Chapter 22: Meanwhile, Back on the Ranch
Laurel fingered through another pack of documents. A couple had just contacted CNRI, asking for help. They had been recently swindled out of their money by Edward Rasmus, and wish to take a class action lawsuit against him in retaliation.
"…And in another news, the Hood has struck again once more, this time against alleged crime lord Cyrus Vanch. Vanch had just been recently released from Iron Heights…"
She blinked, and turned to the TV, watching disbelievingly at the screen, where a sketch of the Hood and a picture of Vanch were being projected together, side-by-side.
"Dad, where are you going? It's our day off." Tommy complained, watching his father pack his suitcase.
"Something just came up; I have to go now." Malcolm lied absentmindedly, clasping the case closed.
Tommy frowned. "Is it something important? Do you need me to come in too?"
"No, no. Nothing like that. You take the day, have some fun." Malcolm dismissed him, before exiting the house.
Slade set the box down and stood, stretching his arms, feelings his joints pop into place. "And that's the last of it."
Kal-El, barely winded, placed down in his box (which was significantly larger than Slade's) and looked at him confusedly. "Don't you have the Mirakuru in you? Why are you getting tired?"
Slade patted him on the head fondly. "Even I have my limits. And now that all the boxes are in, we can get around to arranging everything." He looked around the mass of waste. "Why haven't you and Kara used your superspeed to get rid of all this trash already anyway?"
"Kara considers it cheating. She wanted us to fully enjoy the experience of decorating our own home, and that meant no powers and with friends other than Olive and Barry." Kal answered. "Plus, it would look suspicious to all our non-vigilante friends."
Slade barked out a laugh. "I see that the League has made you lot paranoid. Can't say I disapprove, as inconvenient as it is."
Kal shrugged, and smiled. "Neither can I. Kara always said that preparation was the most important lesson the League imparted to her."
"I'm not surprised. Your sister was a little reckless and overly emotional when she was younger. Especially when it came to you."
The younger male perked up. "Really?"
"Really. Even then, you were her entire world, Kal-El. Whenever you got so much as a stubbed toe, she'd fret over you for the entire day. We'd often have to find excuses to get her away from you, even if it was just for a little while." Slade commented wistfully. "Looking at you two now, that hasn't changed at all, really, though I guess time and the League has made her accept the fact that she can't always be there to hold your hand and protect you."
"Doesn't stop her from trying." Kal-El grumbled. Make no mistake, he loved his cousin, but she could be overbearing at times.
Slade smiled. "I'd be worried if she did." He ruffled the hair of his youngest charge once more. "Now, come on. The apartment isn't going to clean itself."
Ted opened the door and blinked. "Laurel? What are you doing here? It's not one of your usual days."
Laurel rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "Yeah, but I needed someone to talk about this, and with Ollie out of town…"
Ted sighed, but smiled nonetheless. "Come on in."
Laurel entered the gym, blinking when she noticed it was emptier than usual. "Slow day?"
"The slowest." Ted walked forward, and leaned against the ring apron, crossing his arms. "Now what's bugging you?"
The lawyer sighed. "Cyrus Vanch got busted today."
Ted blinked. "And you're not jumping for joy because…"
"He got busted permanently."
"Ah. The Hood."
"Yeah. That's what got me so conflicted. That case with Vanch – it took forever to build. Not just because it had to be ironclad, but because he just committed so many crimes, enough to get him life. Me and the team, we worked on that case for months. And when he got off, on a technicality no less…it just grated on me so badly, Ted. I was pissed. And with the DA refusing to reopen the case, and nobody willing to go up to bat against him anymore, knowing that he was just going to continue his crimes unimpeded…It was just so infuriating."
Ted nodded along understandingly. "And then suddenly, Vanch is no longer a problem, and this time for good."
Laurel went to stand next to him, pulling herself up to sit on the edge of the ring. "I always held the law as sacred. I thought if I just fought hard enough within the boundaries of the system, things would work out in the end. But repeatedly, the system has failed me and countless others, and all these murderers and thieves get off with a slap on the wrist at worst. And now the Hood comes in, and he breaks laws left and right and, yet, he still gets results. Within a single night, with just a bow and an arrow, he took care of Vanch, something that months of our own hard work failed to achieve in the end."
"So, you approve of him putting arrows into people?" Ted asked carefully.
"No! At least, I don't approve of him killing people. But I can't lie and say it's not a relief that Vanch is off the streets for good now. And killing people isn't all the Hood does – he scares the criminal elite into giving back to the city they stole from, like a modern-day Robin Hood. And even though Robin Hood was a criminal, no one could deny that his actions were noble at heart, even if they were illegal." Laurel palmed her forward, sighing. "It's just so confusing, Ted. The Hood is not the only one doing things like this. The Streak, back in Central City, has been making waves too, and the Girl in Blue, she saved my life a month ago. Crime has been going down in both cities ever since they made their appearances. As much as I would like to side with the police and the media over condemning their methods, they're still getting results, which is more than can be said for Starling City before them. I just don't know what to believe in anymore, Ted."
Ted looked at her contemplatively, before placing a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. "You're at a crossroads, Laurel. The answer to a question like this, you're not going to find an answer to. The only answer you'll find is one you make for yourself. What you believe in, what you think is the right way to do things – those are all things you have to decide on your own."
Laurel sighed. "Any suggestions?"
"The same advice I gave you for your boy problem – give it time. You can't decide whether or not to completely change your fundamental beliefs in a single day, Laurel. Just wait until you can get some distance personally from the Hood's actions, and judge them from all angles. Then you can decide whether you approve or not, and go from there."
The attorney leaned against the ropes, and gave a small smile to Ted. "How did you get so wise, Ted?"
The man shrugged. "Growing up in the Glades, trying to stay on the right side of the tracks – it gives you some perspective. And a little experience on both sides of them didn't hurt either, even though I wished I stayed on the right side at the time."
"I never knew." She noted, looking at him sympathetically.
"I didn't tell you." he pointed out. "And besides, it's in the past. I made my peace with it a long time ago. Now, I just try to make sure the kids here don't make the same mistakes I did."
Laurel grinned. "You're a good guy, Ted."
"This was rather spontaneous, Malcolm." Robert commented from his seat at the table, Moira right beside him. "I thought we weren't supposed to have our monthly meeting for at least another week." All around the rectangular table, the various members of Tempest nodded.
"I know, Robert, but circumstances have changed. We have a problem." Malcolm announced, and while everyone was visibly displeased, the Queens could feel hope fluttering in their chests.
"Are there issues with the development of the device?" Frank Chen spoke up from his spot.
Malcolm shook his head. "No, that's still right on schedule. It will be ready by May, just as planned." And just like that, Robert and Moira's hearts plummeted.
"We have a potential leak." He announced, and immediately everyone stood at attention.
"What do you mean by a 'potential' leak, Malcolm?" Moira asked, almost worriedly.
"The Hood."
"The Hood?" another member demanded. "How does some Robin Hood-wannabe know about the Undertaking?"
Malcolm pushed down the growing feeling of irritation, and sighed. "He doesn't yet. But he's on the path to figuring it out soon, unless we do something about it. We need to find out the Hood's true identity immediately and take care of him as quickly and discretely as possible before he uncovers our little plot and exposes us all."
Robert quirked an eyebrow. "How did the Hood get a heads-up on all this, Malcolm? We've all kept our mouths shut and I know you squash out leaks before they happen. The Hood should be as in the dark as the rest of the city."
Malcolm frowned, and chose his next words carefully. "The Hood has…connections to certain people. Connections I didn't realize he had until now. And they'll give him enough information for him to start digging, and knowing who he knows, I realize that he'll learn the truth eventually unless we stop him now. Permanently."
"Connections to what kind of people?" Moira followed up her husband's question, looking curiously at Malcolm.
"People that no one here, not even I, want to anger, Moira. Trust me. It's best that you leave it at that." Malcolm suggested, by Moira had been a part of Tempest long enough to know it was an order.
"What of your associate?" Frank proposed, drawing everyone's attention. They had all met Malcolm's "associate," and they tended not to want a repeat performance. "Can't he take care of the Hood?"
"Unfortunately, Frank, I already tried that. While my associate is good, the Hood is even better. He barely escaped with his life when they fought." At that, any immediate protests stilted at the mouth. If the Hood truly was more dangerous than Malcolm's personal assassin…
"As of right now, you are to divert all your resources, any contacts you have, into finding out the Hood's identity. It is our top priority, and only when he's dead in the ground can we all relax and proceed with the plan unhindered." At the assortment of nods, Malcolm smiled, for the first time since the meeting started. "Good."
"These are some well-drawn pictures." Slade commented, overlooking the stack of Kal-El's art assignments.
Kal blushed. "Kara gave me some pointers." he responded shyly.
Slade chuckled. "Your sister always did love art. She'd draw you all sorts of pictures when telling you stories about Krypton. Granted, the ground made for a poor canvas unless it had been raining recently, but she didn't let that stop her." Then his ear twitched, and he frowned.
"Slade?" Kal asked cautiously, his previous bashfulness gone.
Slade a put finger to his lips, a quieting gesture, and then calmly and quietly walked to one of the walls. He put his ear against it, hearing slight static. Noticing the open balcony, he walked outside, and looked at the building's side. With his acute eyesight, he noticed it immediately, and calmly reach forward, careful not to break the small piece of machinery.
He walked back into the apartment, frowning at the palm of his hand.
"Slade?" Kal-El asked once again, walking up to him.
Silently, Slade held out his hand. Kal's stomach dropped.
Kal had been raised in the League of Assassins. He knew a listening bug when he saw one.
Laurel knocked on the door leading to Ted's office, peaking her head inside before walking in. "Ted? I'm sorry about coming back so soon, but I think I left my wallet here and –"
Laurel froze, staring at the suit and mask hanging on one of the walls.
"I see you found my old suit." A voice commented behind her.
She turned around, staring at Ted like she had never seen him before. "Ted…what is this?"
Ted sighed. "Sit down, Laurel. I've got quite the story to tell you. I think I owe you that much, at least."
"Eddie! Where have you been? Singh told me that you were 'on assignment' the last couple of days and you haven't been answering any of my calls." Iris said to her boyfriend, slightly upset.
Eddie didn't say anything, instead taking her by the waist and pulling her into a deep kiss. Iris melted into it for a brief moment, before pushing him away abruptly.
"Eddie? Not that I'm disappointed, but, there's the matter of you being missing lately?"
Eddie up held his hands, still very pleased. "Now Iris, I know you're mad, but I swear I have a good excuse. You know that case I've been working on, right? Well, I've just got back from S.T.A.R. Labs and they're shipping in their new anti-meta technology within the next two weeks for the CCPD to use."
"Anti-meta technology?"
"It's short for anti-metahuman. Metahumans are what they call people who have powers, like the Streak and Woodward."
Iris blinked, then smiled hesitantly. "That's great, Eddie! That'll make catching those guys much easier to do."
"I know, right? But that's not the best part." Eddie said euphorically, before dragging her into the main station by the hand.
"What's the best part?" Iris asked, though she had a feeling she already knew.
"This." Eddie smirked at her, before yelling out to the crowd of working officers. "HEY, EVERYONE! I JUST GOT APPROVAL FROM THE CAPTAIN ABOUT FORMING AN ANTI-STREAK TASK FORCE!"
Cheers broke out at that, before a swarm of blue converged on Eddie, who was too drunk on all the praise to notice Iris slipping out of the crowd and making her way to Joe, who was one of the few policemen present not congratulating her boyfriend and/or begging to join the task force.
The two Wests looked at each other. "You in this too?" Iris asked, almost defeated.
"Just to make sure he doesn't get himself killed." Joe admitted to his daughter, knowing exactly how she was feeling.
When Harrison Wells entered the Cortex, it was to the sight of Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon muttering to each other conspiratorially. They immediately clammed up when they saw him, causing him to furrow his eyebrows.
"You two are looking mighty suspicious today." He commented, already knowing what they were whispering about. He kept cameras in the Cortex, after all.
Cisco rubbed his arm. Caitlin was the one to bite the bullet. "Dr. Wells…we have proof that Ronnie's alive."
Harrison Wells said nothing, leaning back into his wheel chair and pressing his fingertips together contemplatively.
So, it's finally time to deal with Firestorm.
And our trinity comes back to us in the next chapter to deal with all this.