Chapter 31: Goodbye, Loose Ends
"Okay, when the military men in armored cars come, don't panic." Barry loudly announced to the frazzled Caitlin and Cisco, who were trying to get the Cortex back into some semblance of order.
Caitlin gave a defeated sigh. "What did you do?"
"Called in someone to transfer all the metahumans in the Pipeline to another prison. Don't worry – they're fully capable of restraining these guys." Barry grinned and gave two thumbs-ups.
Cisco looked at him dully. "And why do the metas need to be transferred?"
"Because Wells knows we know that he's evil and this place is a ticking timebomb with them here." Barry pointed out. "We're lucky Grodd didn't knock something out that could have released them."
Caitlin groaned. Barry was right (as he usually was, unfortunately). She, however, did not want to deal with the government after Grodd, especially since her previous experiences weren't…ideal. By the pained look on his face, Cisco clearly felt the same way.
Barry frowned at their reactions. "You both look like someone just told you that your dog just died." He observed.
"Barry, it's been a long day. Please…just, please." Caitlin pleaded with him, kneading the bridge of her nose in frustration.
"Yeah, man. How you can still be so perky after all this is beyond me." Cisco complained.
Barry shrugged. "Well, considering that, with Wells out of the picture, I don't have to hide anymore secrets from you guys, I think that's a cause for celebration."
Both scientists paused in their work to stare at Barry quizzically. "You're serious?" Cisco asked suspiciously.
"As a heart attack. Granted, there are still some things that have to be kept from you – because you're honestly better off not knowing – but the real important ones I can trust you with. Like this one."
Right on cue, the Girl in Blue appeared in the doorway of the Cortex, hand perched on one of her hips. Caitlin and Cisco flinched backwards at her sudden arrival, while Barry just smirked.
"You're late."
"And you know damn well why, Care-Bear." The vigilante snorted.
"Are you and him always going to keep calling me that?" Barry complained, though the smile on his face suggested otherwise.
The Girl in Blue patted him on the chest. "Considering how you mother hen us every time one of us gets a boo-boo, yes."
"Barry mother hens people?" Cisco blurted out suddenly, surprised.
He was even more surprised when the Girl in Blue responded by pulling down her hood. She was a young woman, even younger than they were, with blonde hair and bright, blue eyes. The perfect picture of an All-American girl.
The girl smirked. "Yes, though we've gotten used to it by now." She held out her hand. "Kara Zor-El. Or, as I'm known on your planet, Kara Danvers. Something tells me we'll be working together from now on."
"Are you sure you can't go anywhere else?" Astra demanded. In front of her was a large screen showing Indigo's face.
Indigo smirked. "Worried, Astra? That's not like you."
"There have been several super-powered individuals sighted there, including their own vigilante. You are the only one who can complete Myriad in the allotted timetable." The general responded tersely, glowering slightly.
"I can handle that overgrown roadrunner easily." The Coluan waved her superior off.
"It's not just him I'm worried about, Indigo. She has been sighted there."
Indigo scowled. Ever since Non died, there was a growing tension at headquarters. The sight of the Daughter of Alura destroying one of their best two combatants was sobering enough; but seeing a member of the House of El killing someone, a family member no less, had stricken everyone. Several of their underling were now sufficiently terrified of Kara Zor-El, and dissension was showing in the ranks. While Indigo herself had not taken it well either, it was nothing compared to how Astra had.
The Kryptonian, after handing off temporary command to the Commander, had shut herself away in her personal quarters for several days. She didn't even come out for meals, which were instead delivered to her via a slot in her door. When she came out, her entire demeanor had changed. Previously, Astra had been cool, professional, but nonetheless confident and merciful when the situation allowed it. Now she was as frozen as a block of ice, refusing to speak unless it was to give orders, her face betraying nothing besides the occasional sense of irritation. She also refused to address the Daughter of Alura as anything other than an enemy and had rescinded all previous orders to take her in alive if possible, much to everyone's relief. It was obvious at this point that no one under their command was capable of taking in that girl alive, or even taking in that girl period. At least this way they had a fighting chance of surviving should they encounter her.
"Don't worry, Astra." Indigo finally stated after a moment of silence. "Even if she is there, there's no way she can stop me from escaping into a computer if things get too rough. I'll be fine."
"Good. Do not underestimate her, Indigo. We can no longer afford mistakes."
Malcolm Merlyn, previously absorbed in his work, paused. Sensing something, he turned around and looked out the window. The sun was out, the sky clear of any crowds. Down below, he could see people milling around, going about their days. Just another day in Starling City.
He narrowed his eyes, but realized that whatever it was, it was gone. Sighing, he turned back to his work.
Right outside his window, on the corner right behind his office, was an arrow deeply embedded into the stone. Attached to the shaft was a device with a blinking, green light.
"Break-in at Mercury Labs." Cisco announced. Barry, Caitlin, and Kara all turned to look at him, Kara setting down the large piece of rubble she was carrying gently. The two vigilantes exchanged looks.
"You up for it?" Kara asked, eying the bag of chips in her brother's hands.
"Of course. That gorilla wasn't nearly as fun as he should've been." Barry said, setting down the chips. A quick run later, he returned dressed in his suit. Kara smirked, and then lifted up her hood and her veil, concealing her identity once more. They both set off in a blur.
Watching the humans flee as the men under her command ran rampant throughout the building, Indigo smiled. She looked around at the various tables, inspecting the tools and technology on them. Lifting one particular contraption up, her smile widened.
"You know, for a backwater planet, your technology is rather advanced." She commented to the cowering scientist in the corner of the room. Then, she crushed the device, turning it into a pile of metallic scraps. "Still very primitive compared to the rest of the universe, though."
"Leader." She turned. The Commander. "The targets are secure. We are ready for transport."
"Very well then. Let us depart before Speedy Gonzales gets here." Indigo sighed, staring mournfully at the poor human, who continued to whimper.
The Commander blinked. "Speedy Gonzales?"
Indigo waved him off. "A cultural reference from this planet." She turned to walk away with her lieutenant for this mission, only stop cold when a knife buried into her back. The Coluan hissed, yanking the blade out as her digital body reformed.
The Commander looked to see who attacked his companion and froze. The Streak was standing in front of the poor scientist, and beside him…
"The Daughter of Alura." He whispered in horrified awe.
Both the Streak and the Girl in Blue paused momentarily when they saw the large group of aliens guarding a small pile of stolen technology in the lobby of Mercury Labs. Realizing this wasn't going to be as easy as they thought, they exchanged another meaningful look and silently adjusted their plans.
The Streak entered first, using his superior speed and his knives to make a few quick kills. The Kryptonians were able to perceive his presence and – just barely – dodge the fatal blows or tank them with their invulnerability, but the rest of the team was not so lucky. Bodies littered the ground, blood leaking from stab wounds, all perfectly aimed at vital areas. Instant death.
The Girl in Blue was the next to make her appearance. At the sight of her, several froze. Two, however, still stewing over the death of their Lieutenant, roared and blindly charged at her. She welcomed their attack, countering their sloppy blows with ease, before kicking out their knees. She grabbed one by the shirt and pulling forward, bent him backward into a choke hold. Then, in a move right out of the Hood's playbook, she twisted, snapping his neck. The other combatant tried to strike her from behind, but the Girl in Blue foresaw that, grabbing his forearm before his blow could connect. With a quick strike, she crushed his throat, and his body fell limp.
The other soldiers broke out of their fear-induced trance, and tried to mount their own assault, only to find their legs restrained by rope. Off to the side, the Streak spooled the remaining cord with his hands and tilted his head as the Girl in Blue unsheathed her sword.
Once everyone was dead, the Girl in Blue looked up. The Streak followed her line of sight, and as one, they sped their way to the top.
"You are…Braniac 8." The Girl in Blue noted, eyeing the Coluan warily. Behind her, the scientist, realizing this was his chance, fled with a scream, leaving the super-powered individuals alone for their confrontation.
"You've heard of me? I'm flattered. Though I prefer Indigo these days." Indigo smirked sharply, hiding her slight apprehension.
The Streak clicked his teeth. "Hard not to. When we realized that Fort Rozz was on this planet, we immediately tried to identify which of the possible escapees could cause the most damage. Yours was at the top of the list."
"That being said, you're not one that strikes me to take orders. Or play well with others in general." The Girl in Blue continued, surveying the surrounding room.
Indigo shrugged. "What can I say? Your aunt, as much as I despise her, is quite the visionary. She made me an offer I couldn't refuse."
"Well, maybe you should've, because you're going to die for it. Like, right now." The vigilante pointed out, fingering the handle of the sword on her back.
"Oh yeah?" Indigo's smirked widened into a full-out, bloodthirsty grin. "And pray tell, how will you achieve that? If you know of me then you know of my species. I cannot be killed by conventional means, and there is an escape route ready for me no matter where I go."
The assassins stared at her.
At that exact moment, the power went out. Indigo froze, her mouth agape.
The Commander, having broken out of his stupor some time prior, used the conversation as a distraction for a sneak attack. Unfortunately for him, neither of his opponents were fooled. The Girl in Blue grabbed his neck, and with a squeeze, snapped it in two.
Indigo broke out of her own stupor immediately after that and tried to search for a working computer, a phone, anything, only to freeze when the Streak appeared behind her. Knowing running was futile, she stopped lifted her hands in surrender, only to smirk when she noticed a phone laying about at another table. Dissolving herself into digital code, Indigo reveled in her victory.
Or at least she did, until the virus activated.
The Streak and the Girl in Blue watched her go and smiled when her screams pierced the silent room. Indigo immediately left the device, her body frizzing from the damage she'd sustained. Now knowing in certainty that she'd lost, and unwilling to let her death be in vain, she charged at the Kryptonian who had killed her once-lover, trying to slash at her face with her long claws. The Girl in Blue leaned her head backwards, dodging the blow, and countered with a right cross, followed by a left one.
The Coluan recovered quickly and had seemed to regain some measure of composure. She and the Girl in Blue circled each other, before Indigo followed with a kick to the shin. Her opponent's knee buckled slightly and retaliated with an uppercut that Indigo soundly dodged with a matrix-like move, stretching back, allowing her body to form a bridge. She kicked upwards, only for her foot to be caught. The Girl in Blue span her around and threw her to the side, watching as she collided with several tables and bookcases.
Off to the side, the Streak continued to watch as the women did battle. He looked outside one of the windows in the room, noting how some police vehicles and news vans were starting to gather in front of the entrance. Knowing that they could no longer afford to play around, he sped up to Indigo and tripped her.
Indigo stumbled back, but quickly regained her footing. She continued to slash away at the object of her hatred, her anger blinding her to the futility of her actions. The Girl in Blue grabbed the Coluan's wrists, and with a sharp pull, ripped her arms off. Indigo collapsed to her knees as her enemy threw the separated limbs to the side. Almost lazily, she unsheathed her sword, letting the kryptonite blade's verdant glow illuminate the room.
"Tell me, Indigo. Can even your body reform after being cut in two?"
Indigo said nothing, gritting her teeth, waiting for the inevitable.
"Oh?" The Girl in Blue tilted her head. "Good."
She lifted her sword high into the air.
The Streak sighed as he eyed the carnage. Picking up the phone that Indigo attempted to escape into, he dialed a number that he – unfortunately – knew by heart.
"Hey, Amanda? You know that prisoner transport I called you about…?"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LOT HAVEN'T FOUND OUT WHO HE IS YET!" Malcolm screeched into his former friend's face.
"Malcolm, enough. We still have time. The Undertaking still isn't for another few months." Robert calmly reminded him.
Malcolm growled. "Perhaps, but that is still enough time for the Hood to go snooping around and figure out what we're doing. That cannot happen, Robert."
"Then why don't you give up the plan, then! If the consequences are really dire, if you really fear whatever organization is behind the Hood, then why bother continuing!" Robert snapped, temper frayed.
"WE'VE COME TOO FAR TO TURN BACK NOW! THIS CITY NEEDS THIS! YOU KNOW THIS!" Malcolm shouted back.
"No. You need this. This has never been about the city, it's always been about you. It's why you sabotaged the Gambit, why you threatened Thea, why you threw away our friendship. Because in the end, Malcolm, you only really care about yourself. You and your damn revenge."
Malcolm glowered. "Are you threatening me, Robert? You know the consequences for going against me."
Robert scowled. "And you know the consequences if I die." Robert reminded him, referring to Moira's bluff. "But if you must know, Malcolm, I'm not. I'm just saying what you aren't willing to admit."
Back in the Foundry, Oliver Queen leaned back into his chair, a shocked and glazed over look on his face.
Uncle Malcolm…sabotaged the Gambit?
I'M ALIVE! AGAIN! Sorry everyone for the delay, but life, you know. Plus, I haven't really been keeping with the Arrowverse shows lately. They haven't interested me in the while, though writing this fic is still enjoyable to me. Thankfully, I'm on break, so expect a slew of updates. I guarantee, for real this time, that this arc will be done at the end of the month. After that, Arc III won't start for another few months (I need to fully outline it, after all), and I'll continue writing through the summer, hopefully.
As for this – we're in endgame mode, as I've said before. Next chapter one of our storylines will tie up, and after that another, culminating in Chapter 41 (going by MY count, not the site count), which will be the last chapter of the arc. Be ready for a roller coaster, everybody.