"Foundry now. We need to talk. Sara and I were attacked by another Dark Archer.. Something tells me you may know something about that" was the text I received from Oliver this afternoon. I knew Sara had been staying at the Queen mansion with Oliver. The fact that she was attacked by a member of the League of Assassins was troublesome. I knew Sara had ties to them.. But the fact she was attacked proved she had run away from Ra's and the Demons Head never took kindly to that kind of thing. I made for the Foundry at once.
I arrived at the same time Diggle and Felicity did. We walked downstairs as Sara said "This is quite the setup you have here.. Where you and David are launching your two man war for Starling." I then said emerging from the shadows "It is not just us Sara. We have a little help from our friends. Meet John Diggle and Felicity Smoak" John smiled "Welcome home Sara." Felicity then interjected "I was happy to hear you're not dead anymore. I mean, I didn't know you before you didn't die the first time... I'm still glad you are alive." I rolled my eyes. Sara merely said "Thank you." Oliver then filled us in "We just had an invited guest in the Queen Mansion. Trained.. Highly skilled. He was also dressed like Merlyn." Diggle then said "Well last I checked Malcolm Merlyn was dead.. Courtesy of an arrow jammed through his heart." I nodded "you're welcome." Oliver then said "It wasn't him.. It was a follower... an underling. Bent on revenge. Whoever it was. He knows who I am."
He then handed a bag of dirt to Felicity and guided her to her station. She said "Gee.. I didn't get you a bag of dirt." Oliver then said "I found it in the house. Copycat Merlyn tracked it in. I want you to analyze it. Hopefully it'll lead me right to him." I then grabbed Sara by the arm and pulled her away from the group. I then whispered "Why are you hunted by the League Sara? What did you do? Did Ra's not release you from his command." She shook her head. I then followed up with "So are you going to tell Oliver.. Or should I?" She looked at me "Please don't. If he knows I am hunted he would take on the League to save me.. And He won't survive that." I sighed "He is going to do it someday, and it looks like he is going to hunt this assassin either way.. This way he will go in prepared and stand a better chance. Tell him." That was when Oliver said from across the room "Don't worry Sara.. We'll find him." She turned around to face him "I don't want you to." He looked confused "What do you mean?" She replied "He wasn't after you Ollie... he's after me." Oliver then asked "Who is he?" Sara replied with "He's called Al ow-al. 'The first' and he is a member of the league of assassins." He raised an eyebrow "The ones who held you prisoner all these years." Sara whipped her head around to me "I didn't tell him you were a prisoner.. Just you were with them." Diggle then said "Wait they are actually real.. I thought that was a bullshit story to talk yourself out of trouble David?" I shook my head "They are about as bullshit as I am. I pretty sure I mentioned this before.. The League is a sect of the Brotherhood.. Broken off centuries ago to follow their own goals.. Take a more active role in shaping history. In many ways they became the very enemy we swore to fight." Oliver then said "So that's how you learned to fight.. You weren't a prisoner.. You were one of them."
Sara nodded "After the freighter, a member of the league rescued me; took me in and brought me to Nanda Parbat. They remade me into what I am. I swore them allegiance." Diggle then asked "Why are they kicking down doors to find you then?" She then said "Because I left and there's only one way that you leave the league." Oliver took a step forward and asked "Is that why you didn't want to see your family?" She then launched into a story "A year ago, I was in Guyana. I was sent there for a man named Suarez. He was a local diplomat and I slit his throat.. In his bed. And his kids.. They found the body in the morning. I'm a murderer Ollie... you think that my family will be happy to see me?" I looked down, suppressing my rage at her killing.. This is why the League broke off from the Brotherhood.. Because they killed to shape the world.. We killed to save it. This diplomat could not have been a templar.. Abstergo was too careful not to bite off more than it could chew... they had learned from the mistakes of their brothers throughout history.. And instead sought out to shape the world through video games.. And quietly wipe out the brotherhood.. So none could oppose them when they sought fit to rule the world. This diplomat did not fit the creed.. And this why the League was as much our enemy as the templars. Oliver looked at his phone. He said "I have to go to Iron heights. Felicity, I need you to find this Al Ow-al. David I need you to protect Sara when I am away." I nodded and he left.
I Watched over Sara.. Not saying a word to her.. Battling my inter thoughts.. Honor the creed.. Or honor Sara as I knew she left because of what they made her.. I knew they had brainwashing in the league.. I knew to her it must have felt like a stupor.. Not real until she did something to make it real. But I couldn't help the rage I felt. Oliver walked with obvious anger back down the stairs. Diggle asked "How did things go with your mother." Oliver replied "Not well... have you found anything for me to hit yet?" Felicity said "could be. Spectro Analysis of the dirt from your house had trace amounts of aldicarb in them." I then broke my silence saying "English.. Please Fel." She said "It's a pesticide. Starling city used to have its own Aldicarb plant but per the EPA it was shut down three years ago." I looked at Oliver "Perfect place for an Assassin to hide... especially if its abandoned." Felicity said "Right in one. Had been abandoned for years." Oliver went for his bow and Sara said "He will kill you" To Ollie. Oliver then said "Thats why I have the Grand Mentor of the Assassin's with me. He doesn't stand a chance. We killed Merlyn we can kill this guy too." Sara looked at us "This is my fight." Oliver replied "He made it mine when he came into my house and when he threatened somebody I care about." I then added "Its my duty as Grand Mentor to deal with the League as they were our mistake. So this is my fight too."
We took out positions in the warehouse. Al ow-al was there. Oliver shot the first arrow straight for the mans head.. Who caught it. I raised an eyebrow... he was good. "Arrows! Such an ineffective projectile! I find it strange anyone who still fears them." Oliver then called out "I'll show you why, if you don't leave Sara Lance alone. This is your only warning." The Assassin replied "And it would be effective, were you to pose a threat to me. You barely defeated Malcolm Merlyn At nearly the cost of your own life. What hope would you have against the man who trained him." I then called out "How about the man who killed him.. And many more of your kind of the centuries." The Assassin then said "Ahh... the Ghost of the Brotherhood. You barely defeated Merlyn as well... and nearly at the cost of your own life." I resisted the urge to retort angerly and said "I held back to allow the Arrow a chance to grow as a hero. I will not make that same judgement with you Al Ow-al." Sara flanked him while we were talking, and I blocked off his escape to the side. The Assassins looked at Sara and said "The child of Ra's Al ghul awaits your return." Sara replied "I'm not going back." The assassin smirked "That's not your choice. I have orders to return you...Alive or dead" Sara then said calmly "You are not going to kill me." to which the assassin replied just as calmly "You overestimate your importance. Regardless.. You're coming back with us." My eyes widdened "Us?" I asked, "Like you.. I did not come alone." I then noticed two masked assassins sneak up on Sara.. Then felt the changes in air patterns behind me letting me know there were two behind me as well.
I notched and arrow and twisted around and fired it. The assassin blocked it with his blade. They rushed me after that. I blocked the first one's attack with my bow, and ducked under the second ones attack. I then had my bow knocked out of my hand by a follow up attack so I ripped my sword from its sheath and went on the attack, hacking and slashing, twisting around so they never knew where my next attack came from. Finally one countered one of my attacks. I blocked with my sword and with a swift motion I ejected the wrist blade on my free hand and twisted, slicing the assassin's throat. I then followed that up by blocked the second assassin's blade with my wrist blade and stabbed him through the chest. As I did this I overheard Al ow-al yelling "If you do not come with me you will be staying to bury your family." I turned to notice Oliver and Sara retreat. The remaining two assassins came for me. I quickly located my bow before dropping a smoke bomb. I then grabbed my bow and fired a repel arrow and made my retreat as well.
Back at the foundry Oliver finished stitching up Sara. We then took a respectful distance to allow Sara some privacy to put on a new shirt. Oliver asked Dig and I "The League of assassins.. Why didn't she tell me she spent all those years with them." Dig replied "Probably the same reason you haven't told us all that happened to you on the island." I could see Oliver trying to come up with a retort but he gave up and said to the group "We need to protect the Lances. I'll take Laurel." Sara quickly asked "What can I do." Oliver then said "Nothing. You're hurt. You need to stay here" I nodded "Last time I checked, you were a Lance in need of protecting too Sara." She then said "Well what about my father.. You can't protect both me and him." I smirked "Thats a job for our resident cover blown tech girl." She rolled her eyes and nodded "I'll talk to Detective lance.. Get him to leave town for a couple days." I nodded "warn him to watch over his shoulder and not do anything reckless. It will make it easier for the League to track him otherwise." Sara twisted around and pleaded "Please don't tell him about me." Felicity smiled "I can keep a secret.. Just ask them" I smirked but did not reply. Oliver and Felicity left. Sara looked at us both and said "You are quite the team." Dig smiled "We have our moments." I chuckled with him as we all went about our business in the foundry.
Felicity returned about an hour later. Dig asked "How did it go?" Felicity said "Badly. In hindsight I probably shouldn't have led with League of Assassins." I bit my lip "I guess I could tail him.. But its kind of hard for a wanted Vigilante to stalk an on duty cop." Sara then went to grab her suit, I asked "Where are you going.. You don't want your father to know you are alive remember?' She replied with "I don't.. But its better than him not being alive." I said "Fine, I'll suit up." I then went over to my suit to suit up. Dig then grabbed a gun "I'm coming too." Sara then said "Dig, you may be a 3 tour veteran with the special forces but I trained with the people who make the special forces look like a kindergarten class, so step aside or get put down." I turned around and said "WOAH, hold up there. First off if you wanted to kill Diggle you would have to go through me.. And second.. It's fine Dig I'll go with her.. She may have been taught by the League... but the League's training stems from my training.. So they don't really stand a chance." I looked at Sara and added "I killed 2 of the 5 assassins currently afterwards.. Do I really need more of a resume?" She said "Yes, you do. I need to do this alone. It's better if my father doesn't know I'm in league with the Arrow and the Blue Lightning." She then left without another word.
I spent the evening keeping a watch over Sara from afar. Too far for her to know I was there. It was difficult as she was on the watch for people.. I was able to track them right to the old clock tower.. Must have been her old base that Roy mentioned. I was watching it when Felicity said over coms "Laurel wasn't the target, Al Ow-al is going for Detective Lance. Oliver is suiting up and will be on his way. You have to warn Sara." I replied 'acknowledeged, Blue Lightning out." I then made my way up the steps of the clock toward. I got to the top just as The assassin's made their presence known. All 3 of them. "Now it's a fair fight" I said with my voice changer on. Lance asked "Who the hell are these guys Sara?" Al Ow-al replied "Associates of your daughter Officer Lance." I then said "Not anymore. She is one of us now. Leave.. While I still let you live. Or did you forget how easily I dispatched your friends yesterday?" He looked at me "They were underskilled to face you Blue Lightning.. However I am not. Did you really think we wouldn't find you here?" Sara said "I knew you would." I notched an arrow as she pulled out her staff. I should have known.. She would lure them to home terf.. Which would work in our favor. They attacked. I fired my arrow, which lead to the assassin I was aiming for to dive out of the way.. I then rushed him, countering his sword strikes with my bow. He remained on the defensive for a time whilst I continued my advance. I stopped however when Sara was beaten and gotten into a choke hold from Al Ow-al. I notched an arrow and aimed at his face "Let her go!" I warned.
That was when the Arrow crashed through the window and took Al Ow-al's legs out from under him. Which led to me twisting and firing my arrow at the previous assassin I was fighting. He deflected the arrow with his sword. I then began to rapid fire a few arrows to catch him off guard. That succeeded when one arrow struck his shoulder, and the other his gut. I then launched forward, leaping into the air and ejecting my wrist blade. I then plunged it into his neck. I whispered "Say hello to my uncle for me." Life left his body. He was dead. I got up and noticed Oliver and Lance had taken care of the second assassin, and Sara had Al Ow-al in a choke hold, positioned for the kill. He said "You think because you are the beloved you will be granted your freedom?" She replied darkly "There's only one freedom. Let me grant you yours." She killed him.. And moved to the guy Oliver had beaten and grabbed him. Oliver said "You don't have to do this." I then replied "Arrow.. The League will keep coming..In this instance.. Killing is the only option as it weakens the League." Lance gave me side eye, but I looked away.. I wanted to be different.. To not kill.. But The League was different.. The more I killed now.. The less I would have to deal with in the future.. They were traitors.. And would one day make a traitor out of Oliver... niether of them would understand my anger now.. But one day they would. Sara merely said "You tell Ra's Al ghul that his quarel is with me.. My family is off limits." She let him go and he went crashing back through the window..
Sara turned to her father and said roughly "I'm sorry you had to see that, I can't imagine what you must think of me." Her father replied "I think you're a survivor. I think you're one of the bravest people I've ever known. You're my daughter. It's time for you to come back home." She replied "I can't.. They are never going to stop looking for me." he then said "I'll protect you.. We'll protect you. Tell her its safe to stay" He said to both of us. I couldn't bring myself to say those words.. And Oliver said nothing. Sara then said "If they hurt you.. Or laurel, or mom, then I really would die." Lance then said desperately "They need to know." Sara replied "They can't.. And you know why. I came back to make sure that my family was safe and you are, but if they knew I was alive, Laurel and mom.. They would never stop looking for me and that could get them both killed." They then embraced eachother, Oliver and I looked at eachother, understanding her pain. We let them have their moment. Sara took her leave. Oliver said "Detective.. She's right.. You have to keep her secret.." Lance then said "Its already they hardest thing I ever had to do.. How do you leave like this?." I then said "By reminding ourselves that our secret saves lives. Being the Arrow and Blue Lightning is making a difference to save this City.. And keeping the secret from our loved ones... saves them too. That is what you must do now Detective.. Save your loved ones by keeping this secret.. And we in turn.. Will continue to save this City with you." Oliver nodded at me and we took out leave.
Later that evening I was downstairs in the foundry for my break before I continued my work at the club. Oliver joined us down there, carrying three glasses. Diggle asked "Where's Sara?" to which Oliver replied "She left." Diggle asked "You try to stop her?" Oliver shook his head "No.. I didn't have much of a choice.." He pulled out a bottle of vodka and said "An old friend once gave this to me.. Said I would know when it was the right time to drink it." He poured it into the three glasses. I asked "And now's the right time?" He shrugged "I'm not sure.. But I need a drink." We each picked up a glass. He then toasted "prochnost." We clinked glasses. It had a soft burn as I drank it.. But I knew it would do nothing given my elven ability to never really get drunk. Oliver then said "So you were right Dig" Diggle smirked "I usually am Oliver.. But what about this time?" Oliver then said "No matter how hard I try, Diggle, David.. My past..it doesn't want to stay buried and I don't want to try so hard anymore." He then took a deep breath as he said "The five years I was gone.. I wasn't always on the island.." He began to tell us bits of his story.. Some I knew.. Some I didn't. I'm sure it wasn't all that took place.. But it was more than I knew. This was a true testament to the fact Oliver Queen now trusted David Shuter Razacrazer.
