Author's notes: Hello Readers! Last chapter, I made reference to a review that said something was wrong a couple of chapters ago. I have been updated on the matter and the problem turned out to be a glitch which made new chapters of some stories unable to be found. It is fixed now, but I just wanted to take the time to thank the reviewer for following up and making me aware of the situation. If the problem somehow persists, please let me know. With that out of the way, please enjoy this latest chapter!


Disclaimer: Based on characters and references owned by DC Universe and the CW, which I do not own. Enjoy!


"If you think I'm going to let YOU take my son, you are DEAD WRONG."

"It is not your son I am here to take, Oliver Queen."

"I am here…for the two of you."

"No!"

Oliver wakes up with a start, breathing frantically. He finds himself in a cell that he is not very familiar with. However, the floor tiles look identical to the floors of Arkham, only much cleaner. He gets up and takes a quick look at himself. His Green Arrow attire has been replaced by an orange jumpsuit. No quiver or bow are on his back.

There is nothing inside his cell but a bed next to him, a toilet, and a door. It is not a metal door like the cells he saw before. They are slick metal bars that let him see some of the outside hallway. He approaches it and starts to recognize where he is.

This is the hallway with all the special inmates. But it's…different. Is this Deegan's doing?

"Oliver?" The voice of Barry calls out.

Barry comes into view from one of the cells further down, wearing the same colored jumpsuit. His cell looks very similar, with the exception of some kind of generator placed outside. Most likely, it is powering a dampener like the meta prison back at STAR Labs.

"Barry," Oliver responds with an assured tone. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, but where are we?"

"In Arkham. But Deegan must have changed it."

"Which means that Novu gave him back the book," J'onn's voice determines.

To Oliver's left, J'onn appears from the darkness of his cell. He is in his Martian form, but his skin seems to have been simmered, almost burned.

"What happened to you?" Oliver asks.

"I tried escaping my cell by shapeshifting. But the instant I did, sunlamps came on and almost burned me to a crisp. It was like fire was on my face. I'm fine now, but I can't get out with my powers."

"I can't phase out of here either," Barry explains. "It looks like Deegan made these cells to counter our abilities."

Oliver looks out towards each cell to see if he can find anyone else. So far, the cells opposite him are either empty or too far away to see. Most worrying of all, there is no sign of William.

"Is anyone else out there?!"

Suddenly, a head slumps down onto the cell bars right next to Deegan's office. Everyone, including Oliver, are shocked to see Clark breathing weakly.

"H-hey…guys."

His voice still echoes, but his voice is so raspy that it is barely audible.

"Clark?" Barry asks with concern. "What happened to you?"

"K-kryptonite."

"Kryptonite?" Oliver asks.

"A green gem from his home world," J'onn explains. "They weaken Clark, or can outright kill him if exposed for a long period of time."

"They're in…very large quantities, but short bursts. Turn off for a few seconds. But it's like…like they can sense whenever I'm regaining my strength."

Oliver looks behind him. Besides the bed, toilet, and tabletop, there is nothing else. He looks at the lock for the door, which doesn't look very sophisticated. But without something to pick the lock, he's out of luck.

"There's no countermeasures in my cell, but—"

"Your countermeasures are the simplest of all."

Startled by the sudden voice of Deegan, Oliver takes a couple steps back. Deegan stands there with a smirk, somehow appearing out of nowhere. His doctor attire is replaced by a blue suit and a purple cloak.

"I just left you in a cell with nothing to work with."

"Deegan?" Barry inquires, the cloak most likely obscuring his face.

Deegan chuckles. "Yes and no. I have become something far greater. A better hero than ANY of you."

Oliver clenches his fists and asks, "What did you do with William?"

Deegan seems to ignore him, continuing, "I have cured destiny of all the evil throughout our Earth's timeline. I have become its doctor. 'Doctor Destiny,' if you will."

Oliver grabs the bars and yells, "Where's my son!?"

Deegan looks over to him with a calm demeanor. "You mean the only obstacle in my way? That, I do not know. He wasn't found in the book. But I WILL find him."

Suddenly, two blurs enter the room. As they come into focus, they see Mia and Nora stand before Deegan, wearing black ARGUS suits labeled "DESTINY" on their shoulders.

"Dr. Destiny," Mia greets professionally. "The TCF may have found a lead on the Universe Destroyer."

Seeing his daughter in one piece, Oliver calls to her, "Mia!"

However, Mia swings her bow at the prison bars, startling Oliver away.

"Silence your tongue, prisoner!"

Taking just a step forward, Oliver looks into Mia's eyes. He doesn't see the love of a daughter, but the cold stare one would give to an enemy.

"What did you do to our daughters?!" Barry demanded to know.

Deegan flashes a smile. "Why, I simply found potential in their abilities and saw fit to recruit them. They are very handy indeed." Deegan turns to them and commands, "Tell the Director that I'll be there shortly."

"Yes Sir!" Both Mia and Nora exclaim before dashing back out.

Oliver grabs the bars again, this time even more furious. "You bastard!"

"They're lucky," Deegan says. "Their memories and behaviors were easy to change, as was the majority of the world."

"Then why haven't you changed us?" J'onn asked. "Why put us through all of this torture?!"

"Because I can't," Deegan explains. "The book wouldn't allow me, no matter how many times I tried. Delving deeper, though, I discovered why I really couldn't have YOUR powers." He points to both Oliver and Barry. "It's because you four are something else. Something beyond heroes."

Remembering the conversation with Ronnie and the hooded figure, Oliver looks over to J'onn and Clark's peering head.

"They're paragons," Oliver utters.

"That's it!" Deegan says, snapping his fingers. "Paragons! That's what the book said." Deegan places his hands behind his back, pacing the hallway as he continues, "So, my plan to bring you to my side will be much more…'methodical' in nature, as it has been for the few who resist my rule." He stops and turns his attention to Oliver, staring at him coldly. "Once I have your son, I will subject the five of you to VARIOUS experiments. Even if I can't sway you all, your deaths shall give me comfort, knowing that the MAJOR threats are out of the way. And the minor ones…" During the brief pause, Deegan holds out one hand, almost balling it into a fist. The other he raises up. As he does, blue sparks of energy appear out of thin air, combining together to create a rapier. "…I can simply cut down."

Oliver looks at the sword, both amazed and worried. It seems that everyone else does as well.

"You have the book's powers?!" Barry asks.

"Not all of it," Deegan explains. "But many of the things I dream up become reality and whatever I do not like…" The rapier then disappears into blue ashes. "…I can dissolve." Deegan gives Oliver one more cold stare, proclaiming, "Your son will be NO match for me. Not against MY power." He then walks away slowly, still looking to Oliver. "I look forward to our first trials, Oliver. Especially when you get to watch your son BEG for death."

Angry beyond comprehension, Oliver tries to rip the bars away, but finds them impossible to move. All he can do is yell, "Deegan! If you hurt him, I will end you! DEEGAN!"


Dr. Destiny smiles wryly as the last of Oliver Queen's empty threats fade into echoes.

Well, that felt invigorating! Showing off my superiority, watching them as they experienced total powerlessness. At this rate, I have won! Most of the evil in this world is gone and what resistance there is will be extinguished before the day is done.

"John!"

The voice of his lovely wife walks up the stairs to meet him. Seeing her is like watching a memory unfold. Her luscious black hair, beautiful brown eyes, and young appearance are still intact. It is a feeling he can never get over, no matter how many times he has seen her.

His smile goes from that of a man with power to someone who has regained everything once again. "Lydia. How are you handling the newest batch of patients?"

"Pretty well," Lydia answers. "Your latest machines have turned at least 99% of dissidents within the first hour."

"And the 1%?"

"We're trying to put more pressure on them, but they keep to the notion that free will is the ultimate form of goodness. We're scanning their brains for any solutions."

Hearing her talk about crude yet necessary measures made Destiny remember the few changes he made to Lydia. Before, she has been cautious about such experiments, saying that they were not ethically sound. But with the Book, he found a way to keep most of her personality intact without turning her into a total lunatic. To him, it is his greatest creation.

"You'll find it," Destiny assures her. "You always do."

Lydia blushes while flashing an enamored smile. She then takes his hand. "You know, after I'm done, maybe we can get some dinner at that Italian restaurant we like." She places another on his chest. "And maybe some 'fun' afterwards."

The offer entices him, his mind running rampant with the thoughts of the love he wished to rekindle after so long, to forget the trauma and pain of being alone. However, one other thought keeps pushing them down. The last thing the Monitor told him.

"This world is in your grasp. Soon, others will follow. But know that the Chosen Champion, William Queen, will seek to undo everything you have changed. Defeat him and victory is assured."

Destiny takes the hand on his chest with his own, looking at her with a regretful stare. "I would love to. But I just received notice of a lead on…HIM."

Lydia looks at him with concern. "The Universe Destroyer?"

"Yes. It may take up a chunk of my time, but I must find him and turn him. It is the only way to ensure the safety of our world, and all the others that we must conquer."

Lydia nods in acknowledgement. "I understand. Do what you must."

Destiny takes her hand to his lips and kisses her knuckles. "We will celebrate his capture when I return." He then gives her a smile. "And let's make it Chinese."

She smiles back, agreeing, "I'll hold you to it."

Lydia starts to walk back the way she came. As Destiny watches her leave, one more thought emerges in his head.

I won't let him take you away from me. I promise!