Escabedo Cartel Building, Santa Prisca, Night

Watching the Cartel's building via his sniper scope, Floyd Lawton aka Deadshot, made notice of the security around the building and was unable to find an entry point on the ground at least. "Guess they buffed up security since Michaels' last visit," Deadshot mentioned on comms to his teammates from the rooftop. Noticing that the building's security detail had even more guards with body armor and assault weapons, at least two guards each patrolling the same area. There was also an entire wall surrounding the building at least 12 feet high with barb wire at the top.

"Nothing we can't handle," Green Arrow said on comms. Sliding down the zip line with Laurel behind him, Oliver immediately fired an arrow into one of the guards on the rooftop once he landed; he also fired another arrow which brought down his partner before he could even react. "Our side of the roof is clear," He said pressing his comm-link.

"Ours isn't." Helena Bertinelli aka The Huntress told him as she and Carrie Cutter aka Cupid slid down their zip line on the other side of the building. Having timed it just right, the guards patrolling the area split up and once the two landed - Huntress fired from his crossbow on the guard on her right while Cupid fired from her recurve bow taking down the guard from her left. "Now it is," Huntress told her ex-lover.

As the four approached the rooftop entrance, Oliver pulled out one of the security entry cards that he swiped from one of the guards he knocked out; and used it to enter the building with the ladies following him and once more split into two groups.

In the surveillance room, two guards on monitor duty heard a knock at the door and one gave the other a puzzled look. "(Think someone forgot their card again?)" He asked in Spanish as he got up. As he opened the door, Laurel knocked him out with a tonfa-forearm strike to his face. And before the other guard could pull his gun, Laurel throw her tonfa-staff across the room and into his head. "We're in." Black Canary told everyone in her earpiece as she went over to pick up her weapon with Oliver right behind her. Putting down his compound bow, Oliver went through the security cameras trying to get the layout of the place and where the Mirakuru testing was being done.

"Got it," Oliver said and then talked to everyone on comms. "Ortiz is in a private room on the bottom floor there are at least 5 guards. Huntress, can you get him?"

"Only 5," Helena replied going down the staircase to the bottom.

"I've also got eyes where they have testing done, I'm headed there now." He said as he grabbed his bow. "Black Canary's going remain in the here as our eyes and ears, just in case." He said heading out, as Laurel assumed monitor duty.

Reaching the lab, Oliver saw the scientists at their workstations. One was typing on the computer, another was looking through a microscope, and the other was handling blood samples. Immediately, Oliver dosed each of them with tranq arrows rendering them unconscious. Jumping over and down to the lab floor, Oliver went over to the computer station. "Lab's clear," He said on comms and reach the computer.

"I can see that. Where are they on the Mirakuru?" Laurel asked him on comms as she was watching him on the camera footage.

"Give me a second, I speak Spanish, but I can't read it." He said pulling up some very easy translation software for him to use.

"You know, you should consider giving Felicity a raise when this is over." She commented.

Pulling out her hand-held crossbow, Helena moved down the staircase and reached the bottom floor. Carefully, she opened up the door and peeked outside. She saw five guards just like Laurel said, two were on standby their hands not even on their weapons. The other three seemed to be playing cards and then spotted a sixth person. Making a guess, Helena figured that this was Emilio Ortiz; who was probably out cold from all the lab testing that was done on him. "I've got eyes on Ortiz." Helena addressed the squad on comms.

"Okay, remain on standby until I'm finished here," Oliver said as the translator finished its job and began looking through the computer files. "Alright, as far as I can tell they haven't had any luck recreating the Mirakuru from Ortiz's blood. All their research is here as well as all of their samples."

"Alright, so we follow the plan. Set up the charges and -" Black Canary started to say but then heard the door open and turned to see it was Cutter, who shut the door and locked it behind her. "Uh, Cutter, why are you here? You're supposed to be -"

Immediately, Carrie flashed a sadistic smirk and drew and aimed an arrow at the Black Canary. "Finally, we're all alone together," Cupid remarked.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Laurel asked.

"Eliminating the one thing standing between me and the love of my life," Carrie answered.

"Seriously? You actually think that'll work?"

"All's fair in love and war," Carrie replied, and quickly Laurel grabbed her tonfa-staff and threw it at Cutter which caused her to shoot the arrow away from Laurel. As she reached for her tranq gun on her thigh holster, Carrie rushed her and tackled Laurel into the surveillance controls. Causing Laurel to accidentally hit the building's emergency alarm button. As the siren went off, Oliver, Helena, and every other guard and member of the Escabedo Cartel in the building were alerted by the noise going around the building.

"What the hell?" Helena said under her breath.

"Canary, what's happened!?" Oliver growled over comms.

"Blame your stalker!" Laurel yelled with some struggle as Cutter was trying to stab her with an arrow until she finally kicked Cutter off of her.

"Change of plans, Huntress get Ortiz now!" He ordered and then set an explosive arrow at the computer station and moved before it went off; destroying the research on the files. Moving over, Oliver then destroyed any of the samples that they had on the station with another explosive arrow.

Knowing the stealth option had gone to hell, Helena kicked down the door; immediately startling the guards. Using her crossbow, Helena shot the two guards that were still armed in the chest. As the three from the card table jumped up, one took a swing at Helena but she blocked it with her crossbow. After a quick punch to his solar plexus, Helena quick wrapped her entire body around his torso and spun to throw him to the ground. Kneeling, she aimed and fired her crossbow at the knee of the other guard and knocked the one underneath her out with the hilt of her crossbow. Getting up, Helena blocked the punches from the last before kneeing him in the gut. Dropping down and getting around him, Helena wrapped her arms under his ribcage and performed an Ura-Nage, dropping backward throwing him into and breaking the card table, and rendering him unconscious.

On the fourth floor, Oliver was dealing with what was probably left of the building's security as he was trying to head down to the third. Blocking punches with his compound bow, Oliver grabbed the cartel member by the collar and threw him over the stairway railing. Going down the steps, Oliver push-kicked the other guard causing him to roll down the stairs. As he sees two more guards, with guns coming his way. Oliver pulled and fired an arrow which split into two separate arrows, hitting both guards. "Meet up at the south end windows of the third floor," Oliver told the squad on comms.

Getting up, Helena saw Ortiz on the bed and he was still out cold. Picking him up, Helena carried Ortiz's fireman style. "Urgh. Thank God I have all the time to work out." Huntress said with some minor discomfort as she left the room with Ortiz.

Back in the surveillance room, Laurel was still handling Cutter. After receiving an elbow to her face by the crazy Cupid, Laurel used a side kick to push her back. Carrie rushed her allowing Laurel to use a Judo maneuver to redirect her momentum throwing her into the control panel. Quickly, Laurel grabbed Carrie by the back of her head and slammed her face into the control panel; twice. "It's sad how much I enjoyed that," Laurel noted under her breath as Carrie fell to the floor.

Striking downwards with his bow, Oliver finished off the last guard with a Meia Lua de Compasso kick to his face ending their short fight. Hearing more footsteps, Oliver drew and notched an arrow but stopped once he was Helena with Ortiz. "So how's your night going?" Helena sarcastically asked.

"You seen Laurel?" Oliver asked.

"Right here!" Laurel answered as Oliver looked around and saw her carrying Cutter like a pack strap.

"Sure, we can't just leave her," Helena suggested as Oliver gave her a dirty look.

"Don't tempt me." Laurel shrugged knowing the crazy bitch needed a mental hospital instead.

"Deadshot, we have Ortiz. But Cupid screwed up our operation, get ready to provide us cover." Oliver told the sniper on comms.

"Well she's lucky, you're in charge. Waller would've blown her head off already," Deadshot replied sardonically. "Where are you coming from?" And as he asked, Oliver fired an explosive arrow into the reinforced glass window, shattering it. "Never mind." He mentioned. Looking through his sniper scope, he saw the guards on the outside gathering around. All of them were armed, so immediately Lawton began shooting them down one by one. "Alright, you're clear."

Firing a grappling arrow that hit the ground floor outside, Oliver looked to his teammates. "Move!" He ordered as Helena and Laurel slid down the line with Ortiz and Cutter respectively. Oliver then followed and once he hit the ground, he looked at Laurel. "I'll take Cutter." He offered and Laurel handed the stalker to him as they resumed fleeing from the building.


Palmer Tech, Starling City, Daytime

Sitting at her desk in her office, Felicity just stared at her glasses on the table; deep in thought. "Hey," Ray said walking in as he greeted her.

"What are you doing here so early? The meeting's not for another three hours." Felicity asked.

"Yeah, well, I convinced Mayor Castle it might be a good idea to move it up. What, with a murderous killing amuck in the city." He answered referring to Danny Brickwell.

"Isn't that what the police are for?" She said putting her glasses back on.

"Well, she wanted to speak to city leaders. And I'll help in whatever way I can." He told her.

"And by help, you mean money, and counsel, not a suit powered by ... Dwarf Star Alloy that fires lasers at people?" She clarified putting on her coat as she was about to leave.

"Well, they aren't lasters. That would be ridiculous. They're compressed hard light beams." He corrected her with a chuckle. "And they don't actually fire, because I can't get anyone, specifically you, to help me fix the nanite chip."

"Well, I already told you, Ray, I am not interested in helping you with your suicide mission. And there is nothing that you can say or do that is going to change my mind." She told him and walked passed him to the meeting. "Are you ready to go?"


Verdant

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Thea asked as she saw her employee and possible new boy-toy, Chase, showed up.

"Oh, with that Brick guy running around the Glades, I figured I shouldn't leave my gear any place he might find it," Chase told her as they both stopped at the steps. "What are you doing here? This neighborhood isn't exactly a safe place to be hanging out right now."

"Well, I'm not hanging out, I'm just doing my job." She told him and he lightly grabbed her wrist as she was about to leave.

"Are we cool? It just seems like you've been avoiding me, you know, ever since we had that moment." He said referring to the kiss he stole.

"Moment? You have a very high opinion on your kissing skills." She sassed.

"Judging from how you responded, I think you've got a pretty opinion of them, too." He said confidently. "Unless you need a reminder."

"No, no right now." She chuckled. "But, um, I'll see you later?" She said leaving, which he did as well.

As Chase left, Thea saw a limo pull up to her club and saw her father get out. "Thea," Malcolm said shutting the door.

"Dad, is it safe for you to be here?" Thea asked.

"Safer, than you think. You've been avoiding me lately," He pointed out.

"Because you've been keeping things from me - especially recently." She pointed out. "You once told me, that I was as perceptive as my mother. That I could see through people's lies. And there is a lot that you have not been telling me lately. And until you do, you're going to get the cold shoulder." She said leaving as Malcolm got back into his limo.


City Hall

Attending a meeting at the Mayor's Office, Quentin was anxious because the Brick situation was getting worse. "All right, thank you, everyone, for coming, please take your seats." Mayor Castle asked everyone in her office who did just that. "As you know, over the last week, a criminal organization headed by Danny Brickwell has been on a crime spree unlike anything since Al Capone."

"Which begs the question - why aren't you arresting him?" One of the city Alderman, Richard Ford, asked.

"We sent in an ESU team to do just that. Most of those men are in the hospital now. Now we got no clue where he's holed up." Quentin answered. "Maybe if we had more men, but that means more money."

"Ah, I've got a few bucks," Ray said opening the door with Felicity behind him, as he overheard the conversation. "Sorry. In fact, Palmer Technology has just made a large donation to the SCPD, but it'll take time for that personal equipment to do any good. We need to consider calling in the National Guard." He suggested to Mayor as he got right next to her.

Suddenly, gunshots were heard, and their office window was shattered as a smoke bomb entered the room, starling everyone in the room.

"Always wanted to meet the Mayor." Brick said aloud as he held a hostage at gunpoint with his crew behind him. "Bring her and the Aldermen. Kill the rest." He ordered tossing the hostage aside.

Drawing his sidearm, Quentin shot down one of the would-be kidnappers. Immediately, he then ducked for cover behind a desk as one began firing at him with a sub-machine gun. Turning his gun to Ray, with Felicity behind him, Ray immediately tackled the thug into the desk before getting punched off of him. As he was about to fire, Quentin grabbed his arm out of the gunfire before knocking him out with the but of his gun.

"See? That's why I need a techno suit." Ray witted to Felicity.

"Is Mayor Castle alright?" Felicity asked Captain Lance.

"Yeah, but Brick's got the Aldermen." Quentin sighed.


Streets of Santa Prisca, Night

Running through the streets of Santa Prisca; Oliver, Laurel, and Helena took a brief stop in an alley several blocks away from the pharmaceutical building. "Alright, Lawton's gonna meet us at the rendezvous point," Oliver told them.

"Mmm." Carrie started to say as she was waking up. "Hmm, a girl could get used to waking up like this." She noted as the Green Arrow was carrying her bridal style and immediately put her down on the ground.

Suddenly, Laurel grabbed Cutter by her jacket and threw her against the wall, her forearm pressed just below her neck. "You nearly got us all killed!" She told the Eros wannabe.

"Sorry, I was only trying to kill you," Carrie admitted with almost child-like innocence. Annoyed, Laurel knocked her out again with an elbow to her head.

"You know we're gonna have to keep carrying her now." Helena pointed out to Laurel.

"I prefer her silent," Laurel noted.

"Plus, I don't trust her to not try to kill you again," Oliver admitted.

"Well, there is that too." Laurel agreed.

Very soon, the three heard the sound of a vehicle coming their way. At the end of the alley, they saw a humvee with a gun turret on it and the driver stopped. "Move!" Oliver shouted as the three did just that. As one of the cartel members took control of the turret and began firing in the alley, Oliver carrying Carrie went to the left while Laurel and Helena, who was carrying the Ortiz, went to the right. Hiding behind the brick walls, Laurel looked at Ollie. "We'll meet you at the rendevous point!" Laurel told him.

"No, we'll get there together!" Oliver refused.

Ducking back further behind the wall, she spoke again. "Not with that turret, or the dead weight we're carrying!" She loudly countered. "Go!"

Reluctantly, Oliver left and Laurel and Helena went their separate ways.


SCPD, Starling City, Night

"Hey," Quentin greeted Felicity after he was finished taking witness statements.

"How's your heart?" Felicity asked.

"Ah, still beating. You ok?" He asked but she didn't answer. "Listen, Oliver and Laurel, are they still in Santa Prisca?"

"Unfortunately, yes. It means we're on our own." Felicity replied.

"Alright, then. Excuse me." He said going to the interrogation room.

One of Brick's crew members that were caught during the assault, was handcuffed to the table at SCPD. "Jim Huffman. 34, eight arrests, no convictions. Grand Theft Auto, B&E, Drugs. You did pretty well, flying solo." Quentin said reading off his rap sheet before throwing it on the table. "What made you decide to start working for Brick?"

"I'm not telling you anything," Huffman growled.

"Okay, then we're done." Quentin joked, while Huffman just scoffed. "Kidding." He said taking a seat in front of him and began writing in his arrest report. "You don't want to talk about Brick, that's fine. Then let's talk about something else. Why would you murder Julio Salazar?"

"Salazar? Head of Los Halcones? I had nothing to do with him getting popped." Huffman told the cop.

"Well, that's not what your file says. See?" Quentin said showing him the murder report.

"What kind of game is this?" Huffman asked after a light scoff. "You just wrote that down!" You're making this stuff up!"

"Actually, I can charge you with whatever crime that I want. Of course, then they'd have to keep in custody until the trial. Good news - Belle Reve, it's a lot more comfortable than Iron Heights." Quentin said.

"Belle Reve's where the Los Halcones are locked up. If they think I offed Salazar. I won't last two seconds in there!" Huffman yelled.

"Tell me where I can find Danny Brickwell and you won't have to," Quentin told him.

"They'll kill me." Huffman frighteningly said.

Grabbing the papers, Quentin got up and head to the door. "Charges filed by Quentin Larry Lance, Captain of the -"

"Hey, stop. Stop!" Huffman yelled as Quentin stopped and turned around. "I'll tell you where you can find Brick." He told him as Quentin smiled knowing his bluff worked.


Thea Queen's Loft

Sitting on her couch and reading a magazine, Thea saw Malcolm come in the front door. "I thought, I told you not come see me until you were ready, to be honest." She told him.

"I'm here aren't I?" Malcolm countered as he then took a seat in front of her. "I don't want to lose you, Thea. But at the same time, sharing the truth with you is sometimes difficult for me."

"Well, maybe you'll get better with practice." She said putting the magazine down. "I know you've been training me harder than usual lately, that you've been pulling the disappearing act a lot, even for you, and that you're trying to get in touch with the Green Arrow even though he'd sooner send you to the electric chair than chat over coffee."

"I'm impressed. You know more than I thought." He answered with a smile.

"Well, I am your daughter." She replied in a cheeky tone.

"The reason for everything that I do, Thea, is because of a man. His name is Ra's al Ghul and he wants to kill me." He informed her.

"And why does he want to kill you?"

"Ra's has a particular code of honor he feels I've violated. And he's marked me and my family for death. I fell in with Ra's because I was consumed by the death of my wife. And I was marked for death because of the Undertaking that killed my son. You're all I have left, Thea. Keeping you safe is all that matters ... that's the reason for my actions as of late." He explained.

"What does the Green Arrow have to with this?"

"I've discovered that Ra's has developed an interest in Starling City and his interests are usually of the cloak and dagger variety. I need the Green Arrow's help to kill Ra's, in doing so, all blood debts during his reign die with him. I'm doing this because if I succeed both you and I will be free from his wrath. And believe me, when I say this Thea, the last thing you want is to be an enemy of the Demon's Head." He said with a note of fear, that Thea took notice.


Streets of Santa Prisca, Night

Avoiding the Cartel members, Laurel and Helena were looking for a place to lay low. "Urgh, this guy's getting heavy," Laurel grunted as she was now carrying Ortiz, fireman style, as Helena wanted a break.

"Yeah, I'll be lucky if I don't have knots the next day," Helena replied. Seeing cars pass by them in the alley, the Huntress saw their opportunity to move and more importantly a place for them to a hideout. "Let's move."

A padre in a local church was doing his usual cleaning maintenance of the house of God, wiping the stained glass window the father then notice two masked women coming into his church; with one of them carrying a man on her back. As the blonde one put the man in the first seat on the right, the dark-haired one immediately began barricading the door.

"(What are you doing here?)" The Padre shouted as he stopped cleaning and went to their location.

"Relax Father, we're just passing through," Helena told him.

"(This is a house of God. We have no need for criminals here.)" He told them.

"(I'm sorry, father.) Laurel said in Spanish as she confronted the holy man. "(Listen, we're not criminals. This man, we're trying to save him from the Cartel, we just need to lay low for a little while.)"

Taking a long minute, the Padre looked at the women and took a sigh. "(The church offers sanctuary for those who need it.) He said leaving them be.

"Cause of my Italian, I was able to pick up some of that," Helena remarked.

"We're good for now," Laurel answered and noticed Ortiz was starting to wake up causing her to go over to him. "Hey, hey, hey," She said trying to calm the man.

"(Who are you?)" Ortiz asked confused by his surroundings.

"You're kidnappers," Helena remarked causing Ortiz's eyes to widen.

"Huntress." Laurel snapped at her.

"What we are," Helena mentioned.

While Laurel was looking at Helena, Ortiz head-butted her in the face; sending her on her back. Blitzing, Ortiz charged at Helena who immediately used a snapping front kick in his chest and then used roundhouse to his ribs with the same leg. Throwing two jabs and then a straight punch caused him to stumble back a little allowing Laurel who had gotten up to throw him over her shoulder and to the ground.

"(Stay down.)" Laurel told him.

Getting to his feet, Ortiz could feel his adrenaline finally kicking in and feeling the power return to him. Getting up, he went after the blonde chica first. Laurel threw two quick jabs and then a gut punch, but something was wrong as he appeared to barely have felt that. Receiving a back-fist to her face, Laurel flew across the room. Moving towards him, Helena jumped and wrapped her arm around his neck to use a guillotine choke submission, although she interlocked her legs around his waist and tried to drop down but Ortiz just pulled her off of him with his enhanced strength and threw her into the church seats.

Pulling out her tonfa, Laurel got to her feet and stared down Ortiz. "Mirakuru." She said still surprised. "(How? Are there more of you?)

Refusing to answer her, Ortiz just smiled and walked toward her. Using a tonfa forearm strike to his face, Laurel then followed up with a spinning strike with her weapon; which unsurprisingly did nothing to him. As Ortiz threw a punch at Laurel, she avoided it and then grabbed it; applying far more pressure than normal, Laurel broke his wrist. Learning the hard way and from Oliver, Laurel knew that no matter how strong someone was on Mirakuru they still needed limbs to move and fight. Unfortunately, Ortiz kneed Laurel in the stomach, making her feel like she got hit by a battering ram. Just as he was about to finish her off, Helena jumped on top on of Ortiz's back and using one of her crossbow arrows, stabbed him in his left eye.

"Argh!" Ortiz shouted and grabbed Helena's left forearm throwing her over his shoulder to the ground. Still holding her forearm, Ortiz used all of his strength and squeezed, crushing her arm.

"Aaaaaah!" Helena screamed at the pain of her bones snapping.

Seeing no other options, Laurel unleashed her newly dubbed "Canary Cry" courtesy of Cisco Ramon, which sent Ortiz flying through the glass window of the church.

"You good?" Laurel asked as she crashed down, laying next to Helena.

"I'll live," Helena answered as she grunted in pain. "I feel bad for Oliver though."

"What, why?" Laurel pondered.

"Cuz, sooner or later he's gonna go deaf." Helena joked.

"You wanna have your other arm broken?" Laurel asked threateningly.


Palmer Tech, Starling City, Night

"Sit," Felicity ordered.

"Ok," Ray said doing just that.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Armed gunmen attacking you. That had to have brought back a few bad memories." She brought referring to when Mirakuru soldiers attacked him and his late fiancee, as dipped some cue tips in Peroxide.

"Yeah. When it started, all I could think about was the night Anna died. But when that gunman charged us, all I could think about was saving you." He replied as Felicity let out a weak chuckle.

"Ah." She said a Ray groaned from the sting of the Peroxide.

"You were right."

"Hmm?" She murmured as she loved to hear those words.

"I've been going about this all wrong. When I started the Atom project, it was all about avenging Anna. But what it has become about is ... protecting the people I care for.

"You mean the city?" She asked finishing the swabbing.

"No. I mean you." He told her as just stared at each other without saying anything.


Arrowcave, Starling City, Night

"Roy! What do we got?" Dig asked as Roy was already suited up with Quentin down in the bunker with him.

"Quentin was able to figure out where the Aldermen are," Roy told him and went to Felicity's workstation.

"After a very convincing bluff on my part," Quentin added.

"We put their location through Felicity's surveillance program but Brick's keeps moving them. We can still track them, take them out en route, but the window's closing." Roy said showing the video footage as Dig checked his Glock.

"Alright. Quentin, call Felicity and get her to monitor us from here. Talk me and Roy in." Dig told him as he and Roy left, while Quentin dialed for Felicity.


Streets of The Glades

"We should have got the mayor. That was a loss." Brick told his driver as they made a left on the local bakery. As they did Roy fired explosive arrows at the armored truck causing it to stop and pull over. Seeing the opportunity, Dig, in a ski mask, jumped down on the roof of the van.

Catching Brick coming out of the van with an assault rifle, he opened fire on Roy, who immediately ducked out of the way. "Come on you little bastard!" Brick said still firing.

Getting on the ground, the armed driver came out, but Dig immediately pressed him against the van and threw a left cross at him. Over the sound of the gunfire, he place an explosive charge at the van's door and took cover. Once it blew, he opened the doors and saw the Aldermen. "Let's go," Dig told them.

"Dig, Dig, watch your six!" Felicity said watching the surveillance footage.

Seeing Brick, Dig immediately back fisted him with his pistol and then a left cross. But thanks to his incredibly hard skin, it did nothing to the gangster who immediately grabbed the special forces soldier by the throat. "Lucky for you, I'm pressed for time." He said throwing Diggle against a nearby dumpster.

"Go, go, go!" Brick ordered the driver, as he immediately drove off. Seeing his chance, Roy fired an arrow at Brick but it did nothing to him. "Bad choice! This one's on you." He shouted to the red-hooded archer, and then popped one of the Aldermen in the neck with his pistol. As Diggle, Roy, and Felicity could only watch helplessly.


Safe House in Santa Prisca, Night

Entering the safehouse, Lawton who was on the long-range walkie-talkie, saw the Green Arrow walk with Cutter still unconscious in his arms. "He just arrived," Lawton told the Black Canary. "The favorite part of you're harem, wants to speak to you." He told him, as the archer put Cupid down on the floor.

"I don't have a -" Oliver started to say but then grunted as he grabbed the comm from Deadshot. "Black Canary, what's your status?"

"Okay, you want the good news or the bad news first?" Laurel told Oliver via the radio that was on the floor next to her as she was making a makeshift sling and splint for Helena's broken arm.

"There's actually good news?" Helena commented painfully as Laurel then immediately tied the makeshift splint against her forearm. "Urghhh!" She huffed angrily.

"Alright, the bad news is that we're trapped in a local church just several blocks from where we split up. Helena's left arm is broken. And Ortiz has escaped." Laurel told him as she put the sling around the beaten-up Huntress.

"How did Ortiz escape?" Oliver asked.

"Well, that's the worse news. He has Mirakuru in him." She revealed, leaving both Oliver and Lawton surprised and visibly frightened.

"Well, that's just friggin' great," Lawton said annoyed.

"I checked the files, they made no breakthroughs recreating the serum," Oliver told her over the radio

"Well, either you missed something or they didn't log in their most recent test results." She speculated as she grabbed the radio and started looking around the search trying to check and seal off any entry points. "I don't think it's exactly like the previous Mirakuru though." She said examing the windows.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"At first, he hit like a normal guy. The next thing I know, I knock him down, he gets up, and starts hitting like a Mirakuru soldier." She recounted to him.

Pausing for a moment, Oliver then came up with an answer. "Adrenaline. Sounds like this version of Mirakuru only grants the abilities during fight-or-flight situations."

"That would explain it." She agreed and immediately started baring the door. "Look, even if it is a defective version, given enough time they could recreate it completely." She pointed out.

"And even if they don't, their version could still be extremely dangerous and could fetch the Cartel a huge price on the black market." He noted as he began to refill his quiver. "How long before you think company arrives?"

"Not long." She answered.

"We'll be there soon. Just hang tight." He told her and went over to Lawton. "Check you're gear, we're heading out."

"What about her?" Lawton asked referring to Carrie.

"Tie her up," Oliver told him then walked away.

"For all, we know she might like that," Lawton said under his breath.


City Hall, Starling City, Night

"Danny Brickwell is still at large tonight after abducting three Aldermen from the City Hall earlier this evening though he's managed to evade SCPD thus far - Cell phone video shows ... two vigilantes associated with the Green Arrow, the Red Arrow, and an unknown individual. Reports now trickling in suggest a confrontation ..." The reporters said on the news, relaying the vigilantes' failure to save the hostages as Ray, Quentin, Mayor Castle, and others watched on.

"Madame Mayor, there's a call for you on line one." Her secretary told her.

"Take a message." Mayor Castle told him.

"It's Danny Brickwell." He told her getting her and everyone else's attention.

Going over to her desk, the Mayor put it on speaker. "Mr. Brickwell."

"How is your evening going, Madame Mayor? Mine's not going too well. Because your city's "vigilante problem" became mine earlier tonight. And it's forced my hand -" Brick told her snidely from his hideout.

"Look, if you have demands to make, just get on with it." She told him.

"No demands, just Shakespeare. Julius Caesar, Act Five, Scene Two. "They stand and would have parley. The war stops and together they converse." I would have parley with you." He told her.

"That isn't what we're doing right now." She asked.

"In-person, Brockton Point, one hour." He demanded.

"I don't negotiate with terrorists. And I certainly don't do it in person." She replied.

"You are already going to one funeral, Madame Mayor. If you want to make it a hat trick, well, that's your prerogative. Me? I'll be at Brockton Point." He said hanging up on her.


Local Church, Night

Seating down in the front church seat, Helena, unmasked and still nursing her broken left arm, gazed at the crucifix above the church. Wondering to herself how long it had been since she visited a church or gave a confession, for some reason, probably out of habit, she made the sign of the cross with her right hand. "You know, I've always wondered why you Mafioso-types can be so religious and forget about the whole "Thou Shall not Kill" thing." Laurel brought up as she walked up to Helena after finishing barricading the church as best she could.

"It's called confession," Helena answered as Laurel took a seat on Helena's left and removed her mask. "What about you?"

"It's, well, complicated," Laurel answered as she leaned more to being agonistic as she took a seat next to her.

"How long do you think we have before he shows up with company?" Helena asked.

"Honestly, I expected them sooner. But maybe he's playing it safe after seeing what I can do." Laurel offered her speculation.

"How exactly can you do that? What was that?" Helena inquired.

"It's called the Canary Cry," Laurel told her.

"Catchy." Helena teased.

"I think so too."

Sighing, Helena then spoke her mind. "It's just my luck, that I would get so close only to have the rug pulled out under me."

"What do you mean?" Laurel asked.

"This was supposed to be my last mission with the Suicide Squad, after that, I get my pardon. Now it looks like it might be my "last" mission ever," Helena revealed.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Didn't want to jinx it, I guess," Helena answered.

"Well, don't give up yet. You still got you're other arm, and fortunately, it's the one you use to put cross bolts into other people." Laurel sassed causing Helena to smirk slightly and Laurel grew quiet for a moment. "Can I ask you something?"

"Depends."

"I - I only know Amanda Waller by reputation. Suffice to say, I'm pretty sure you and everyone on the Suicide Squad made a deal with the devil when you joined. Do you regret it?" Laurel asked.

"If I didn't sign up with Waller, I would've spent the rest of my life in prison. Joining Waller, at least I'd have a chance at freedom. If not at least I'd die doing something worth my talents." Helena explained her reasonings for joining Task Force X. "Why do you ask?" She followed up and Laurel just remained quiet. "Do you have your own Faustian Bargain in the works?"

"Maybe," Laurel admitted, as she has been thinking about Malcolm Merlyn's offer for Sara's location ever since he showed up at her empty grave. "I know - I know I can't trust him. In fact, I despise him. But what he's offering me ... I don't think I can turn it down. I don't think I want to."

"Then don't," Helena told her.

"I can't. Working with him, it's going to cost me. I just know it." Laurel acknowledge with her voice breaking.

"What's your devil offering?"

"Something ... something that I always wanted but never thought I would get," Laurel answered cryptically.

"Then all the more reason why you should do it," Helena replied and gave her reasoning before Laurel speak against it. "Look, take it from someone who knows a thing or two about regret. But it's the things that you don't do that you end up regretting the most. Then again, I regret plenty of the things I have done so."

Pausing for a moment, Laurel finally spoke up at the oddity of their situation. "I can't believe you of all people are giving me advice. Or that you and I are having an actual conversation for that matter."

"Why, because I slept with Oliver." Helena guessed.

"No, because you kidnapped me and held me hostage but thanks for the reminder." Laurel shot back causing Helena to smirk.

Immediately, the two women heard loud sounds coming from outside of the church and became very alert. Outside of the church, two gun turret humvees and at least 8 soldiers appeared with Emilio Ortiz, ready for round two. "(Try not to bring down the church. Some of us will need to go to confession tomorrow.") Ortiz ordered his fellow Cartel members.


Brockton Point, Starling City, Night

"He's confident. Meeting out here in the open where any police snipe could take him out." Mayor Castle noted to Captain Lance and Ray Palmer as they were surrounded by police.

"Yeah, well, that's 'cause he's got men that could take the hostages out, checkmate," Quentin told her.

"Plus, if the stories that "he can't be hurt" might have something to do with it," Ray added.

"Madame Mayor. All this for me?" Brick greeted her as he walked up to her referring to the dozen squad cars. "I'm impressed. What are you doing here, Palmer? Just want to make yourself look important? Good luck with that." He asked and told the billionaire. "Star City. Seems more like Brick City to me." He chuckled arrogantly.

"The night is young," Ray told him.

"Tough talk. Too bad all you got is money to back it up. But you can't fix this with money, Palmer." Brick told him.

"I don't know. I got a lot of money." Ray replied not frightened by the gangster.

"Say what you came here to say. We call an end to this farce." Mayor Castle said wanting to get down to business.

"Ok. I've still got two of your men. If you want them back, it's simple. Get out of the Glades." Brick demanded getting a reaction from everyone, especially Quentin. "The city servicemen, especially the police - evacuate."

"You're out of your mind!" Quentin accused the crime lord.

"And you've got until midnight tomorrow. If I even see a hint of a blue, your city yes-men, they will be buried." Brick threatened.

"We won't abandon an entire district." Quentin countered.

"They did in L.A. in '92, didn't they?" Brick said referencing the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. "Besides, you don't want every news station in the country showing graphic footage of the murders of the Aldermen, do you?" Brick inquired. "You have 23 hours, 59 minutes. I suggest you move your sweet ass!" He said abruptly leaving in his car with his men.


Arrowcave

"That Alderman died because of the decision that I made." Roy lamented his guilt to Dig who was getting something from Oliver's crate from Lian Yu. "And there was no Mirakuru to blame this time."

"Don't take that on yourself, man. That was Brick." Dig assured the young man as he put the two glasses and the bottle of Vodka in front of Roy.

"What's that?"

"Sometimes, me and Oliver will come down here, after, you know tough nights. We would poor this, he would look up and say ... "Prochosnost"." Dig said pouring the drink.

"What does that mean?"

"I have no earthly idea," Dig admitted with a chuckle as he doesn't speak Russian. Clanking the glasses, the two swallowed the vodka.

"You know, I'm starting to wonder if we can do this without Oliver," Roy admitted to Dig.

"Well, we have to," Felicity said walking in on them. "I just talked to Lance, he said the Mayor's going to cave and cede control over the Glades. They're going to evacuate the police force. Oliver's not here. Neither is Laurel, we're all this city has right now. Whether or not that's enough, doesn't matter. We need to save our city, and the people we love in it." She told them.

"She's right." Dig agreed.

"I usually am," Felicity added.

"Alright. First, we have to find we're those Aldermen are." Dig told them.


Mayor's Office, City Hall

"It's a bad idea," Quentin yelled at Mayor Castle.

"So you've said - repeatedly. But it's my decision, so do as I tell you and give the order!" The Mayor told him.

"You give it. You want to pull my men out of the Glades, fine, that's your funeral. But I don't want any part of it." Quentin said standing his ground, heard his phone go off. "Excuse me. Yeah, Felicity?"

"Captain Lance, I need you to tell me everything you know about the hostages. No matter how seemingly insignificant." Felicity asked.

"Well, I don't know how knowing their favorite color's going to help find them." He sassed.

"There has to be something. Sort of intel that you couldn't move on because of the Mayor's orders." Dig said joining the conversation, hoping to jog something.

"I wish. The clock's running down on these guys, too. I just found out one of them's got a heart condition. If his pacemaker isn't recharged soon, we're going to lose another Alderman." Quentin informed them.

"That actually helps," Dig responded and hung up on Lance.

"So one of the Alderman has a pacemaker. If it's remote programmable ..."

"It'll have a GPS." Dig finished Felicity's sentence.

"It's going to take me a few minutes to log on to the pacemaker," Felicity told them.

"Gear up," Roy said.


Palmer Tech

"This one breakthrough is all we need, is one -

"Psst," Felicity said interrupting Ray during one of his speeches to the board members.

"Yeah. One second." Ray told them as he went to talk to his VP.

"Hey."

"Sorry to interrupt."

"What's going on?"

"Oh. I need the keys to your helicopter." She asked.

"How would you even fly it?" He asked.

"I got that covered. Can you please just give me the keys now? I ... promise, promise, I will not crash it." She assured him.

"I've got to be honest; I'd feel a little more confident in your aeronautic abilities if you knew, for instance, that helicopters don't actually have keys." He informed her.

"They don't have keys?" She asked a little surprised.

"No."

"Is it on the roof?" She asked pointing upwards.

"Yeah, it's on the roof." He admitted.

"Thank you!" She said in earshot as she went there.

"I'm going to hold you to the no crash promise." He shouted looking complexed by her favor.


Local Church, Santa Prisca, Night

Using a battering ram on the front door, three of the soldiers busted down the barricade that had been set up and slowly walked in. Entering the church, the three looked around with their guns pointed and ready to fire. Dropping down from above, Laurel with her mask back on and her hand on her tonfa-staff's handle, landed on the back of the drug traffickers. As the two in front of her turned around, Laurel quickly moved the rifle out of her way and slammed down her tonfa between the thug's elbow joint which loosen his grip and then hit him in the chest her weapon; releasing his gun, then swung the rifle into his face knocking him out.

As the thug in front of her was about to aim and fire, he suddenly felt stung in the back of his left shoulder causing him to hit the ground. It was from Helena's cross bolts, fired from her on the church's upper floor. With her left arm broken, all Helena could do is provide cover fire for Laurel. Seeing Ortiz, the man immediately charged at Laurel, tackling her into one of the benches. Before he could get a punch in, Ortiz was distracted by the sound of an explosion he heard from outside. Striking him in the throat with her tonfa, Laurel shoved him off him. "Ollie." She said under her breath knowing he had arrived.

As one of the gun turrets was destroyed, Oliver sprinted from the rooftop to avoid the gunfire being shot at him. Drawing an explosive arrow from his quiver, Oliver jumped from the rooftop and fired it at the other turret; destroying it, with the shockwave pushing the cartel soldiers down on the ground. Landing and rolling on the ground, Oliver rushed one of the soldiers who started to get up and struck him in the face with his bow before he could. As one of the soldiers got up, Oliver then push kick him into the humvee. Seeing the thug delivering a kick, Oliver cut it off with a kick of his own and punched him in the face; if his punch didn't knock him out with his compound bow added to it, then the recoil from the humvee did the trick.

Using his wrist-mounted guns, Lawton shot down the soldiers in front of him as they were scattered in confusion. However, one of them jump down and tackled Lawton. After some slight struggle, Lawton threw him from his back and simultaneously punched and shot him in the chest.

Back in the church, Laurel was fighting off Ortiz, whose Mirakuru had already kicked in; as he began tossing her around like a ragdoll. Thrown into a church bench that broke, Laurel struggled to get up as Ortiz was approaching her. Seeing her in trouble, Helena jumped down from her vantage point. Wrapping one of his hands around Laurel's throat, preventing her from using her Cry, Laurel gasped for life as Ortiz was about to snap her neck at any moment. But in that instant, Helena let loose a barrage of crossbow bolts into Ortiz's back. Although, the only thing that he really felt from the bolts was annoyance. Enough to let Laurel go and turn his attention to Helena.

Marching towards the Huntress, Helena moved backward firing her bolts into Ortiz until she backed into the church wall. Grabbing her by the collar of her suit, Ortiz slammed her against the wall, hard enough to fracture it, and caused Helena to drop her crossbow. Finishing coughing after nearly being choked to death, Laurel saw Helena about to go through the same thing, got up, and then jumped on Ortiz's back. Catching a glimpse of one of the bolts in his body, Laurel pulled out of the one in his left shoulder and then jammed it into where his left eye used to be.

"Ahhhhhh!" Ortiz screamed in pain, as he threw the blonde woman off of him.

Free from the Mirakuru 2.0. soldier's grip, Helena ducked down and rolled as she grabbed her crossbow. "Hey, Ortiz!" Helena shouted, getting his attention. Opening up a cap on her crossbow's handle, Helena pressed the button inside it. Immediately, the sound of beeping was heard coming from the bolt in Ortiz's empty eye socket. By the time he realized what happened, the bolt exploded; causing him to drop dead.

"Canary! Huntress!" Oliver shouted as he entered with Lawton behind him.

"We're good," Laurel grunted in pain as she got to her feet. "Although, Helena here broke our no-kill policy." She revealed as both she and Oliver gave her a disapproving look.

"Don't give me those looks, I saved our lives. Besides I'm in enough trouble with "him" as it is." Helena defended herself as she looked at the holy cross.

"That's a lot of Hail Maries." Lawton pointed out


Above Starling City, Night

"You do realize it's been five years since I've flown one of these things, rights?" Dig told Felicity on comms as he was flying the chopper with Roy next to him.

"It's like riding a bicycle I hope," Arsenal said. "Do you have Brick's location?"

"According to the last signal from the pacemaker, Brick has the Aldermen in a warehouse at 16th and Kent," Felicity told them from the Arrowcave.

"Not for long he doesn't," Roy said confidently.

Flying over the warehouse, Brick's men immediately became alerted by the presence. "We got a chopper outside. Take a look." A man on a walkie-talkie said.

"Roger that, checking it now." One of Brick's men said going up the steps.

Immediately, Roy, appeared and stabbed him in the shoulder with an arrow. Jumping over the railing, Roy faced the other two that were alerted to his presence. Dodging his punches, Roy then ducked and stabbed him in the knee with his arrow and left it in there, then kneed him in the face to finish the job. However, the third thug then tackled Roy to a wall across the hall. Regaining his composure, Roy return the favor, as he tackled the guy through a wooden wall. As the two got to their feet, Roy blocked or deflected the guy's blows before landing a knee strike in his gut in the hallway. Off-balance, Roy grabbed him by his arm and shoulder and spun him around, slamming him into the corner wall, and ended the fight with a swing from his bow to the thug's face.

"I'm clear," Roy said catching his breath and realizing this was tougher without any backup.

"Follow the hallway 20 yards," Felicity instructed him, as he started jogging down the hallway. "Turn left."

Seeing one of Brick's men, Roy immediately knocked him out with a bow swing. And immediately went over to the Aldermen, who were bound to chairs. "Come on! Don't worry! We're going to get you out of here." Roy assured the city officials as he finished untieing them "There's a helicopter on the roof. Go. Go!" He ordered as they ran up the stairs.

Immediately, Brick appeared to open gunfire at Red Arrow across the room. Seeing Brick, Roy ran for cover.

"Dig, I'm going to need you to find me a way out of here," Roy said on comms.

"Copy that," Dig responded in the chopper.

"I see me, whooping your ass once wasn't enough. I guess I'll need to try again." Brick said out loud trying to find, the red-clad vigilante.

"So come and get me." Roy taunted him as his voice echoed across the room. Searching for him, Brick continued. "You're getting warmer. Warmer."

Seeing him, Brick aimed his gun, but Roy fired his arrow first at Brick's chest, which released a gas that brought Brick to his knees; coughing and crying. "Tear Gas. We can't hurt you yet, but we can slow you down." He told the crime lord, who struggle to aim at the young archer. Seeing the rope ladder from the helicopter across the window, Roy jumped through the glass window and grabbed the ladder. As Dig flew him and the Alderman to safety, Brick watched on still coughing from the effects of Roy's Tear Gas Arrow.


Palmer Tech

Working on the designs of his Atom suit, Ray didn't notice Felicity walking in until he did. "Your helicopter is back on the roof. I didn't crash it. Turns out ... it actually had keys. And this." She said handing him the nanite chip, which he inspected. "The reason you couldn't get the nanite chip to function is because what you actually need ... is a Quantum Processor."

"The design is elegant," Ray said in admiration and gratitude.

"Hmm."

"Thought you weren't going to help me on my suicide mission." He recalled.

"Well, that's the thing. With my help, you might not end up dead." She told him with a light smile.


A.R.G.U.S. HQ, Starling City, Night

After getting out of Santa Prisca, Oliver and Laurel arrived at A.R.G.U.S. to be debriefed by Amanda Waller in her office. "So, what did you do with Emilio Ortiz's body?" Waller asked Oliver and Laurel from her chair, as they were standing across from her desk.

"We burned it, in a nearby forest before the extraction team could come to pick us up." Oliver relayed to Amanda.

"You'll need to notify Ortiz's relatives, they'll need to know of his passing," Laurel told Waller.

"That won't be necessary," Waller immediately dismissed.

"But -"

"You're certain, the Escabedo Cartel can't recreate the Mirakuru?" Waller asked Oliver immediately cutting off Laurel's follow-up question.

"I doubt it, we destroyed their lab and their research. And with Ortiz burnt to a crisp, they won't be able to replicate their results. But I would keep a close eye on them for a while just in case." Oliver recommended.

"I was planning too, anyway. Other than that, well done. It was nice working with you again, Oliver." Waller commented with a smirk.

"And every time we do, I hope it's the last time," Oliver said coldly.

"What about you Miss Lance? I was debriefed of your abilities, I could use an asset like you in the field." Waller offered the vigilante lawyer.

"I think I'll pass, considering how I know you treat most of your employees." Laurel refused as she and Oliver left Waller's office together, as the Director went on to do some paperwork.

Exiting the elevator, Oliver and Laurel walked to the entrance. "You know one of these days, I would like to know who the hell put a woman like that in charge of a government agency?" Laurel told her boyfriend.

"Probably someone as bad as she is," Oliver replied and eventually saw Helena. Dressed in civilian clothes and wearing a proper sling and cast for her broken arm.

"Come to see me off?" Helena asked with an amused look.

"Why? You making a run for it?" Oliver joked, causing a slight chuckle from Helena.

"It's official, I am hereby pardoned for all my previous crimes by the United States government," Helena revealed, after showing the official pardon in her ex.

"Congratulations," Laurel said.

"Really?" Helena said skeptically.

"As long as you don't give us a reason to come after you, yeah. Also, thanks for the save in the church." Laurel said sincerely with a smile and immediately her phone ringed. "I gotta take this, excuse me." She said answering Malcolm Merlyn's phone call as she walked away from Oliver and Helena.

"Here, let me get that," Oliver said to Helena as he grabbed her duffle bag for her and went outside with a car waiting for her. "So, what's it like to be a free woman again?" He asked.

"I don't know. Truth is, I don't really feel all that free." Helena said with a hint of sadness.

"Well, what are you going to do now?" He asked.

"I don't know. To be honest ... I always thought I would die during one of my many suicidal missions before I got my pardon." She reluctantly admitted.

"Did you want to die, Helena?" He asked softly.

"I'm not sure ... maybe. I mean, it's not like I have anyone out there waiting for me. The idea of starting over, it's a lot harder than people think. Terrifying even." She told him.

"At least you get to start over. Most people ... they don't get that chance." He said from personal experience.

Smiling sadly at the notion, Helena kissed Oliver's cheek. "Goodbye, Oliver." She told him.

"Bye, Helena." He told her as she got in the car, which drove away as Oliver watched it leave.


Verdant

"Hey." Chase greeted Thea as she was walking up the steps of her club.

"I thought you knew about this whole neighborhood turning into a scene from "The Purge". We didn't even open tonight," Thea remarked as she turned her attention to him.

"I forgot my music files here and I've got another gig." He told her.

"Cheating on me with another club manager." She noted.

"Business only, a man's gotta work." He clarified.

"My hard drive is up there." She told him and went to the storage room. "Take your time."

Getting over to the DJ station, Chase pulled out his phone. "(Merlyn's daughter and I are becoming closer. I will soon have Merlyn's whereabouts.)" Chase said in Arabic.

"(I understand. I will inform Ra's al Ghul, ") Sarab answered in the same language from Nanda Parbat.


Arrowcave

Walking into the bunker, Oliver saw Dig, Roy, and Felicity at Felicity's usual workstation. "Welcome back, man." Dig greeted Oliver as he walked in.

"Wish you came back under better circumstances though," Roy added.

"Yeah, well, it wouldn't be Starling City if there wasn't a problem for me when I got here." Oliver cracked. "Still, the city's still standing and I'm guessing you three had something to do with it." He complimented them, causing them all to smile.

"Laurel. Laurel." Quentin yelled as he came down the steps.

"Captain Lance. What are you doing here?" Felicity asked.

"Laurel called, told me to meet down here. You didn't know." Quentin asked Oliver.

"No," Oliver replied. "Did she tell you why?"

"It probably has something to do with me," Malcolm said from behind the group, as he walked in from the other entry with Laurel at his side. Immediately, alarmed and shocked, Diggle and Quentin pulled gun their guns and aimed them at Malcolm. "Do you mind putting the guns away? They don't much frighten me, so much as annoy me." He asked, but Diggle ignored the request and pulled out a second gun at him.

"Don't shoot him," Laurel begged as she got in front of Malcolm.

"Laurel, what the hell is this?" Quentin demanded.

Pausing for a moment, she spoke up. "I invited him," Laurel admitted.

"Why?" Oliver growled.

"Because we need his help ... to fight Ra's ... and to find Sara," Laurel revealed and couldn't tell who was more surprised by her statement, her father or Oliver.


Author's Notes: I wanted to give Helena a proper sendoff since the Arrow was never able to do that due to the actress's unavailability. I might bring her back at some point, but I might not, either way, this felt like a fitting goodbye to the character.

Apologizes for the wait, but moving and trying to find work will do that; still haven't found a job yet. Chapters will come out biweekly, but weekly once I have them all done. Can't wait to be done with this story.