Ultimate Love
Author's note: Here I am back people, back to this story, with some apologies of focusing on other ones, but I never abandoned this. Sucks that Arrow was canceled, but color me hopeful in thinking it may still come back and still it is alive in the hearts and souls of many friends of mine and yours as well. I re-read what I wrote in the previous chapters, got tonnes of ideas. So enjoy!
Some Malcolm, some Oc's i introduced earlier :p
XxXxXxX
New York, Grand Central Station.
"So tell me again what are we doing here. Were we not heading for Star City?" John Carson said to his daughter.
Emily used an announcement over the loudspeakers to postpone and weigh her answer. Her father had no idea she and her friend, Sabrina were mercenaries, working for Malcolm Merlyn, who'd given them a cold shoulder for months and New York was the first good lead they received.
ARGUS, the newly minted director of it: Lyla Diggle.
She was the best lead, NCIS Abby Sciuto having given her the tip. It hurt her to lie to her father, but she had to.
When some mundane announcement ended, she turned back to her father. He was a car company mogul, having immigrated from Poland, the company of which she was the COO.
"Come on Dad, all these years, how many times you told me you want us to see New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles?"
"And now you decide we should do this? You do have a second agenda" Oh, he knew her so well. No use in lying.
"Yeah, I have an acquaintance I need to track down, to bring me to a friend."
"Would that friend be Malcolm by any chance?"
Caught in the act.
"Yes, him," Emily said.
"Part of a deal of yours? And do not pretend I don't know you are a mercenary."
Emily dragged him to some outside seats at a cafe, ordered some mineral water and juice.
"How do you know?" she asked anxiously after the waitress served them.
"There is very little I do not know, dear," John said. "So is he another target?"
Emily thought for a while, using, again, this time to pour them water to postpone her answer. "No he is not. He is actually my boss and more importantly, the love of my life that has disappeared. Me and Sabrina have tried to track him for months now, and the lead we got is what lead us to New York. And forgive me, but you wanted to see it; besides, I cannot take chances so I brought you along, so that we can protect you."
"As if I'm not able to protect myself?" John balked. He was proficient in martial arts, showed her the basic when she was only a teen.
"Daddy I am serious, these people, they are way beyond what our bodyguards are capable of."
"Now you're scaring me."
"And you should be," Emily said. "They are people that make Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein look like kind members of a peace organization"
"What the hell would you be doing getting involved with people like this?"
"Neither Malcolm or I chose to have anything to do with them."
"So what?"
"Unfortunate circumstances. Malcolm did not always hire me to do bad things, he hired me to protect people."
"Why you?"
"Why not me, Daddy? I've lived through mom being taken advantage of and then killed during the Polish mob war! I know the dark side all too well!
"Don't you think I did this to protect us, protect you?!
John sighed "It should not be your responsibility"
"Then what, aside from building a successful company so we'd have a decent future, dealing with Mom's shenanigans, putting me through my school, university, you should have been burdened with this?
"It took me months to tell you what she was involved in, and how could I ? The mob could have been listening in. Besides you were in Star City, making sure we would eventually be free from them!"
"While you were stuck, playing the weakling for the mob, so they would not consider you a threat?"
"They still killed mother anyway," Emily deadpanned. "This is more or less when I became a mercenary. I was so angry, Dad, and I trained martial so not to become like Mom, I have killed a lot of them; I have trained with killers turned to teachers. Then I came here to America with a reputation that even got me and Sabrina. a mean fighter herself, to a meeting with Malcolm. He lost a person; his wife, to a gang-member, I lost my mother, I showed him my skills, my motivation, and he took us on. And despite what he went through, what the did, he is still a good person, deep down inside. That is how and why I fell in love with him, why Sabrina became great friends with him."
"I am very glad for you. Finding and fighting for love is not an easy thing. And becoming a killer?"
"Very much a defense mechanism," Emily said. "Either they kill you or you kill them"
"This is not a future I ever wanted for you, darling."
"I know. But here we are, and it's not your fault."
Carson nodded, taking a few gulps of his water."
"Speaking of future," Emily's face took on a glare. "Lyla from ARGUS is approaching." Emily stood up, subconsciously taking a defensive position in front of her father. Lyla looked over Emily's shoulder towards John,
"Mr Carson, I presume," she said, seemingly ignoring Emily. She would not tolerate it.
"Lyla, you and my father can exchange pleasantries any other time." She whipped up a dagger from her pants, keeping it close by, ready with her training, ready to use it.
Her father noticed and covertly clicked the safely off his gun as he took it out covertly, hiding it by his side.
"Now tell me, where is Malcolm and what have you done with him?" Emily growled.
"Alive and very cooperative. He is too much of an asset to be killed," Lyla said.
"Does not in any way mean he is well," Emily growled again and dragged Lyla into an alley by the side of the cafe.
"You don't think I came alone, do you?" Lyla said in a threatening voice.
"You don't think my father and I came alone, do you?" Emily countered, pressing on the side of her head as if she was fixing an earring. In reality she turned on top of the notch commlink.
"Kevin, now is the time." A red dot appeared on Lyla's blouse.
"Surprise surprise," Lyla mocked. "The same coloured dot just appeared on your father's shirt.
Emily laughed. " No, it didn't. He made it inside the cafe and way away from your sniper's reach." She pressed the commlink in her ear. "Daddy are you okay?"
"Way away from the reach of the snipers. By the way, hello back, Lyla."
Lyla disconnected, her expression very frustrated. Emily thought for a minute she was going to go hand to hand combat with her, but Lyla decided against such a public display of violence.
"Take me to Malcolm," Emily demanded instead of going fisty fists with the director of ARGUS.
"Follow me then. I think your father heard our conversation."
"He did and knows what to do."
"Then i take it he knows not to do anything stupid, for his and your good."
"He knows. Now take me to Malcolm." Emily's tone brooked no objection.
"That is where we are headed." Lyla led her to a helicopter on top of a very tall building in New York.
They boarded the machine, strapped in and went on their way.
Emily looked at the Statue of Liberty with an ironic glare "You know, Lyla, I used to dream of coming here, seeing this symbol of freedom... Now I understand why she has such a sad expression."
"Well, wait till you get to Washington or some other cities. There is even less liberty there."
"Way to cheer me up," Emily griped.
"Did not mean to," Lyla said flippantly.
"So, it's fake smiles, pretty clothes and hairstyles, monumental buildings within which shady deals are being made? At least they have decent liquor on this aircraft." She reached out her champagne glass to a steward with a huge tip. "One more, and, keep them coming"
"Of course, Miss Carson"
Lyla just shrugged with disapptroval.
XxXxXx
"ARGUS UNDISCLOSED SITE, EMILY SUSPECTS ITS NEAR WASHINGTON
"Malcolm!" Emily blurted out when an aide of Lyla's brought him out. He looked tired and definitely a person who had been tortured.
Emily was afraid that the impact of her hug would hurt him, but he held on, held her close and strong.
"Emily," he whispered. "I am both angry and grateful that you're here. Angry because you risked so much, grateful, because God forgive me, I need you with my entire soul."
"And that is why I'm here." Emily started to cry. "Because of your soul, because of you. I'm nothing, without you life has no meaning."
"How is your father?" Malcolm whispered. "Gathering forces to help us," Emily whispered in return. Then she heard Lyla approaching, turned on her heel and punched her in her face.
"Emily what the heck?!" Malcolm exclaimed as he helped Lyla up.
"She threatened me and my father with fucking snipers in New York, she had it coming! Oh mighty director of ARGUS, I can still come up with a punch, remember that!" She turned away only to be faced with John Diggle.
"What did you just do to my wife?" he asked her angrily.
"Only what she deserved," Emily growled. "She not only threatened my father and I with snipers, but she did hell knows what to Malcolm. Now I am coming in to wherever hellhole you emerged from, and I am here to take my vengeance."
"And I dare you, try and prevent me!" She grabbed Malcolm's hand locked the door behind her.
Malcolm kept running after her along the corridor, for a while then stopped, laughing.
"Malcolm are you okay?"
"I don't know, but did you just bitch slap Lyla, decked Diggle with a duffel bag and locked the director and co-director out of their facility?!"And locked us in? You realize there are trained ARGUS WARRIORS here, also, Oliver?
"Yeah, I guess I did, kinda badass, dontcha think? She threw him a crooked smile. "Oh they will find their way in eventually, I'm sure
"You got you Dad involved, Sabrina, Tim , Kevin...
"Yeah, And a few acquaintances we picked up along the way. If it's gonna be war, it's gonna be war my way, finally."
Now, Malcolm 've been here a while, they did not bring you out in chains, and you have that famous League training of yours, so you observed the building , Now, Mr Merlyn, show me a room that is the least likely ARGUS GOONS are goingto find us. room to prepare ourselves and going to have some fun."
"With a large duffel bag?
"Whats in it. Gibbs and the rest of his team don't have any love lost for ARGUS so, they decided to help.
"Time for gifts: " She opened the bag,took out their bows, laid them reverently aside, along with the arrows, She threw him his League uniform and cowl. She rummaged in the bag a little more and took out her own new costume. Black and silver with plenty of room to hide swords, daggers, throwing ninja style stars, syringes of sedatives and adrenaline, some anti-poisons Sabrina, Abby and lab have researched There was still more in the bag, which Emily took to a nearby side room with a mirror. When she emerged,he emerged, she was a vision in her new costume. Black close to the figure, but practical with silver elements that looked like arrowheads but also like icicles sharpened into arrowheads. Her studded gloves reached up to her elbows joining in with her sleeves that hid tinier daggers to be shot out.
"It was a bitch training with these, there's all this muscles you need to learn to control, but watch this. Abby made it so that I can shoot them like that and the next come out the claaaaaaws.
"And you did not have any elective surgery for those?"
"Nah, I'm not wolverine. Abby, Sabrina and I put our heads together and they are programmed to be used only by me or if i want to borrow them to someone i speak a special code word, spoken in my voice.
"With it comes a slightly darker brown wig, longer than my original hair, slightly wavy and the programming is in, you can't pull it off during a fight without the code word.
There is also a mask ...And a cowl.
Malcolm was stopped by a sudden disturbance in the ceiling.
Lo and behold, Sabrina and Kevin jumped in. "You could have been a bit softer on the landing" Sabrina griped, then they turned their eyes to Emily in full costume.
"Omg we did it, Abby, Ems and I and...and Tim allowed us to give us some tech, hope you don't mind, kinda had to do it behind your back"
"If i lose my job over this, then-"You are not, we were super stealthy, and surrounded by friends.
"And I think now is time for the great reveal," Emily took a deep breath. "Malcolm, look at your suit. Sabrina, Tim and Kevin approached her, Abby also joined in.
"While working on our suits, going nuts not being able to find you, we upgraded the suits, including was badly damaged by the explosions, but we put our heads together ans saved it. It is still League but with very many enhancements"
Emily leaned over the duffel bag again and took out a perfectly folded package. "For a better future, accept these gifts."
Malcolm opened the package gently and there it was, his new suit with enhancements. It was much stronger.. "Abby and Gibbs actually had this idea, to modernize Kevlar. Make it lighter to wear and more durable so it can stop bullets better arrows, daggers, even explosions up to a point The cowl you are wearing also has a form of Kevlar in it. No more lost commllinks, side pockets with sedatives some adrenaline shots should we need it, painkillers, epinephrine...
"So let's suit up have an Argus team coming our way here, not to mention Lyla an Diggle outside.
"We have our people as well, in and out"
Sabrina 's voice hitched "Aren't you worried about your father? Does he have a special suit?"
"Not only does have a kickass suit he has an army of them. Sabrina, I would have never ever went into this without making sure he has the best protection.
"is is the team that worked on it, as well my father and Gibbs and his team.
'Best of the best"
"However, Sabrina, I would like you to accompany me. I have another gift for Malcolm, several in fact. I want you to be there when I present them to be him.
"He is meeting us in the main salon of his suite, which we charmed around so Layla's lackeys cannot find or us or him"
"Until we are ready."
"So what are these gifts? this chest is kinda League looking,"Sabrina said in a suspicious voice
"They are, and stuff what Malcolm needs, so help me along, we need to get them to him before-"
"Ladies what are you doing here with such a big chest. Maybe I can help you with it ?
Emily approached him with a seductive stride, then spoke a spell in Latin "You never saw us are feeling tired, time for some sleep in your quarters. should your superiors ask, everything is in order"
"Whoa, you used the sleeping and lying spells combined on him!" "Yeah it took me years to master"
"Well, but we are just that good, now lets haul ass to the apartment so you can give Malcolm his gifts"
Emily and Sabrina heaved, knocked a coded knock and Malcolm opened .
"I was expecting another interrogation session, maybe to piss of Lyla by wearing my new and enhanced Dark Archer uniform. I'm going mad just sequester in this golden cage."
"Well maybe this will make you feel better"
"Unpack it and you shall know" Sabrina griped.
"A lot has taken into acquiring it and packing it so pay it its deserved respect"
Malcolm delicately removed the tissue and stood in awe at what it held.
His Resh Al Ghul rid of any scent of Nyssa of any scent of Oliver's betrayal.
"How did you do it.? "He asked in shock
"Magic, family, friends. And ultimate love for you."
She went back to the chest as Sabrina poured then some glasses of champagne.
"So is it another gift you packed that I shall have to unwrap?"
"No, actually, there's gifts in there that I get to unwrap for you."
"Now take sips of your champagne already. I know you rarely drink, Sabrina, but for this you might make a few exceptions"
"So now approach and behold"
Sabrina just turned to her glass of champagne.
"Malcolm stood and stared "Hh-ow' are they here again? Nyssa burned them."
"You saw only one of them burning, didn't you? The Demon's head, the one Oliver gave you but did she throw the rest out?"
"So how is the Demon's Ring back? I knew the rest were just trinkets, symbols!"
Well, Malcolm, I am as you know I am a witch, so is Sabrina and we know things about elements. So match us with the best NCIS and what out friends have to offer and with the same elements, have your rings back,, Including the Demon's Head.
"Aside from that." Emily and Sabrina took out the largest item from the duffel bag. It was Malcolm's Resh AL Ghul coat, clean, pristine from the pool of blood after Oliver had cut his hand of. Sabrina and Emily put it on him, along with his necklaces
"How did you get it all back? "Malcolm asked.
"Well I am known for being panicky and react rashly, but I do pay attention to important things. Especially when the love of my life is missing, I get itchy and very inquisitive."
And there was the moment for the most epic movie scenes.
Malcolm took Emily in his arms in the most wonderful, tender kiss
Author's note: here is going for it the next chapter to know. Oliver, Malcolm, Sara, Sabrina and Emily John Carson feature big