night
Walking into the building, a member of the League of Assassins saw one of their own dead and on the floor. Kneeling over his fallen brother, the assassin uttered a prayer for them. "(Forgive and have mercy upon him. Protect him from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the fire.)" He spoke in Arabic. After checking his person for any information, he looked around the room and found the hiding spot; where he found a blank piece of paper. With that in mind, he decided it was time to visit an old friend.
Restaurant in Starling City, Night
Arriving at the restaurant for a catch-up dinner with Thea, Oliver snuck up behind her as she was sitting at the table. "Hi. Sorry, I'm late." He told her as he kissed her cheek.
"Late is your "on time," Ollie," Thea commented as he took a seat.
"So much for my promise that things would be different, right?" He chuckled.
"Relax, it's fine." She said.
"Dinner is on me." He said.
"With what money? Aren't you broke?" She pointed out.
"Um ... aren't you?" He countered with a nervous laugh.
"Not so much, actually." She revealed piquing his interest. "When I decided to come back, I had no idea what I wanted to do and realized I kind of missed the club. And turns out, a lot of other people do, too. I have investors. And they're going to help me buy back the Foundry from Queen Consolidated." She informed him.
"I'm thrilled for you, that's fantastic." He said happily, as she just smiled. "You seem changed. Stronger." He noted.
"After last year, I ... don't see any other way it could have turned out." She admitted.
"And that's it? You're not seeing someone, or ..."
"Hoping Roy didn't put you up to asking that." She mentioned.
"No. I'm just trying to figure out why you're so different." He said with a nervous smile.
"How about just being my big brother instead?" She asked.
"Ok." He nodded with a smile as they went back to dinner.
Time went by and eventually, the Queen siblings left the restaurant and parted ways with a hug; not knowing that someone was watching them from afar. Heading to his and Laurel's apartment, Oliver had this eerily feeling that he was being watched by someone. And at this point in his life, he trusted his instincts and immediately turned right into an alley with his pursuer following him. Jumping on top of a dumpster, Oliver quickly parkoured up a rooftop and immediately jump across to the next building. He then proceeded to quickly descend down a nearby staircase but halfway he jumped off of it. He landed and immediately jumped off the top of a hinged door and rolled onto the ground in the alley. As his pursuer continued to chase him, Oliver got the sense that he was only being followed by one individual. Just as he was about to make a turn to the alley that would've led him to the street for an ambush, an arrow flew by him hitting the dumpster just several feet from him: a warning shot to get his attention.
Turning around, Oliver saw that it was a member of the League of Assassins; though he admitted to himself for a brief second, he thought it was Malcolm Merlyn. "I'm assuming that you know I'm the Green Arrow?" Oliver asked not bothering to hide his identity as he suspected the League wouldn't go after him as a civilian, the assassin nodded his head which confirmed Oliver's suspicions. "I told Ra's al Ghul that the League of Assassins are not welcomed in Starling City!" Oliver growled as the assassin lowered their bow.
"Much as changed since then, Oliver." The assassin mentioned as he then proceeded to lower his hood and removed his mask revealing a face that Oliver hadn't seen in almost 5 years, Maseo Yamashiro, his old friend from Hong Kong.
"Maseo ..." Oliver could only utter as he was stunned to his core.
"Maseo is no longer. I am Sarab." He clarified to his former friend.
Oliver took a long moment before speaking up again. "Maseo?" Oliver said approaching him.
"I told you my name is Sarab!" Maseo strongly stated.
"You once told me, that a man cannot live by two names." Oliver reminded him.
"And I haven't. I have renounced my life as Maseo. There is now only Sarab, a phantom." Maseo explained to his former friend the origins of his new identity.
"After ... what happened, you joined the League of Assassins?" Oliver asked sadly remembering Akio.
"Yes. In my time since then, I have risen to the rank of Horseman. It would be similar to what you would refer to as a lieutenant, outside of the League." Maseo informed him.
"Maseo - Sarab." Oliver reluctantly corrected himself as he regathered his thoughts. "Last year, I sent one of your assassins back Ra's telling him to keep his business out of Starling City."
"And we have since then, my master respected your request and saw it as repayment for your services to us. But as I mentioned before, things have changed and now your city requires our presence." Maseo replied.
"Why?"
"Because we have heard rumors - whispers, really - that an enemy of the League is here," Maseo informed him
"Who?"
"Malcolm Merlyn, he's alive," Maseo revealed to Oliver, who was even more stunned with revelations tonight.
Arrowcave
Arriving back at their base, Oliver reluctantly brought Maseo with them while Laurel, Roy, and Diggle became anxious at a member of the League of Assassins knowing their hideout; in addition, to being told that the League now believed that Malcolm was alive. "How the hell can Malcolm Merlyn still be alive?" Laurel asked angrily towards Maseo as he was looking around the Arrowcave.
"I got a better question. Oliver, why the hell did you bring a member of the League of Assasins down here?" Dig questioned his decision.
"Maseo - Sarab, and I have a history together." Oliver brought it up as he was sitting in his chair.
"What kind of history?" Roy pressed as Oliver took a pause before answering.
"After the AMAZO sunk, and I thought I killed Slade; I drifted out to sea. Eventually, I was "rescued" by Amanda Waller." Oliver reluctantly revealed.
"So that's how you know her," Dig said as he was always curious about how his friend was on a first-name basis with the Director of ARGUS.
"After she did, she forced me to work for her as an operative. The skills I acquired on Lian Yu plus the fact that everyone already believed I was dead made me an ideal asset for ARGUS. I worked in Hong Kong, where I stayed with Maseo and his family." Oliver explained.
"So he was your handler?" Dig figured.
"And eventually my friend," Oliver added trying to assure the team and himself that Maseo could be trusted, at least he hoped so.
"Well, now that we have one question answered. I ask again, why the hell isn't Malcolm Merlyn six feet under." Laurel asked getting back to the original topic.
"Merlyn was a member of the League of Assassins. My master released him from his obligation to us with the understanding he would abide by its code of conduct." Maseo informed Laurel and the rest of Oliver's group.
"You guys are professional killers. That is a pretty low bar." Roy pointed out.
"The League of Assassins may differ in our means but we exist to punish evil as you do young man," Maseo said shooting Roy a look. "And Merlyn's Undertaking was an act of evil, which violate the League's principles. When you killed him, Oliver, we considered the matter settled. But then we received word from a reliable source that Merlyn faked his demise."
"What source?" Dig asked.
"Oliver's mother," Maseo said getting Oliver's attention.
"Yeah, well, Oliver's mom wasn't exactly known for her honesty." Roy reminded everyone. "No offense." He said immediately looking at Oliver. "I just can't believe that a guy everyone thinks was dead suddenly ... isn't."
"Neither did I. Until I saw these," Oliver said as he inserted a USB drive into the computer and pulled up a collection of photos. Photos that showed Merlyn alive and well.
"Where did you get these?" Laurel asked still in disbelief.
"A scout of ours. One that I discovered was dead upon my arrival to your city." Maseo told her.
"Didn't the police you know, find his body?" Roy wondered.
"Merlyn had resources all over Starling. I'm willing to bet one of them was in the Coroner's office." Oliver guessed who Merlyn was able to faked his death.
"Since learning Merlyn was alive, the League has hunted him all over the globe. Running down every rumor, following every whisper." Maseo told them.
"And one of those whispers put Merlyn back in Starling." Dig guessed.
"Yes," Maseo said and turned to face Oliver. "My master has been aware of your identity for some time now Oliver, I was able to confirm his suspicions; among others."
"Ra's sent you here to hoping my ties to you would help you in hunting down, Merlyn?" Oliver guessed. "Do you have any leads?"
"Yes," Maseo said and pulled out a blank piece of paper. "Do you have a flame?" He asked.
As Maseo held the blank piece of paper over a bunsen burner, the heat from the flame started to reveal the writing on it. "Unbelievable. My father had a notebook with hidden writing just like this." Oliver pointed out remembering the List.
"The notebook he received from Merlyn, I imagine. This is Ghost Ink. One of the means the League employs for concealing secrets." Maseo revealed and handed the paper to Oliver. "This information was held in a safe house where our scout was located at. I suspected Merlyn left town after taking his life."
"Meaning, he didn't have time to figure out what your scout knew." Laurel pointed out.
"Jansen. Question mark?" Oliver said reading out the last lines of the paper.
"Jansen, is that a place?" Dig asked.
"Well, hopefully, your dad will find out," Oliver asked looking at Laurel.
SCPD, Morning
"So, gentlemen, word of advice - next time you arrest a bookie, please make sure the chief is not one of his clients," Quentin said reprimanding one of his officers. "Now, that's what the chief told me to tell you, ok, but as far as I'm concerned, you just keep doing your jobs." He then pulled out his wallet and gave them some money. "First round tonight's on me. Please, get out of here." He told them and saw Laurel watching him.
"Buying rounds?" Laurel asked slightly worried if her father was bribing his officers.
"Ah, buying love. The fastest way to a cop's heart is through his liver." He commented as they walked to his office. "How are you feeling."
"I'm fine. Do you have a minute? Laurel asked.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He said quickly.
"I'm working on something with Oliver and we need your help. All we have is a name, Jansen. We don't know if it's an address or a person, though." She mentioned.
"All right, I'll look into it. How pressing is it?" He asked.
"Very pressing. Thanks, dad." She said leaving his office.
Buddist Temple, Night
Oliver, Roy, Laurel, and Maseo arrived at the location that Quentin provided them. "So this is where your scout was going next?" Laurel asked Maseo - Sarab, as she looked around at the beautiful temple garden.
"Jansen is Ken Zhi Jansen, a Buddist monk. Nine years ago, he was facing deportation to China. Merlyn bankrolled his defense." Oliver informed everyone.
"And Jansen returns the favor by giving Merlyn asylum in his garden," Roy brought up.
"Monastery." Maseo corrected the boy. "We should divide our forces, take on flanking positions." He told Oliver.
"I agree, but not -" Oliver started to say but Maseo cut right past Oliver.
"Was he always like that?" Laurel asked Ollie.
"Split up, but careful," Oliver said.
"Understood," Roy replied.
Entering the monastery, Maseo carefully and quietly moved through the temple undetected with Oliver following his trail not too far behind. Laurel and Roy, were covering the other part of the temple. Maseo then caught someone meditating in an open room, cutting through the garden, Maseo drew and aimed his bow and arrow at him.
"Oliver, we found Jansen," Laurel told him on comms.
"Negative. Maseo and I have eyes on him." Oliver told her as he saw Maseo approaching the target.
"Whoever's up there is not Jansen," Laurel informed him as she and Roy stared down at the memorial tree for Jansen, who died in 2012, just two years ago. Hearing this Oliver sprinted to Maseo's position.
"Jasen Sensei, I here on behalf of Ra's al Ghul, The Demon's Head. You will tell me where I can find Malcolm Merlyn or I will kill you where you sit," Maseo threatened the monk, who carefully rose and turned to face him; revealing himself to be Merlyn instead.
"Greetings, you must Ra's latest Horseman?" Malcolm said arrogantly.
Firing his arrow, Malcolm sidestepped to his left to avoid it. Moving in close, Maseo went to draw his katana but Malcolm quickly threw him to the ground and then dropped a smoke bomb to disorient him as he made his escape.
"Where is he?" Maseo asked Oliver as he arrived. Turning around, Oliver caught Merlyn running up the hill. Pulling out an arrow, Oliver fired it at Malcolm which grazed his shoulder. Malcolm saw Oliver and gave him a smirk, as he left.
Arrowcave
"What's going on? Did you find Merlyn?" Dig asked as Oliver, Roy, Laurel, and Maseo returned from the address Lance gave them.
"We did," Laurel told him.
"And where is he now?" Dig asked.
"We're working on that. He got away from us earlier tonight." Oliver explained putting his bow away. "But not before I hit him with an arrow laced with particulate nanotechnology. Felicity wrote a program that tracks the nanites using GPS." He said beginning the trace on Felicity's computer station.
"The Tracer Arrow." Dig clarified with a shorter explanation.
"Yeah," Oliver replied.
"Oliver, you had a shot at Merlyn. Why didn't you kill him?" Maseo asked calmly.
"I tagged him."
"With a flesh wound," Maseo said, his voice getting angry.
"He's marked." Oliver reminded her got up from the desk. "There's nowhere in the world he can go where I can't find him."
"And when you do?" Maseo asked.
"I'm not a killer anymore, Maseo," Oliver told his old friend.
"Merlyn is." Laurel reminded him cutting into the conversation. "He killed Tommy. And 502 other innocent people. How many more people are going to have to die before you put him down?" She said as left the room, with Oliver knowing she hadn't been taking Malcolm's return very well, and reluctantly decided to ignore Laurel's plight.
"Merlyn may try to contact Thea." He told Roy.
"I'm on it," Roy replied as he left to watch over her.
"The tracer arrow program ..." Oliver told Dig.
"You have Felicity monitoring remote from Central City?" Dig asked as he took Oliver's seat at the computer desk.
"No, she told me an idiot could run it," Oliver told him touching his forehead frustratedly.
"I will try very hard not to take that personally," Dig muttered.
"I'll be on the streets. Talk to me when you have his location." Oliver said grabbing his bow.
"Copy that," Dig replied.
"Let me know the second, you find Merlyn," Maseo told Oliver, who simply walked past him.
Verdant
"Hey." Roy greeted Thea as he walked on her working on remodeling Verdant, reviewing her choices for the club's new paint job.
"Grand reopening's not for another three weeks." Thea reminded him.
"Looks like you've got a lot more work to do. Need some help?" He asked.
"Ah, thanks, but I don't think that's a good idea." She admitted.
"Just as friends. And former co-workers." He assured her.
Letting her breath out, Thea accepted. "Bonsai Green, October Mist, or Avocado?" She said showing him the green color choices.
Roads of Starling City
On his motorcycle, Oliver moved past the cars until he heard John on comms. "Merlyn stopped. I've got his position," Dig told him.
"Go," Oliver answered.
"Air conditioner factory. 18th and Nelson. You want me to share this with your old pal?" Dig asked.
"No. I handle this myself." Oliver said adamantly.
"Copy that," Dig replied.
Air Condition Factory
Walking in on the factory, Oliver saw that it was abandoned and sighed in annoyance. "This place is empty. He's not here, Diggle." Oliver said on comms.
"Hello, Oliver," Malcolm said through a speaker system he set up earlier, while he was making this call elsewhere. "You're absolutely right. I'm not at the - what is it, the air conditioning factory? It's a very neat trick you have, but I'm sorry it didn't work out."
"When I find you ..." Oliver started to threaten him.
"You absolutely will. We need to talk. But I prefer a venue less conducive to conflict. Nelson Plaza, at Coldwater and Fifth, bottom of the stairs. It's a very public place; you'll want to leave your mask behind." Malcolm informed him. "I think this should remain between the two of us, so if I even see one of your associates, I promise you, you will not see me." He finished and ended his call.
Nelson Plaza
Dressed in civilian clothes, Oliver arrived at the meeting spot. Looking around for Malcolm, Oliver saw that he had chosen the spot well. There was a huge crowd of people, coming and going from every direction; a perfect place for Malcolm to hide, escape, or even use a civilian as a hostage, Oliver thought to himself.
"Hello, Oliver," Malcolm shouted from behind causing Oliver to turn around and walked towards him. "How are you? You've accomplished a lot with this city, I see."
"I'm not here to discuss Starling, Malcolm. I'm here to know why you've come to Starling." Oliver told him as he got up in his face.
"I came back for the simplest and most noble of reasons - Thea," Malcolm told causing Oliver to tilt his head in annoyance. "Six months ago, during the Siege, she was almost killed by one of Slade Wilson's Mirakuru soldiers. I protected her!"
"You're lying. Thea made it out before the attack."
"Unfortunately, she didn't make it out. But you wouldn't know because you were out being - what are you calling yourself these days? "The Green Arrow". Nice to see you took my suggestion." Malcolm pointed out. "That was the night I realized that Thea needs me!"
"Stay away from her," Oliver said threateningly.
"Don't worry. I've kept my distance." He lied and sighed. "But the world is a dangerous place. And you're too distracted to protect her. Which also brings me to the next topic of our conversation."
"Which is?"
"I'll need your assistance in the future," Malcolm revealed.
"You are out of mind if you think I'll help you." Oliver shot back angrily.
"You will. Because in the coming months, Ra's al Ghul has plans that will endanger Starling City. That will endanger Thea." He revealed. "Like it or not Oliver, our interests are currently aligned. You will need my help to protect this city from Ra's. And I need your help to kill Ra's in order to lift the blood bounty on my head."
"Where's your proof?" Oliver demanded and Malcolm reached into his breast pocket to pull out a flash drive.
"Surveillance footage of the past six months. I'm not the only reason the League here in Starling City." Malcolm explained as Oliver took the device.
"And how do you know this?"
"These streets were mine long before you laid claim to them. This is still my city." He reminded the younger archer, and look around the crowd. "I chose this place because crowds equal invisibility. Besides, I understand you're not killing people these days."
"Seriously considering making an exception." Oliver angrily replied.
"But you won't. Not here, not now. And after you review this footage and authenticate it; you won't in the days to come." Malcolm informed him.
"You're a killer," Oliver said bitterly.
"Yes, I am. But that doesn't change the fact that you'll need me and I swear to you on Thea's life that Ra's al Ghul is a threat to this city?" Malcolm said smugly and urgently as he left Oliver and disappeared into the crowd.
The Grind & Jolt Cafe, Morning
Meeting up with her brother for breakfast, Thea grabbed their two coffees and saw him come up to her with a disgruntled look. "From the look of your face, you need something stronger than coffee." She told him as she gave him his cup of joe.
"You ok?" Oliver asked her worried Malcolm may have gotten to her.
"Yeah, are you?" She asked.
Sighing heavily, Oliver answered." Back in Corto Maltese, I promised you there would be no more secrets. No more lies. And I'm trying to honor that." He reminded.
"Ok ..." She said with a pause as they sat down at a table.
"I learned something last night that's going to be difficult for you to hear. I think that it's what mom was trying to tell us the night she died, right before ..." He reluctantly started to say but look a bit of pause remembering her murder. "The night of the Siege, you were at the train station." He asked wanting to collaborate on Malcolm's story.
"Yeah. I ... it wasn't fun. I got attacked by one of those crazy masked things and he tried to strangle me. But he got shot by a cop, I think." She told a half-lie.
"Did you see him?"
"No. Why are you asking?"
"It wasn't a cop, Thea. It was Malcolm Merlyn." He revealed.
Taking a brief moment, Thea spoke up. "He's dead." She reminded him. "How do you know this?"
"An old friend of mine, who used to work ARGUS found out. He's sure." He told her which wasn't a complete lie. "If he was going to try to contact you, he would have done it by now. OK?" He told her softly in case she was worried about him.
"Thank you. For telling me." She said and her phone ringed causing her to answer it. "It's, uh, one of my investors. I -" However, as she got up, Oliver stopped her by grabbing her hand.
"Are you ok?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm - I'm fine. I - it's like you said; if he was going to contact me, he probably would have done it by now." She reminded him causing Oliver to nod in agreement, as she left to answer her phone.
Arrowcave
"Where's Oliver?" Maseo asked as she came down the steps.
"Out, taking care of some family business," Dig told him.
"I understand but there are more pressing matters at the moment," Maseo reminded them.
"He's not doing nothing. He tracked down Merlyn last night." Roy revealed.
"Did he kill him?" Maseo eagerly asked.
"No," Oliver answered as he walked on them.
"And why not?" Maseo asked.
"Because he told me that the League, that Ra's is plotting something for Starling City."
"And you know all of his words are lies." Maseo reminded his old friend.
"I believe him. Because he swore to me on his daughter's life." Oliver reluctantly revealed as he walked past Maseo.
"We had heard rumors Merlyn fathered another child. We couldn't confirm them." Maseo recounted and Oliver grew pensive, something that he easily noticed. "You know who it is."
"I do."
"If you put me through the effort of finding out on my own ... I might have to extract a price. From whoever it is you're protecting." Maseo gave him a forewarning.
"It's Thea." He said immediately while Roy closed his eyes briefly in worry. "My sister is Merlyn's daughter." Closing his eyes in understanding, Maseo walked away. "And that is the reason he came back to Starling City. Because she did. He's protecting her."
"And that is why you spared Merlyn. Twice."
"It had nothing to do with that. He explained to me - in his own twisted way - that he loves her. And then he swore to me on her life, that Ra's, that the League is a threat to Starling City." Oliver reminded him.
"And I swore on an oath of my own that I would make sure that Merlyn faces justice for his crimes against the League." Maseo reminded Oliver as he left the bunker.
"Maseo ... Maseo!" Oliver said following after him.
"Oliver, wait," Dig said getting in the way.
"We have to stop him!
"Do we?" Dig asked rhetorically. "Listen, I understand why you can't kill Merlyn, all of the reasons. Either way. The world is a better place without Malcolm Merlyn in it. You made a vow not to kill. Maseo didn't." He advised and Oliver saw Roy nodding in agreement with Diggle.
Outside Verdant, Night
"Thanks for your help. I mean, you really didn't have to do all that." Thea told Roy as they exited the club together.
"I like painting. It actually helps me turn my brain off. Feels kind of Zen." Roy admitted.
"You know, I actually wish you were still trying to get into my pants because this whole Zen helpful Roy thing is really freaking me out." She joked.
Suddenly, Maseo dressed in his League armor appeared in front of the two exes. Roy flipped in front of Thea to protect her but Maseo threw a tranq dart into his neck, rendering him unconscious. Getting in front of Maseo who quickly lowered his hood, Thea stood her ground. "Get away from him." She said angrily.
"I'm not here for him," Maseo revealed.
"Thea ..." Roy struggled to say as he drifted off, seeing Maseo take Thea elsewhere.
Malcolm Merlyn's Hideout
"Thea! Thea, are you here?" Malcolm asked out loud as they were supposed to train together tonight. Sighing, Malcolm went for his phone to call her. But as he looked out his window and saw a smoke signal, the kind that was used in the League and suddenly he knew what happened to his daughter.
Arrowcave
"What did you get at the precinct?" Oliver asked Laurel who was sitting on the slab with Roy.
"Not much," Laurel said as she took the tablet from Roy and gave it to Ollie. "But I did get this off a traffic camera. It was recorded 10 minutes ago. After I struck on anything related to Maseo or Thea, I just looked for strange." She explained as Oliver saw the video footage of smoke coming from the rooftop.
"Well, that definitely counts," Roy remarked.
"Last year, after we encountered Al-Owal I reached out to some old associates about the League of Assassins. I didn't learn much but from what I heard the League's communication system is a little outdated." Laurel mentioned as Oliver handed Dig the tablet.
"They're still using smoke signals." Dig realized as he watched the footage.
"Maseo's sending Malcolm a message." Oliver pointed out.
"I don't know about the cipher, but I'm willing to bet my wallet that means "We got you daughter," Dig noted as he gave the tablet away.
"Doesn't matter. Video gives me her location." Oliver said as he grabbed his bow.
"You mean "us" her location, right?" Dig said.
"No, I need you to secure the perimeter. Can't risk Thea seeing you." Oliver told Dig.
"Copy that," Dig replied as went to grab his gear.
"She already knows I know about the Green Arrow," Roy said getting off the slab.
"Not with a dose of League tranquilizer in your system," Oliver told Roy who hated that he had to sit this one out.
"What about me?" Laurel asked him.
"I need to monitor the situation," Oliver said.
"Alright. Listen, Oliver, I know I haven't been handling this situation with Merlyn very well and I'm sorry about that." She said apologized to him tenderly.
"It's okay. I get it." He uttered.
"I know you're not a killer. But he is. Whatever else he means to you or to Thea ... know that." Laurel told him as left still contemplating her words.
Abandon Factory
Tied up and suspended in the air, Thea was growing annoyed and irritable as she felt the blood rush to her head. "I'm going to get free of this, and when I do, I'm going to kill you." She threatened the Asian man dressed as her father as she hung upside down.
"I apologize for involving you in this. My quarrel is with your father." Maseo offered his condolences to Oliver's sister.
"My father's been dead for years, you crazy psycho bastard." She told the lunatic.
"Not Robert Queen. You true father - Al Sa-Her. "The Magician." Known to the uninitiated as Malcolm Merlyn." He told her.
"Then you know what he's going to do to you when he gets here." She reminded him of the dangerous man her dad could be.
"I know he'll die. My master told me if possible to make Merlyn's death as painful as possible, and I know of ways to cut a man to make his death last for days." He revealed his past as a torturer.
"Sounds like a great boss," She said sarcastically.
"My master may be the Demon, but he is far more honorable than your father." He proclaimed.
As an arrow flew through the air it severed Thea from her suspension, Oliver swooped in and caught her. "Run!" He told her, and Thea free from her restraints did as the Green Arrow told her.
Turning to face Maseo, Oliver saw him draw his katana. "For what it's worth Oliver, I didn't want it to come to this," Maseo told him.
"Neither did I," Oliver said sorrowfully.
Moving towards Oliver, Maseo swung his sword at Oliver's head only for the other to duck and spin around him. Blocking his sword strikes with his compound bow, Oliver eventually used a Meia Lua de Compasso, a Capoeira kick, which Maseo avoided. Getting back up, as he thrust his sword twice at Oliver; but Oliver avoided it and turned the tables, and tackled Maseo in the gut. Pushing him off of him, Maseo continued to maintain the offensive with Oliver parry his sword swings. Pushing Maseo into a nearby crate, Oliver doubled back but Maseo persisted. Blocking Maseo's katana with his bow, Maseo managed to spin around Oliver and was about to put her blade to his throat when suddenly an arrow disarmed him of his sword. This caused the two old friends to look above.
"You kidnapped my daughter. I hope you're prepared to die for that." Malcolm told Maseo dressed in his League armor.
"You are more than welcome to try, Al Sa-Her." Maseo addressed him calmly.
Getting away from Maseo's grasp, Malcolm fired two arrows at Maseo, however, he deflected them. As Malcolm jumped down, Maseo grabbed his knife from his waist and proceeded to fight off both Oliver and Merlyn. Oliver eventually ducked out of the fight briefly, letting Malcolm and Maseo continue fighting on their own. Blocking Malcolm's strikes, Maseo was eventually pushed back when Malcolm struck him in the face with his compound bow. Pulling out an ensnarement arrow, Oliver fired it at Maseo pinning him against a mechanical device. Malcolm, who was about to flee but Oliver immediately shot another arrow at him that sparked which cause the Dark Archer to fall to his knees.
"Finish him, Oliver. He killed Tommy. Your best friend, his own son. He murdered hundreds in your city. He will corrupt your sister." Maseo reminded his old friend as he notched another arrow aimed at Merlyn.
Removing his mask and lowering his Hood, Malcolm stared Oliver in the eyes. "There is blood on my hands. Almost too much to contemplate. But compared to Ra's ... I am the lesser of two evils." Malcolm proclaimed.
"Kill him!" Maseo shouted.
"Silence!" Malcolm snapped at the Horseman and looked back at Oliver. "You have a choice, Oliver. Either kill me or let me go." He said as he got to his feet.
"I could arrest you. I could have SCPD here in three minutes." Oliver said tensely.
"And in half that time, I will escape from whatever prison they put me in. You know that, so does he. We were trained by the League; no prison can hold us forever! Not even your one on Lian Yu." Malcolm revealed startling Oliver. "Which leaves you with only one option. To break your vows ... and kill me. Kill your sister's father." He suggested. After a long moment with both Maseo and Malcolm awaiting Oliver's decision, Oliver lowered his bow and Malcolm nodded as he took his leave.
Arrowcave
"Is Thea ok?" Roy asked Oliver as he walked back in with Dig and Maseo; with Laurel standing next to him.
"I just spoke to her she's fine. Doesn't know who took her or why. But I do." Oliver said and turned around slugging Maseo in the face with his right sending him to the ground.
"I suppose I deserved that." Maseo calmly admitted as he got back to his feet. "Though you should know your sister was never in any real danger."
"Doesn't matter. The Maseo I knew ... he would've never kidnapped an innocent girl and used her as bait." Oliver reminded him of the good man he was.
"Your right, he wouldn't. But Sarab, would." Maseo pointed out.
"What happened to you ... that turned into this," Oliver asked shaking his head in disbelief.
"You know what happened to me, Oliver. You know ... exactly what happened to me." Maseo said getting up close to Oliver, as they both sadly remembered Akio's fate. "But truthfully, Oliver what happened to you ... to make you spare the life of a man such as Merlyn?" He asked after a small pause.
"This," Oliver stated as he put in the flash drive that Malcolm gave him showing time-stamped video footage of the League, working in Starling City. "Merlyn is everything you say and more. But he wasn't lying about this." He told him as Laurel, Dig, and Roy looked on at it.
"We have our reason to be here." Maseo defended his organization's activities.
"And what are those reasons?" Oliver inquired but Maseo just remained silent. "Well whatever those reasons are if they involve my city, then it is my concern. And also, so long as Malcolm Merlyn is in my city, the League will make no move on him. He's under my protection." He told him.
"You would incur the wrath of the League of Assassins? I see time has not changed your stubbornness." Maseo replied a little startled by Oliver's decisions, and turned around to take his leave but stopped to face his friend once more. "Oliver. Despite what has happened between us tonight, I still value our friendship. This is why I must warn you that protecting Merlyn will make you an enemy of the League, and we are an enemy with a long memory. I hope that you will reconsider your actions. Because if you do not, the mercy you showed him tonight will cost you dearly someday."
"That better not be a threat, Maseo," Oliver said with a little anger.
"Actually, I was referring to Merlyn only. One day, Oliver, you will regret sparing his life ... of that I am certain." Maseo clarified as he took his leave past Felicity, who had just arrived back from Central City visiting Barry.
"What did I miss?" Felicity asked as the Team realized that they had quite a bit to catch her up on.
"Oliver, you don't owe me an explanation but are you sure letting Merlyn go was the right call?" Laurel asked him.
"I don't know. But do believe he was telling the truth about League." Oliver admitted.
"I hope you're right. Because last year, you and I went through a lot of trouble to keep the League out of Starling City and now, now you've basically provoked them to walk through the front door." She reminded him.
"I just can't believe that we're about to pick a fight with League under the word of a mass murderer." Dig wearily noted.
Verdant
"Are you ok?" Oliver asked Thea once he saw her.
"It's not my first time being kidnapped." Thea pointed out cleaning something with a rag.
"That's not what I meant." He clarified. "I never imagined you and scrubbing. Unless a spa treatment was involved." He admitted causing Thea to chuckle. "I spoke to Detective Lance. He doesn't think that man's going to bother you again."
"Why did he come after me in the first place." She asked feigning cluelessness.
"Maybe he thought the Queens still had money." He lied.
"I wish. But thank you for checking in on me." She said graciously.
"I'm always going to watch out for you. Always." He reminded her.
"Sorry, guys, I didn't mean to interrupt." Roy apologized as he walked in on the siblings.
"I was just leaving. Take care of yourself." Oliver told her as he left the two alone.
"I thought you had guys for that." Roy brought it up.
"It's kind of Zen. But you've got that same worried look on your face my brother had and really, I'm fine." She assured him.
"Good. I just wanted to make sure you're ok and I wanted to apologize. I'm sorry I couldn't stop him." He said.
"You tried. Really. Those were some nice move back there." She brought up, causing Roy to chuckle. "Whatever you're doing with the Green Arrow, is clearly paying off."
"You know, maybe I should apply for a job here as one of your bouncers." He suggested as he joined her at the bar.
"I think I've got that covered. But I could use an assistant manager." She revealed.
"For real?" He asked skeptically, thinking he'd never be a manager of any kind.
"I need somebody who knows the place as well as I do." She said.
"Absolutely." He said flattered.
"Purely platonic."
"Understood."
Immediately, Thea's phone began to ring causing her to check the ID. "Oh, it's my designer Kurt." She lied. "I should probably take this." She said leaving Roy.
"Are you safe?" Malcolm asked.
"I am now." She said going up the stairs. "Is that woman gone?"
"For now. And your brother?" He inquired.
"He's completely in the dark. He doesn't know a thing. But thank you, Dad." She told a smiling Malcolm.
"For what?"
"For taking care of me."
"I promised you, Thea. I will never let anyone hurt you." He reminded her.
Nanda Parbat, Day
Stepping into his master's chambers, Maseo knelt down on one knee in respect for his lord; who he saw was once again bathing in the sacred waters of Nanda Parbat. "The rumors were true. Malcolm Merlyn is in Starling City." He reported to him.
"They say a teacher is to take pride at the feats of his student, yet I seem to only feel shame and regret by making Merlyn so formidable." Ra's al Ghul noted to his Horseman as he got out from the pit.
"You could not have known what Merlyn would become once he left the League, my lord." Maseo offered his condolences.
"Perhaps. However, it is my responsibility to correct that mistake." Ra's stated as his servants helped him clothe himself and took his sword. "Nonetheless, Al Sa-Her will face the League's justice for his crimes against our code." He told his servant as then walked toward him. "What of Queen?"
"Merlyn has somehow discovered our activities in Starling and has used them to turn him into his ally. Oliver has sworn to protect Merlyn at any cost." Maseo informed him as his master allowed him to his feet.
"If this is true, then Oliver Queen courts war with us." Ra's decreed.
Author's Notes: As I rewatched this episode to write this chapter, I remembered the first time I watched it and thought back to how Malcolm is a damn good liar as even I was convinced he had nothing to do with Sara's death. Nonetheless, knowing everything Malcolm's done then and later on, Oliver really should have killed him as Diggle, Laurel, and Nyssa were right about him; even if the latter two were not in the best place of mind at the time, especially Nyssa. As for Malcolm living right now, he's slowly going to try to convince Oliver and Team Arrow that they will need his help against Ra's (which they will) without adding more reasons as to why they shouldn't just kill him and be done with it.
Even though Maseo took Nyssa's spot in this chapter, she will appear later in this story I promise, and Sara too, very soon.