'Who are you?'' Sara Lance murmured. ''Why do you keep turning up in my dreams?''

Newly awakened, she still had a clear recollection of his face but had no memory of meeting him in real life. Nor she did understand her reaction to him - a mixture of attraction and irritation, often replaced by a feeling of sadness and loss.

She was having a lie-in. Her bed was comfortable, which was nice after a few nights of sleeping rough. When she did open her eyes, it was to the sight of the small cubicle that was her room in the A.R.G.U.S. bunker where she had been based for nearly a year. The walls were painted an institutional grey and the furnishings, wardrobe, desk and chair were functional. She had added a few personal touches. There were pictures of her family and childhood friends such as Oliver Queen and Tommy Merlyn - even one of Nyssa and her, taken in a street market in Hong Kong. That far-off day, when the two of them had completed a mission earlier than expected and decided to relax and have a day of simply enjoying themselves in that bustling city, seemed to belong in a different world now.

After John Constantine had restored her soul, it soon became apparent to her that she needed to move on from her role within Team Arrow. She agreed to join A.R.G.U.S. as part of its Covert Operations Division - some would have called it black operations. Occasionally, she worked with Bronze Tiger, but her more usual partner was Floyd Lawton. When Lyla had disbanded the Suicide Squad, at John's request, Floyd had opted to stay on. They had been given a few days off after completing what had turned out to be quite a difficult mission. He planned to spend a few days with Naomi, at the waterfront bar she ran twenty miles up the coast.

''Do you want to come?'' He had asked her.

Ordinarily, she would probably have said yes. It was a nice area and Naomi was good company.

She shook her head. ''I've arranged to spend some time with my sister.''

She rather thought that Laurel was all work and no play at the moment (had she ever been anything else?), being Assistant District Attorney and Black Canary. Their father's decision to retire and move to southern California with Donna Smoak had reduced whatever social circle Laurel had.

An hour later she met Laurel, and they wandered around the shops, looking at and occasionally buying items of clothing. Eventually they decided it was time to for a coffee. They chatted for a while - about their father, who was apparently very happy working on his tan in California and hoped his girls would visit soon. Moving on, they wondered if Oliver and Felicity would make a go of things this time round. With a slight blush, Laurel confessed that what Sara was beginning to suspect was true, there was someone new in her life. It was early days yet. Adrian had recently started work at the D.A.'s office.

''You mean that dour guy with the beard?'' Sara asked.

Laurel was quick to defend him. Yes, he might seem to be lacking in social graces, but if you got to know him, you'd find out he did have a sense of humour. He was just very reserved, and he did care a lot about justice and injustice.''

''Just like you.'' Sara observed.

On her way home, Sara was distracted by her thoughts about her sister's new friend whom she'd previously thought was a bit like an animated block of wood. She resolved to get to know him better. It was only when she was about to bump into him that she realised that a tall, brown-haired man was standing just in front of her. She took a couple of paces back - her League of Assassins reflexes kicking into readiness.

''Ms Lance?'' He held up his hands in a peaceful gesture.

''Yes.'' She said cautiously.

A second later a woman stepped out from behind him and pointed a stun-gun at Sara.

Everything went black.