AN: Sorry for the late publishing of this chapter, I had been on a short holiday plus there was the whole mourning period of our Queen here in the UK. Added to that a slight writing block. Hopefully you enjoy this offering though.

The Black Arrow

Chapter 20 – Federal Strike

10th December 2012

FBI Field Office Starling

It had finally come through. After weeks of wrangling, and dotting the I's and crossing the T's, Judge Cole had signed off on the arrest warrant and questioning of Malcolm Merlyn in relation to the murder of those aboard the Gambit; Robert Queen, Sara Lance, the ship's captain and first mate plus the crew. In total he had twelve counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, in regards to Oliver Queen, along with conspiracy to commit murder to Merlyn's name and he would bet his badge that once brought in he would find more.

He strolled into the semi-modern office and the bull pen area that made up his team and the other agents assigned the Starling and the state. He caught the eye of Alex as he came in and she quickly joined him in his personal office. "What we got boss? Judge Cole come through for us?" she asked curiously, a glint in her eye due to the confident manner Handez had entered the office.

"Indeed, signed, sealed and delivered" he replied with a grin. "We got the warrant so it's time to bring him in and get what we can from him, the Merlyn Global servers and any personal computers, phones and servers he has both at work or home."

"Yes sir, I get the others and we can go grab him" she nodded and quickly walked out the room. Handez let out a satisfied sigh before turning to look out the window. Outside was the outskirts of Starling and just to the right of his view the edge of The Glades, the most run down area besides the old warehouse district of the city. He nodded to himself and opened one of the drawers to his desk and pulled out a cartridge for his glock pistol. He put I inside one of his pockets and double checked the pistol held in its holster under his suit jacket on his left side. Reassured it was there and fine he left the room and nodded at his fellow agents.

"Alright, listen up!" Handez called out to the group of agents, eight in all. "This is a simple arrest job. We go in, get to his office and cuff him and bring him back here for questioning. While me, Agents Collins, Beckett and Chen are busy, Agent Danvers will lead the rest of you in securing laptops, computer servers, the works. Make sure to drop by his house after you're done with Merlyn Global. I've spoken with Watson and she's agreed to add her team temporarily to ours to help search the house and company as well as get stuff the tech guys to pull apart. We clear? Alright then, lets move out." He finished the short briefing and headed straight for the lift with Alex hot on his heels. The pair were joined by Collins and rode the lift down to the parking lot in the basement. He paused in the lot, mentally rolling his eyes at all the blacked out black SUVs and sedans that made up 90% of the car pool. Talk about almost literally shouting government agent. He reminded himself, for the thousandth time, to get a different car but alas Danvers and Collins had already gotten into a black SUV with another agent quickly joining them. He got into the passenger side and belted up while Danvers began pulling the car out pausing at seeing the approaching Agent Watson. He sighed and lowered the window.

"Watson" he nodded in greeting.

"Handez. I'm taking my team over to Merlyn's house if that's alright with you. I'll let you and yours play around at the company HQ. It also means my people will be done more quickly as I imagine the house will be an easier search than the company so they can get back to hunting the vigilantes" Watson said. Of course she just had to make it difficult, though to be fair she was loaning him her team to get this done in one hit rather than sending out his people multiple times.

"Fine, just make sure they get everything and question all the staff" he reminded her.

"I know how to do my job Miles, you do yours and get Merlyn" she snapped back before turning and stalking over to her team who were getting into their own SUVs.

"That went well" Alex said snarkily from beside him.

"Shut up and drive Danvers" Handez quickly replied. She gave him a jaunty salute and got the car moving.

Evans Industries, Evans Tech Subsidiary HQ

The work just kept piling up and the paperwork kept needing to be signed off to keep pace. Emiko also had to look over each proposal line by line to make sure it wouldn't breach any established rules James had lain down for experiments along with the guidelines for projects the company had such as profit expectations or usage that could make a profit. Honestly some ideas were ludicrous and others stupid but charmingly so. One plan had been miniaturised tasers to be placed inside pens or TV remotes for the public to have for self defence. The creator in question, one Miles O'Brien, had good intentions she could see but there would be little to no real uptake from the public though perhaps if marketed for rougher neighbourhoods it might break even or just edge into the black. The idea did intrigue her as the tasers could be adapted into arrow heads or the flechettes James used and that she was now eyeing up as they could be helpful for her and James' night job. Something to ponder over she thought idly.

That in turn made her think back on how far he had come since that day five years ago. In that time she had come from a relative poor family, living in a slightly better area of the Glades to a highly paid manager and head of department at one of the richest companies on the west coast with her and her mother now living in one of the more middle class areas of Starling, well away from the Glades. The family situation had changed too. Her relationship with Thea and Oliver had grown and while there was still an awkwardness to it, it was early days yet but going well. She could certainly say that she was enjoying her time with Thea, especially learning embarrassing stories with which to tease Oliver when she was meeting him for talks in the base under his nightclub. Oliver was good to be with, both having similar martial interests but also seemingly agreeing on wider business ideology too, and while she could see some similarities with their father Oliver was different. He cared for the people and his workforce more and seemed less inclined to worry about appearance like his mother and father though he did know when it could be useful too.

It made her think back to the anger she'd had against their father and how over time since the event and having left Dante and the Ninth Circle her thoughts on the matter had seemed to clear up somewhat. Leaving had helped her realise just what he had been doing since she was thirteen. The jobs, the chiding and teaching, the comments, everything. Dante had been grooming or brainwashing her, or at least something similar; manipulating how she thought and how she acted. Subtly at first and then more so once she'd hit eighteen and had not seen her father in a few years. Making her hate her father and the whole Queen family while trying to make her distance herself from her mom, all the while training her in the bow and hand to hand combat to make her an excellent enforcer for the Ninth Circle. Grooming her to replace him as well most likely. It was almost like Palpatine and Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars, dropping hints and sucking up to the boy to make Anakin distrust and hate the Jedi more and more until the Episode Three plays out and then BAM! He falls to Palpatine and helps kill the Jedi. She really hoped that the Circle had not intended to send her against the Queens like Palpatine did Anakin with the Jedi. While with Moira she would certainly not mind ruining her, even now, she felt no anger or hate towards Oliver and Thea.

It really put things into perspective, seeing the similarities between what had occurred, especially how callous she'd been with the deaths of the others on the boat, and what happened in the film. It made her shiver with fear but also anger after what Dante had tried to do. Of course her lack of reaction to the death of the ship's crew was down to, yet again, Dante desensitizing her to the death of others and others in general. It had been getting to the point that others did not concern her unless it involved her, and only her father had concerned her at the time of the Gambit. Hence why she'd felt more sadness afterwards about Oliver than her dad or the crew. Thus her getting out, the presumed death of Oliver and James giving her a well paid job had each dealt blows to the thinking and manipulation Dante and the Ninth Circle had tried to put in her. At least that's what she felt, it was hard to describe really but she thought that she was thinking more clearly now and lacked the haze of anger that had influenced her.

She sighed and tried to refocus on the job again, it was going to be a long day and she had plans with James for later.

Merlyn Global

The three blacked out government SUVs rolled up the drive of the Merlyn Global office block, screeching to a halt in front of the reception area. A couple of suited burly security guards approached them but were met by the federal agent badges of Alex Danvers and Miles Handez. "Special Agent Miles Handez guys, I need to speak with Mister Merlyn immediately. These folks also need access to your computer servers and will then be questioning a number of the staff in this building" Handez demanded, speaking to the guards. One arched a brow and grunted back.

"You got a warrant Agent? Else you ain't seeing the boss" he asked smugly, crossing his arms unimpressed by the badges.

"Here," and he pulled out a nice, crisply folded document with the warrant clearly visible on the pages and signed at the bottom. The guard frowned disappointedly before nodding to his colleague.

"Take them up to the boss."

"Understood."

"Lock down the building while your at it. My people will want to speak with everyone before they leave" Handez added before he began to follow the guard. Alex and Collins along with Chen followed him while Beckett started organising the other agents and issuing orders to head to the servers and begin working through the staff. Another SUV pulled up with another five agents hopping out, making almost twenty agents ready to begin initial searches and questioning at the office. It was not really enough to do a proper search and question but it was the most he could pull at short notice without tipping off anyone that a large search was going to be executed. For an office block this size Handez really wanted double what he had.

The security guard escorted the four federal agents to an elevator and took them up to the top floor, radioing through that he had federal agents for the boss. After a short wait they got off and moved down a plain grey corridor with the odd indoor plant located in corners. "Here, Mister Merlyn is waiting for you inside" the man said gruffly. Handez nodded and entered the room. It was a spacious yet spartan room, a few awards were situated on shelves or hung from the wall but otherwise aside from a small canteen with whisky or something inside and a couple of glasses there wasn't much else beside the desk and a single plant sat in the far corner of the room. Seated across the lone desk was the man in question. He was calm, relaxed even, and sitting there typing away at the computer which sat on his desk to one side while he occasionally glanced down at some papers on the desk. He looked up.

"Hello, Agent Handez how can I help you gentlemen, and lady, today?" he asked, smiling pleasantly though it didn't seem to meet his eyes.

"Mister Merlyn, our instigation is complete. I'm simply here to place you under arrest for twelve counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, blackmail and anything else which pops on your computer servers." Merlyn barely reacted though Handez caught a slight twitch in his mouth and some tension in his hands, like he was refraining from doing something.

"Really? Who do you think I killed?" he asked, seemingly genuine about it.

"Robert Queen and those on the Gambit. We also have some circumstantial evidence you were involved in Frank Chen's disappearance before we could grab him. How you found out about it I don't know but we will."

"Frank's disappeared?" Malcolm queried in surprise.

"Don't give us that, we have the money trail and the phone calls tying you to some criminal gangs in the area though I'm honestly surprised it wasn't the Triad you called."

"Well, since he's disappeared I'm sure it doesn't hurt to say he was involved with the Triad, they wouldn't touch him. Before you ask, no I didn't kill him and nor am I involved, Frank was a friend of mine and Roberts" he replied coolly. "And I know because he told me, just like Robert told me he was going on the Gambit or that he was planning to move his steelworks to China. None of that is criminal Agent Handez" Malcolm finished indignantly.

"Tell it to the judge. Malcolm Merlyn, please stand. You are under arrest for the murders of the crew of the Gambit and Robert Queen plus Sara Lance, as well as conspiracy to commit murder. Anything you say may be given in evidence. Cuff him" Handez growled out. Chen nodded and took out some cuff while moving around the desk to Malcolm's right while Collins went to his left. Chen grabbed one of Malcolm hands and made to cuff it while opening his mouth to begin reading him his rights when Malcolm struck.

He punched Chen in the throat with the palm of his right hand causing the man to gag and struggle to breathe momentarily while Malcolm turned around, twisted Collins' right arm thereby making the man grunt in pain before hitting him on the temple, stunning him and making the man fall backwards. He kicked out at Chen with his left leg and sent the man sprawling to the ground. Next Malcolm move behind Collins and grabbed the man's arm and neck, hiding his body behind his hostage as Alex and Handez brought their guns out from their holsters.

"Give up Merlyn, it's over. You're surrounded and outgunned."

"True but I have your man. Now drop your weapons and step back or I break his neck" Malcolm snarled as he made to walk around his desk. "I have done too much to let you sanctimonious moralist fools get in the way of my plans. Stand aside." The two agents held their guns on Malcom, not budging. A slight movement and a groan from the floor alerted them to Chen getting up but before he could Malcolm was beside him and lashed out with a hard kick while keeping a firm grip on Collins. Chen cried out in pain as his knee bent at a very irregular and very painful angle.

"Damn it Merlyn, you have five seconds or we'll fire" Handez declared firmly, eyeing up the shot if he had to make it.

"That's long enough" Malcolm said with a smirk.

"Five…" he began but Malcolm was moving. He threw Collins towards Agent Danvers, causing the pair to grunt and cry out as they collided before falling to the floor in a tangle of arms and legs. Handez let out a shot, the bang echoing in the confined room and looked around only to see the wall crack and dust get sent out from the impact. He'd missed. Malcolm did not as he jumped over the desk and lunged towards Handez, lashing out with a punch which the FBI agent barely avoided by twisting away at the last second. The man had barely realised what was going on when another punch caused him to clutch at his throat as he struggled to breath and then a kick sent him flying backwards and onto the ground. Malcolm ran to one of the walls where he input a code into a small control panel and the wall seemed to part, revealing a panic room of some sort. Handez lost sight of the man after a few seconds as he coughed and tried to breath again before two pair of hands from Danvers and Collins pulled him up. THWUSH! A yell of pain came from Collins as he dropped to the floor clutching a black arrow in his chest causing Alex and Handez to stumble. An arrow? The two agents exchanged worried looks and turned around to see a man in a dark black and brown uniform with a black cowl over his head and face and a black bow in his hand. Merlyn.

"I did warn you five seconds was enough" the man said, an air of smugness ringing loud and clear in his voice. The two agents reached for their gun only to realise they were both still on the floor. The man drew back an arrow and just as it was let go Handez moved. He knocked into Alex and threw them both to the ground just before a deep stabbing pain ran itself through his back. He cried out, unable to help himself and became a dead weight atop Alex, pinning her to the ground. Seeing that Malcolm went to the door before giving an arrogant wave to Alex before fleeing the room.

"Sir? Sir, can you hear me?" Alex asked her boss worriedly, trying to move him gently off of her. She reached for her radio desperately, fumbling with the buttons before sending out a call. "Agents down, I repeat agents down. Merlyn is armed and dangerous and fleeing the upper floors. Medical assist required" she called through. Acknowledgements rang out and she heard a few gunshots faintly from below a minute or two later. While this went on while she tried to put pressure on the arrow wound in Handez's back, keeping the arrow in there for now. She glanced over at Collins who lay still and unmoving, blood staining his white shirt and pooling slightly beneath him.

"D-Danvers" she heard Handez say weakly.

"Yes boss, right here."

"Mer-lyn?"

"Fled after shooting you. I put out a call and I've heard some gun shots. Maybe they got him?"

"G-good. Mu-ust apprehend him. He k-knows more of what's happening here. G-guess I was right eh?" he finished with a small smile.

"Yes sir you were, guess we got more going on here than we thought" Alex agreed with a small smile. "Chen, you okay over there buddy?"

"F-fine Danvers" came a weak pained voice. "An ice pack or two would be nice along with some morphine." Alex let a chuckle, as much in relief as in humour.

Ten minutes later, two tired and weary agents cautiously entered the room, guns drawn and sweeping the room before holstering their pistols and rushing over. "Kate?" Alex asked.

"Danvers, you alright? What the hell happened up here?" Beckett asked worriedly.

"Shit hit the fan as the boss would say. Go check Chen over there." The second agent went over to the far side of the room to check on Chen while Beckett talked with the other two.

"Sir? Agent Handez, how are you?" Beckett asked, kneeling down beside her boss and colleague.

"Still. Alive. Agent" the man answered unsteadily, barely above a whisper.

"Good sir, wouldn't want you unable to greet the ambulance crew when they arrive in a minute or so."

"Heh, I'll try" he replied with a wince. "What… What…"

"What occurred? We got Danvers' call and two of my guys moved to get him but we got met by some guy in a dark uniform and hood with a bow and arrow. He killed those two guys and killed a third as he approached the parking lot" Beckett reported tiredly. "I had five agents intercept him there while I came in from another entryway with two others. Three are dead and two had broken legs or arms. I'm assuming the bow wielding maniac was Merlyn or have we got another guy to go after?"

"No that was Merlyn unbelievably" Alex answered wearily. "God, seven dead just to get a businessman. How did it come to this?"

"Wait who's dead up…" she trailed off seeing the body beside the desk. "Ah, Collins. Sorry. Yeah boss how come intel screwed this up?" Beckett demanded, reeling still from the six dead down below who were her team. Handez grunted painfully and winced.

"Don't… know. Had no… reason to think. He was a business man, he arranged… everything in a way so others did the deeds but… he ordered them. No evidence… that he was this capable."

"Well we know now, when we find him we can have SWAT readied to take him down. Will the local cops be of use?" Beckett asked.

"We have to try, at the very least its extra eyes and ears. We should also put out a APB on him as well as a press release asking for news and warning the public."

"Do...it. Find h-him" Handez breathed out. A couple of minutes later a team of paramedics with a stretcher arrived and began taking care of the agent leaving Danvers and Beckett to issue orders to their remaining personnel to begin searching the office and the company HQ while also making calls to the field office.

Queen Manor

Oliver came down the stairs with a confident easy going jaunt as he entered the living room and spotted his mother sitting comfortably n the sofa, Thea sat nearby working on some school work.

"Oliver, there you are. I wanted to ask if you were available for a meal tonight with a few associates of ours or if you were going to be busy with your club again?" she asked gently.

"Oh, well I have nothing planned but you know how things can come up with projects like this" Oliver hedged. It was true he hadn't planned to go out tonight but if Talia or James had something that needed him then he could be called out.

"Good, then you should make sure to dress appropriately and be ready for seven."

"Of course mom, anyway I was just gonna -" he paused on seeing the headline of the TV.

"Oliver?" Moira asked curiously before following her son's eyes and spotting the headline. She gasped in surprise while Oliver switched on the sound.

"- and we can confirm the FBI have indeed raided the offices of Malcolm Merlyn though Mister Merlyn fled his company's headquarters. The FBI said he is wanted on account of conspiracy and murder though did not elaborate any further. They warned he was armed and dangerous and that they were moving the apprehend him. The SCPD said they would be stepping up patrols and requested Merlyn turn himself in in order to resolve this peacefully. Commissioner Nudocerdo said mister Merlyn was a close friend and did not believe the charges but would do his duty as required and asked his friend to present himself so they could do this. This is Starling News network reporting from Merlyn Global." Behind the blonde reporter FBI agents could be spotted moving n and out of the building while a few police manned a cordon around the company HQ.

"God, Tommy's gonna feel awful. And confused and probably sacred and worried out of his mind with his dad on the run, especially with those charges" Oliver commented in surprise at the news and worry for his friend.

"W-why don't you call him and ask him round. I'm sure he'd rather be here than alone and scared" Moira suggested gently, trying to wrap her mind around the fact that the FBI had come in and tried to arrest Merlyn. Perhaps now his grip could be broken and the insane plan he had for the Glades ended.

"Yes of course, thanks mom. I'll let him know he has a safe place to crash" Oliver replied gratefully and pulled his phone out, quickly dialling his best friend.

Evans Industries

James watched the news with a worried expression. He had thought perhaps the FBI could have handled Merlyn, if only slightly but they had failed completely and utterly at the cost of some lives from what he could tell. And Merlyn was in the wind. From what he could tell based on Jor-El hacking into cameras and computer networks the man had not yet left Starling which likely meant he was going to enact his plan and take everyone down with him. He would then probably use the chaos of the disaster to escape. A snarl of frustration left his lips knowing there was nothing he or anyone could do until the devices were powered up for use so their signature to track them. A beeping came from his phone and he quickly answered it. "Yes?"

"The scanners on board your satellite have picked up a signal, two to be precise. They're online and charging. When they hit maximum charge they will detonated and cause the earthquake" came the voice of Jor-El.

"Can you locate them?"

"I am currently processing the data to triangulate a position. It should take around two hours to narrow it down precisely enough due to the weakness of the signal and that it is likely underground."

"How long do we have?"

"Based on current readings and the plans you had, I would estimate we have twelve hours and counting. Twelve hours until the Glades, and everything in it, are levelled, with the shock waves likely to spread out and damage other sections of the city."

"We have twelve hours then" James said before turning to look out at the midday sky of Starling, looking towards the Glades.