Chapter 32: Arrow

Five years Ago…

Out on the North China Sea, a private yacht called the Queen's Gambit traversed the stormy waters. In one of the large bedrooms on the ship, Oliver Queen passionately kissed Sara Lance, the sister of his longtime girlfriend Laurel.

"You know when Laurel finds out, she's gonna kill us, right?" She told him.

"Let's not worry about that," Oliver insisted. "Besides, as far as she knows, you're back at school."

The two of them kissed again, stopping only when lightning cracked across the sky, startling Sara. She started counting, making it to three before the thunder hit.

"Okay, that's getting real close."

"You know, that whole counting thing?" Oliver chuckled. "Not very scientific."

"And what would you know about science, Mr. Ivy League drop out?"

"I happen to know a lot about science. I know about fermentation… and biology."

The two proceeded to kiss again, with Sara falling back on the bed as Oliver got on top of her. Before things could go further, there was another bolt of lightning, the deafening thunder happening almost directly after. Suddenly, the boat started to tip heavily forward, throwing Oliver and Sara out of bed as the power flickered. As Oliver picked himself up, he saw Sara laying on the ground, right above the porthole window. She looked dazed and scared.

"Sara?"

He heard the sound of creaking glass as she reached out weakly for him.

"Ollie!"

"Sara!"

He tried reaching for her, but the boat suddenly split in half, dragging her out into the water and out of sight.

"Sara!"

Present Day

Oliver sat up in his bed, cold sweat dripping from his brow as he gasped for air. He looked around and saw he was in his old room at his family mansion. As he sat there, his door opened, allowing Moira Queen, his mother, to enter the room.

"Oliver? Are you alright?"

"Mom. Yeah, I'm fine. Just a… bad dream, that's all."

"Moira sat down on her son's bed, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"The Gambit again?"

"Yeah…"

Moira pulled Oliver close, gently rubbing his back.

"It's alright. You're home now. You're safe."

"I know."

"If you want, you can skip on today's meeting. I'm sure Mr. Wayne will understand."

"No, Mom." Oliver pushed himself to his feet. "I promised I'd come to show my gratitude for the Wayne Foundation's support, and I intend to keep my promise."

"Only if you're sure you're up for it."

"Absolutely." He planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I'll be alright."

"Alright, then. I'll have Mr. Diggle bring the car around."

"I'll be down in a bit."

Moira smiled at Oliver, then walked out of the room. When the door clicked shut behind her, Oliver's face became grim. He then went to his dresser and opened the drawer, pulling out a small brown book. As he flipped through it, he saw several names written down, many of which were scratched out. Finally, he stopped on one page, revealing the name "Bruce Wayne" written inside.

On a private jet flying towards Star City, Bruce Wayne was going over some paperwork for his upcoming meeting with Queen Consolidated. Sitting across from him, looking bored out of his skull, was Tim.

"This stinks… I get a three day weekend and I get dragged on a business trip. I should be staying in Gotham, patrolling or hanging out like a normal kid."

"Normal kids don't swing from rooftops fighting criminals. Besides, if you're going to play the part of Robin the Boy Wonder, you need to also play the part of Tim Drake the Ward of Bruce Wayne."

"I know, I know." He slumped into his seat. "And who uses the term 'Ward' anymore?"

"That's not important. What is important is you being on your best behavior when we arrive."

"Got it..."

Bruce smirked.

"...and if you wear your headphones, you can play on your switch during the meeting."

"Sweet. Thanks."

Meanwhile at Queen Consolidated, Oliver stood off to the side with his bodyguard, John Diggle. Diggle watched his charge, seeing that he was as stiff as a board.

"Everything alright, Mr. Queen?"

"Yeah, just… we've got a meeting with Bruce Wayne today."

"I fail to see how this is cause for such concern. You remind me of soldiers about to step onto the battlefield.

"Hopefully I won't have to. Although 'the list' might say otherwise."

That made Diggle straighten slightly.

"The List? Bruce Wayne? Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"If that's true, we need proof he's got something up his sleeve. Wayne's Gotham's Golden Boy. It will be hard to find something that will make anyone change their tune on him."

"Right. Talk to Felicity. Tell her to do some digging on Wayne."

Diggle nodded, slipping off to do just that. Oliver then straightened his tie before heading off to meet with his mother. She saw him coming and smiled, walking over to him.

"You made it. Good. Mr. Wayne's almost here. He's bringing his ward with him, so I was hoping you'd be willing to keep an eye on him during the meeting."

"Uh… sure. No problem."

"Thank you, Oliver. I know you're not quite ready for major company meetings, so I figured this would give you an excuse to duck out."

"Thanks."

Moira smiled as Oliver let out a silent grunt. The one time he actually wanted to attend a business meeting, his mother finally accomodated him on his request to skip.

Sometime later, Bruce and Tim arrived at Queen Consolidated. Alfred opened the doors for them, allowing them to get out. Tim kept tugging on his tie, grunting in frustration.

"Seriously, who invented these things? Decorative nooses..."

"You'll get used to them."

"God I hope not… these things are torture."

"Said by every child forced to look presentable," Moira jeered as she walked towards them.

"Good to see you, Moira," Buce replied, shaking her hand.

"Likewise Bruce. You remember my son, Oliver."

Oliver approached, holding out his hand.

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wayne."

"Likewise," Bruce shook his hand in return. "I heard about what happened on the Gambit. It's a miracle you survived."

"So everyone keeps telling me. My mother tells me you helped with search and rescue for awhile before my father and I were presumed dead."

"I know better than anyone what losing family can do to a person."

"Yeah…" Oliver retracted his hand, "but that's a subject I'd… rather not get into."

"Of course," Moira spoke up before turning to Tim. "This must be your son. I was surprised to learn you'd adopted a third child."

"I'd like to think he found me," Bruce remarked.

Tim chuckled a bit.

"Tim Drake, ma'am. I'm Bruce's 'Ward'." He made air quotes around the last word.

"I didn't realize people still used that word," Oliver remarked.

"I know, right?" Tim replied.

Both Moira and Bruce chuckled in response.

"Perhaps we should get started," Moira suggested. "Oliver, why don't you take Tim to the break room. I think there's some donuts left over from the breakfast meeting."

"Sounds good," Oliver replied, turning to Tim. "This way."

The two walked off together as Bruce and Moira went off as well.

Tim and Oliver sat in the break room, a box of donuts in front of them. Tim snagged one, eating it with gusto and sighing happily.

"I can't remember the last time I had donuts. Alfred's beyond stingy with 'store bought sugary nonsense'."

"I wouldn't know. So… what's it like being raised by a guy like Bruce Wayne?"

""What do you mean?"

"Is he a good caretaker? Are you happy?"

"Well, I'm never bored. I don't go hungry, though I did get sick off all the rich food Alfred makes us. I went from going to a crappy public school to Gotham Academy. Honestly, I'm pretty happy."

"That's good. Does he ever talk about what he does? The work he does for Gotham?"

"Yeah. He gave me a full tour. He has so many hospitals and research labs in his parents names, and even a memorial children's home for Jason."

"Jason?"

Tim hissed, face palming.

"Me and my big mouth… Jason is… was… Bruce's second ward."

"What happened to him?"

"He died… violently. Bruce spiraled after that. Honestly, the entire reason I became his ward was to try and help him. He… doesn't cope with loss well."

"I see…"

Tim took the opportunity to grab another donut, stuffing it in his mouth and effectively killing the conversation

Meanwhile in the conference room, Bruce and Moira were just about finished with their meeting.

"Well that about covers things," Moira noted. "Thank you again for coming, Bruce."

"Of course. I'm just glad the lab's performing so well. The work there could prove beneficial in relief efforts for afflicted areas, as well as general disaster prevention.

"Glad you think so," a new voice commented.

Bruce and Moira turned to see the imposing figure of Malcolm Merlyn, the CEO of Merlyn Global Group.

"Mr. Merlyn," Bruce replied. "What a surprise."

"Mr. Wayne, good to see you. I heard you were in town. I swear, you look so much like your father."

"Thank you. I was just meeting with Moira about Queen Consolidated and Wayne Enterprises' joint laboratory in the Glades."

"Ah, yes. I heard about that. I'd imagine high promise from that. I was actually coming by to discuss something with Moira, I hope I'm not interrupting."

"No, we're just finishing up actually," Moira informed him, her voice a bit tense. "I'm sorry to be so dismissive, Mr. Wayne."

"It's alright," Bruce insisted. "I should probably check on Tim, anyway."

He shook Moira's hand once more before heading out, leaving her and Merlyn alone.

"You didn't tell me Wayne would be showing up," Malcolm spoke.

"He called to check on the company and to congratulate Oliver on his safe return. Nothing you need to concern yourself with."

"Still, him being here makes me uneasy… I think we may have to accelerate our plans."

"What? But… Malcolm, are you sure? He's not a threat."

"Not yet. But if he decides to take a closer look at what we're doing, it could jeopardize things. We're already suffering setbacks with the Hood targeting the list."

"Bruce won't be a problem. I don't want a repeat of what happened with Oliver."

"See that he isn't."

Unbeknownst to either of them, Bruce was standing just outside the door. His eyes narrowed at the conversation, his face grim as he returned to the lobby for Tim.

Bruce and Tim climbed into the limo as Alfred drove away from the building.

"So, how did it go?" Tim asked.

"Something's going on in Queen Consolidated."

"How do you figure, sir?" Alfred asked.

"I overheard a conversation between Moira Queen and Malcolm Merlin. I'm not sure what's going on, but it involves the lab."

"What would a laboratory that works to stabilize buildings during earthquakes have that would be of any importance?"

"I'm not sure. But I think we need to stop by tonight and find out."

Meanwhile, Oliver went to an office in Queen Consolidated's IT department to talk to his tech support, Felicity Smoak. The blonde tech genius was busy typing away on her computer, looking into Wayne Enterprises.

"What have you got?" Oliver asked.

"Not much. Bruce Wayne is cleaner than soap. Tons of charity work, has adopted multiple wayward boys, and has countless clinics and-"

"I know about that, I need to know what the public doesn't."

"Then you're gonna wanna pull up a chair, cause that's gonna take a while. Wayne Enterprises has more firewalls then the Pentagon."

Oliver thought for a moment before coming up with something.

"What if I were to get you access to a Wayne Enterprises server? Could you piggyback onto their network from there?"

"I'll need to arrow cave computers for that, unless you want Wayne Enterprises accusing Queen Consolidated of corporate espionage."

"Fine, but we're not calling it the 'arrow cave'."

Felicity smirked.

"I've been calling it that for weeks."

"Believe me, I know. Just be ready for me. It's time I paid a visit to Wayne's lab."

That night, a figure moved across the rooftops of Star City, using grappling lines fired from a bow and arrow. He zipped from the roof he was perched on the roof of the Wayne/Queen Seismic research facility. Once on top, he easily picked the lock for the skylight and slipped inside. There were a few guards doing their evening rounds of the facility, one of whom heard the sound of the skylight opening. He looked up, going wide eyed when he spotted a figure in a ragged green hood with dark green grease paint across his eyes. He had a large quiver on his back and a compound bow in hand.

"Intruder!" The guard shouted.

Seeing the security coming, he pulled out an arrow and fired it at one of the guards' shoulders, knocking him down. The figure then punched a second guard before ramming him into a wall as he kicked a third in the leg, causing him to kneel over. The figure then punched him across the face, knocking him out before he fired another arrow at a fourth guards' leg, making him drop to the ground. Once the guards were incopacitated, the figure moved on towards one of the server rooms. Once inside, he took out a high tech flash drive and plugged it in.

"Overwatch, you're in," he reported.

"Excellent, time to work my magic."

In the city of Gotham, Barbara Gordon, the former Batgirl, rolled herself into her specialized tech nest. It was her own haven in the city where she was connected to every piece of tech in the city. Most importantly, it allowed her to keep an eye on Wayne Enterprises and their technological treasures.

"Thanks again for helping me get set up, Lucius," Barbara said over the phone. "I can finally do some real good for this city."

"Hey, it was no trouble," Lucius Fox, the head of Wayne Enterprises R&D department, as well as the technical genius behind most of Batman's gadgets, replied. "I'm surprised you chose a clocktower for your base though."

"I like the view. It's like I'm up on the rooftops once again."

"Well, more power to you."

Before the conversation could continue, an alert sprung up on one of Bab's computers. She rolled towards it, squinting in confusion.

"I'm gonna have to call you back."

She hung up and turned her attention to the computer, seeing that someone was attempting to hack into the Wayne Enterprises system. She brought up the site, chuckling.

"Buddy, you picked the wrong system to hack."

She popped her fingers, then began a counter attack.

Back in Star City, Felicity was shocked when someone began to hack her in turn.

"What the hell?"

She then proceeded to try and fight back, but the other hacker was just as good as her, if not better.

"Um… Houston we have a problem."

"What is it?"

"They have a hacker. Like a scary good hacker."

"As good as you?"

"Better. They've begun a counter hack and I'm trying to stave them off."

"Just get what you can."

"I'm trying, I'm trying!"

"Whoa, you're good," Barbara commended. "Just who are you? I wonder if I can get a look at you."

Opening a second window, Babs began attempting to access any webcam in the opposing network. However, she found none. So, she began accessing cameras around the access point. The screen lit up with CCTV footage of the seismic lab, and the vigilante inside.

"Hello there."

A note suddenly popped up on Felicity's computer. She glanced over at it, then her face went pale.

"Um… Hood?"

"What is it?"

"Our hacker just sent me a note..."

"What does it say?"

"It says… 'Tell your friend in the hood he has 3 minutes before the police show up'."

"Then it's time to go. Tell me you at least got something."

"A bit, but I need to cut the connection and you need to bolt."

"Right."

The Hood yanked the drive out of the computer, smashing the terminal for good measure. Once the terminal was down, the Hood made his way out. By the time he did, Bruce's limo had arrived at the scene.

"Uh… Hood?"

"Not a good time."

"I know, but I was going through what little I got and I found a file with a very familiar symbol on it… it's the same as the one on the list."

The Hood paused for a moment, realizing what all this meant.

Outside, Bruce's limo came to a stop right in front of the factory. Bruce prepared to get out, holding out a hand to stop Tim.

"Stay here."

"But-" Tim tried to protest.

"Stay. Here."

Bruce then proceeded to get out of the limo and was about to walk to the front door when an arrow pinned him by the sleeve. Bruce then looked up and saw the Hood leaping down towards him, pulling out an arrow.

"Bruce Wayne! You have failed this city!"

Bruce tried to pull his arm free, but he was stuck good.

"What are you talking about?" He demanded. "Who are you?"

"Someone who sees you for what you really are."

The Hood prepared a second arrow, and that's when Tim got out of the limo.

"Dad? What's going on?" He questioned.

"Tim!" Bruce exclaimed. "Get back inside!"

The Hood hesitated as Tim rushed over to Bruce, grabbing him and hugging him tightly.

"This is your only warning," The Hood spoke, replacing the arrow. "Shut your lab down, or I'll do it for you."

The Hood then pulled out a grapple arrow, shooting it and zipping away as some cop cars arrived. Bruce watched them go, then looked down at Tim.

"That was stupid and foolish."

"It worked, didn't it?"

Sometime later, Bruce was giving his statement to the police. Interviewing him was Detective Quentin Lance

"And he said that I had failed this city," Bruce relayed. "I honestly have no idea what he meant by that."

"Yeah, that tends to be the Hood's signature line," Detective Lance explained. "That's what we've been calling him. He's a nutcase who sees himself as Robin Hood. You know, robbing the rich and all that."

"And I thought vigilantes were restricted to Gotham."

"Oh yeah, you have your own freakshow down there. Well, at least your vigilante doesn't have a body count."

"Yikes. Guess I should count myself lucky then."

"Agreed. Listen, we'll be keeping an eye on the facility and a police escort will be assigned to you and your son."

"Thank you, Detective."

Detective Lance closed his notebook and walked off. Bruce watched him go, then got into his limo once more. Tim was already there, along with Alfred.

"It seems that vigilantes are becoming a recurring theme, Master Bruce," the butler quipped.

"Except this one seems to have some sort of agenda," Bruce replied. "And if he's going after Bruce Wayne, I'd like to know what it is."

About that time, Bruce's phone started buzzing. He fished it out, answering the call.

"Bruce, it's Barbara. Someone tried to hack our network via the Star City lab. I didn't get a look at them, but their partner was a man in a green hood."

"I know. I met him. He was pretty insistent I shut down the lab."

"Why? You're doing seismic research."

"That seems to be the question. Any idea who his partner is?"

"Unfortunately no, but I did get a callsign: Overwatch. She's well known on the web, especially for breaking into secure government files. Lots of links to her and the Star City Hood."

"Keep digging. Let me know what you find."

"Will do."

Bruce then hung up, tucking the phone back in his pocket.

"Now what?" Tim asked.

"Now, we fall back, and see if we can find some more information about this 'Hood;."

In a secret bunker hidden in the city, the Hood walked inside, placing his bow on a stand and visibly fuming. He threw off his hood, Diggle offering him a wipe for the greasepaint.

"I take it recon didn't go well?" the bodyguard surmised.

"No, it did not," Oliver replied. "I had Wayne in my sights when his kid got in the way. I gave him a warning, but I don't think it'll stick."

"Wayne is notorious for being fearless," Felicity spoke up. "I mean, this guy's stood up to more than his fair share of scumbags, and always-" She cut off when she saw Oliver's face. "I'll just get back to work."

"Oliver, I know that list is home to a lot of scum in the city," Diggle admitted. "But ever stop to wonder if just this once, the list was wrong."

"It's been right about every other name I've taken down," Oliver insisted. "Why would this be any different?"

"Answer me this, did he honestly seem like someone who would exploit others?"

Oliver thought back to his conversation with Tim, and how the kid seemed generally happy. He also remembered how Tim had instantly gone to Bruce's rescue. That's when something struck him.

"The kid… he kept calling Wayne by his first name when we talked, but when the Hood confronted them, he said 'Dad'."

"So?"

"Manipulation 101. Someone is statistically less likely to physically attack another in the presence of a child, especially if said child belongs to the victim."

"So, what?" Diggle questioned. "You think the kid's in on whatever Wayne's doing in Star City?"

"Either that, or he's a ploy. A distraction." Oliver's eyes narrowed. "Besides… I saw his eyes."

"The kids?" Felicity questioned.

"No, Wayne's. They were cold, calculating, analytical."

"Sounds chilling," Felicity commented.

"So what now?" Diggle asked.

Oliver thought for a moment.

"Felicity, send an invitation to Mr. Wayne. Time for a little one on one."

In the penthouse suite the Waynes were renting, Bruce and Tim were on Facetime with Barbara, all three of them investigating the Hood.

"Man, looks like this guy's been busy. Just in the last year or so, he's gone after dozens of business tycoons and billionaires."

"Any patterns to his attacks?" Bruce asked.

"Well aside from being stupid rich, all these guys have had their hands in something dirty. From drugs to weapons to extortion, you name it, they've done it."

"That's not the only connection I'm seeing," Tim spoke up. "All of these illegal operations that the police have been able to pin on them have all led back to a specific area of Star City: The Glades."

"The Star City version of Crime Alley."

"Seems most of these men have done a good job of keeping hidden from the public eye until the Hood showed up."

"Makes you wonder how he knows about these guys. And why he's suddenly targeting you."

"All I know is that it has something to do with the lab," Bruce answered. "Keep monitoring the systems for the Hood or others."

"You got it."

Barbara hung up as Bruce leaned back in his seat, getting a better look at all the information they'd pulled on the Hood. That's when he spotted an article about Oliver Queen.

"That's interesting," Bruce mused.

"What is?" Tim asked.

"A few months ago, Oliver Queen was accused of being the Hood."

"Wait, what?"

"He was arrested by Detective Lance, but the charges were dropped less than a week later after the Hood took down a gun sale while Queen was throwing a party. Dozens of guests, including the detective, were there as witnesses."

"But you think that's not the truth," Tim surmised.

"I pulled similar tricks when someone suspected Bruce Wayne was Batman," Bruce replied.

"Yes, I recall you had me don the cape and cowl whilst you were conducting a TV interview," Alfred remembered.

"I also recall you putting the suit on backwards," Bruce jeered.

"I was in a hurry," Alfred insisted.

"So, you think Oliver Queen is the Hood?" Tim mulled it over. "Now that I think about it, Queen was asking me a lot about you. I wrote it off as mere curiosity, but with this Hood angle in mind, he was essentially questioning me."

"Both Oliver Queen and the Hood seem to have a fascination with Bruce Wayne, and I want to know why."

"Well, as it just so happens sir, Mr Queen's secretary called to arrange a luncheon between the two of you," Alfred piped up. "He claims it was to make sure you weren't rattled by the Hood."

"Well then, best not keep him waiting."

The next day around lunchtime, Bruce and Oliver met up at Table Salt, the most expensive restaurant in Star City. The two men sat down across from one another, both acting cordial and professional.

"Thank you for agreeing to this lunch, Mr. Wayne. I'm sorry my mother couldn't join us. She sends her apologies."

"It's alright. I was hoping we could talk more anyway."

"I was thinking the same thing. My father said you were a hell of a businessman back in the day."

"I'd like to hope I still am. Even so, last night's events have me shaken."

"I heard about that. Hard to believe to be honest, the Hood usually goes after corrupt businessmen."

"If there's corruption in my company, it's not through me. I do what I can to help those who work for me and those I serve."

"I'm sure you do. I guess the Hood thinks you have something to hide."

"I suppose so. I do hope this doesn't affect our working relationship.

"Hardly. The work our two companies are doing is crucial, and I'd hate to see it ruined because of the diluted assumptions of some nut in a hood."

"Speaking of which, I think I heard somewhere that people thought you were that nut at one point."

"A… misunderstanding on the SCPD's part. They apologized directly after. Frankly, I believe Detective Lance was just looking for an excuse to arrest me. He… blames me for his daughter's death."

"Sara Lance, right? She was on the Queen's Gambit when it went down."

"Yes… … It's something not even I have forgiven myself for."

"I'm sorry. That must've been a trying time in your life. Losing your father and the sister of the woman you love, being stranded on that island for five years. I can only imagine the toll it took on you."

"Like you said, it takes a toll on you..."

"I'm sorry. I know this must be a sensitive subject for you."

"It's alright. Still, I think I'm not quite up for lunch. Sorry."

"Quite alright. Perhaps another time?"

"I'd like that."

The two then shook hands before subtly planting bugs on each other's shirt cuffs. They parted ways, then made for their respective cars. Once inside, they both checked their sleeves, finding the bugs. In almost complete unison, the two men removed the bugs and crushed them between their fingers. After scowling in response, the two returned to their designated bases to figure out their next moves.