January 28th - 2014

I was awoken by one of the jury-rigged noise making traps going off. Fourth time in the last two days that someone tried to break into the factory, and this time I was ready for them. I'd managed to get Cisco to let me test a new carbon reinforced net that should prevent any blade from cutting it loose. I quickly climbed the ladder to the catwalk and made my way to the net now hanging just off to the side, a disgruntled assassin struggling to get out.

"So am I a target now, or are you guys just scouting about looking for your prey?" He continued to stare at me, keeping quiet as I watched, amused at the futile struggle.

"You guys are never alone, so where's the other one?" he continued to struggle when I heard another trap go off, this time a bear trap snapping shut on something. Answers that question. I made my way to the other sound after giving Oliver a heads-up, what I didn't expect was three more assassins trying to help the one out of the trap. I quietly hid behind some boxes, watching as they tried to pry the trap open, the strengthened springs difficult to separate even for my enhanced strength. Suddenly I heard a snap as the noise making part of the net trap fell to the floor and clattered about, the first one liberated from his prison. I waited quietly as two more raced into the room through the entrance I slipped in through and began speaking to the others in Aramaic before trying to pry the enhanced bear trap off their unfortunate compatriot. I snuck up behind one of them and placed my hand on his back, releasing a stun charge as he howled in pain and slumped with me keeping a grip on the back of his robe.

"So who sent you?, Nyssa? Ras? Maybe it was Talia?" the other five stopped what they were doing and turned to the sound, with me quickly throwing the unconscious assassin at the nearest one. I then dodged a few rapid strikes as another charged at me before I slipped the taser gun out of his holster and against his gut, stunning him next and letting him drop.

"You know if you guys were actually prepared you'd know I have enhanced strength, speed, reflexes" I rolled sideways dodging a roundhouse kick and sweeping his legs out from under him.

"And a great teacher." another one tried to stab me with a knife, but I grabbed his wrist and took it away, throwing it into a ceiling tile. I continued for another few minutes before an arrow flew through the window and impaled one. There were three remaining now with one trapped and two unconscious, the other two were battered and bruised, the third was trying to remove the arrow in his shoulder, while I was healing pretty fast. Suddenly, Oliver came in through the window and kicked one in the chest before punching him hard enough to knock him out too, leaving just two.

"I thought I told you not to fight these guys?" He wasn't amused at having six leagues of assassin members trying to take me out, but I could tell it was mostly just concern given what was going on.

"I didn't, they came here, got to say, they're not that smart if they got caught in my traps, I feel like this is home alone assassin edition."

"Nyssa must be testing you, sending grunts to test your defenses." I sighed as I grabbed one by the arm and judo flipped him into some boxes, the man limping as he tried to get up before I performed a hard punch to his gut knocking the wind out of him, Oliver had another in a choke hold until he passed out leaving the now winded and wounded one remaining and getting knocked out with a punch to the face.

"Got to say, not my kind of party, I prefer the kind with smart girls, video games, and junk food." Oliver's façade cracked for a moment at the joke before re-asserting its self. I'd have to keep trying, I swear I'd get him to lighten up just a bit sooner rather than later. As we tied up the group I decided to throw them over my shoulder and load them up in the back of Durendal lowering the back seat to make room before dropping them off in front of the police station. It was a bit of a chore to release the bear trap from the one's leg, but I was able to do reset it, the thing had proven effective tonight after all, maybe I'd put a few more around in unused rooms on the second floor.

I followed Oliver back to Verdant after that, I'd managed to snag a note off one of them which I was hoping might indicate what their mission was, but I couldn't read it, he might be able to though. As it turns out I did indeed have a death warrant out on me, apparently I'd insulted the dragon by dishonoring his daughter in combat.

I feared this wouldn't be the last group of idiots who came after me because when I came back to the factory I found the door smashed in and the word blood spray-painted everywhere in red. I'd nearly forgotten about Slade, but I guess brother Blood was still sore about being barred from the election. Especially given the equipment I'd spent time fixing up was smashed, luckily Durendal was with me. So it was spared the carnage.

Oliver was still following up on a lead as well trying to get in touch with John Constantine, he was apparently missing, or traveling, or something, but I had a feeling he'd show up when I least expected it. And besides, I think it was time for team arrow to go on a field trip, if the league was involved there was someone else I was aware of that might be able to do something about it, someone with ties to the dragon, and Talia al Ghul, Nyssas's sister. Looks like we'd be making a trip to Gotham, though Oliver still thought the Bat was a myth, I couldn't help feeling just a little amused at the idea of the Arrow and the Batman meeting properly.