The Dragon's Cave

This story revolves around the unexpected resurrection of Ricardo Diaz, despite Oliver's sacrifice to reboot the multiverse, and the rebirth of his shadow criminal empire in National City, bringing the havoc it caused on pre-Crisis Earth 1 to Supergirl and her allies.

I decided to write it because I've often wondered what it would be like to see the Girl of Steel going head-to-head with one of Oliver Queen's most sinister and dangerous enemies.

PROLOGUE

In his Slabside cell, Diaz is busy practicing his boxing moves. Suddenly, he stops. A sound he's just heard, makes him turn round. This brings him face-to-face with a familiar face.

"What are you doing here?"

The sprinklers on the ceiling start issuing flammable liquid. His whole upper body is soaked in it. Am ignited lighter is tossed inside. He catches it with his left hand, and he suffers the same fate as Jesse Frederico's.

Everything suddenly goes black. A montage of things he said, prior to his incarceration and death, is heard.

Abruptly, the scene switches to a nightclub. Diaz is seated at one of its circular tables, oblivious to having died from his burns. He takes two sips of his whiskey as he appears to be waiting for someone. Then, the disgraced SCPD officer, Parkes, comes into view. He is out of his uniform and dressed in a smart suit.

Parkes sits down. His phone suddenly receives a text. After glancing at the message, he shows it to Diaz.

"Twelve takers, boss."

"Cut that number down to eight. The other four could lose their nerve and rat me out."

"What do we do with them?"

"Make sure they don't get that chance and find me people willing to be on my payroll."

A MONTH LATER

Diaz is now the silent owner of the club he began his rebooted life in. He is in his office, when Parkes, now his second-in-command, enters, holding a sheet of paper. He slides it onto Ricardo's desk.

"Don't you knock?"

"Boss, they're in"

This information seizes Diaz's attention.

"All 20?"

"All 20, with more following."

"Do they know how vital is they don't open their mouths when they're mot meant to."

"They're 100% educated on that score, boss."

"The only thing in my way are the remnants of the late Oliver Queen's allies."

"Do you want me to rub them out?"

"All except Ramirez. His chances of becoming Star City's Mayor are becoming higher. If we try to move on him, he'll see us coming a mile off. John Diggle, Dinah Drake and Curtis Holt are a different story. Is there anyone whose wages I pay that might yet talk out of turn?"

"Councilwoman Bella Thompson isn't on your side as you'd like her to be. The word is that the cops who aren't loyal are starting to put the heat on her. They're a conversation away from tying Thompson to Intercrime."

"That organization is the perfect smokescreen for me to gain full control of National City. As for the Councilwoman, we can use her conscience to our advantage. Let's make it easy for her to secretly turn against me. Green Arrow's team won't miss the chance of trying to destroy my empire. Then, I make sure they end up in body bags."