The nights now at its darkest, Oliver and Slade quietly jog to the perimeter where Slade set up his sniper rifle earlier at vantage point. Slade points at the guard tower becoming serious, "if you let him radio camp we're dead." Slade unsheathes his sword handing the hilt over to Oliver.
"What about the others?" Oliver asked, becoming calm-as anyone can be when not a soldier.
"You worry about your one and I'll worry about my ten," Slade retorts. Oliver nods pulling down his balaclava and moving behind an armoured truck.
Slade kills the first with his suppressed sniper and Oliver moves forwards crouching down behind fuel barrels beside a camouflaged tent. Oliver looks inside and holds up three fingers which Slade spots through his scope. Two exit the tent carrying a crate, the second hits the floor and the other turns around confused and then hits the floor himself.
Oliver stays crouched as the third comes out and is shot down dead. Oliver runs closer to the tower hiding behind cover as Slade shoots the soldier coming down the stairs. Slade then fires at the second while the soldier is distracted looking for where his friend was killed from.
Slade reloads the boot and pulls the trigger but the magazine is empty, "shit," Slade mutters unsheathing his sword. Oliver runs to the stairs and starts his ascend as Slade silently approaches the rest. Slade slices up the first two before the other soldiers turn around at the sound raising their guns up but Slade silently slices them dead. With a quick thought Slade silently runs after Oliver just in case.
Oliver crouches below the door's window and holds his sword behind him attempting to quietly open the door as the guard is distracted by the computers. Entering the room, Oliver unfortunately is too impatient and the guard hears his footsteps. Oliver swims down at the man's chest but the guard dodges underneath, the sword slicing through the phone cable. The guard draws his gun aiming at Oliver strikes the pistol with his blade knocking the gun to the floor.
The guard picks up the phone but realises something is wrong and looks at the cut wire, glaring at Oliver but doesn't anticipate the sword appearing through his chest. "One job and fuck up even that," Slade grins amused before noticing the phone on the floor, "but you did manage to cut off their communications to the camp.
Slade passes him the guards gun, "stay and keep the door looked. I'm going to check for anymore soldiers. Let nobody in except for me. Understood?"
"Yeah," Oliver said ashamed.
"Good." Slade disappears out the door with his sword in hand. Oliver switches the pistol to his left hand and picks up the disconnected phone off the floor, comically hanging the phone up.
Slade returns in the tower as the radio comes online, "island tower. This is Skyhawk 801 foxtrot. We are seven hundred kilometres southeast of your position. ETA three hours, twenty two minutes, over."
Slade finds the radio mic, "island tower, Skyhawk 801 foxtrot, acknowledged." The comms remain silent. "Skyhawk 801 foxtrot, acknowledged," Slade repeats with wide eyes.
"Of all creatures that breathe and move upon the earth." Slade averts his eyes trying to think of the answer.
"What wrong?" Oliver asked.
"It's a challenge code. They're trying to identify our identity." Slade activates the radio, "Skyhawk 801 foxtrot please repeat."
"Of all creatures that breathe and move upon the earth."
Oliver nearly jumps up and down in disbelief, "wait. I know this. They picked the only book I read in college!"
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Slade asked.
"It's a quote," Oliver explains, "from the Odyssey." Oliver closes his eyes trying to think, "erm...of all the creatures that breathe and move upon the Earth, nothing...nothing is born that is weaker than man."
Slade looks at Oliver with deadly intent, "are you sure cause if you're wrong this plane will turn around and we'll be killed!"
"Yes. Say it." Slade activates the radio but is immediately stopped by Oliver, "sorry. Of all the creatures that breathe and move upon the Earth, nothing...nothing is bred that is weaker than man."
Slade stares at Oliver the whole time, "nothing is bred that is weaker than man."
"Roger that," the pilot said and Oliver fist pumps as Slade lets out a sigh.
"The odyssey. How did you know that?" Slade asked.
Oliver laughs, "yeah. It's about a guy trying to get home...kinda like me,"
Slade looks at Oliver impressed, "after a few days at Landstuhl Air Base, you'll be on your way home."
"Which makes it sound like you're not coming with me."
"Ooh, I'm coming with you," Slade confirms. "After I've radioed in an airstrike on this location. I'm sending Fyers and his men straight back to hell...including my former partner."
"Wait." Oliver calls out, "what about Yao Fei?"
Slade storms up to Oliver, "he is no longer my concern."
"Really," Oliver asked rhetorically. "He's the only reason you're here. Rescuing was your mission!"
"The mission has changed," Slade retorts darkly. "Edward Fyers is a mercenary and he's not on this island by mistake. Mercenaries follow the money and he's working for someone. Whatever plans are for Yao Fei, they must end."
"I'm not leaving him. Yao Fei saved my life," Oliver replies blankly.
Slade's voice becomes almost like a growl, "your debt to repay, not mine." Oliver walks to the door. "Where you going!?"
Oliver turns back to face Slade, "I've only ever thought about myself, my whole life. I took my family for granted, friends, betraying the people I loved," Oliver admits ashamed of his past. "I don't want to be that person anymore." "I won't leave Yao Fei to die."
Slade stares off into the distance, "you have less than three hours until the plane leaves. If you and your friend are not on it, I will leave without you."
Oliver walks out the doorway but swivels back around on the stairs. "If you get outta here and I don't make it back in time, I want you to call my family."
"Sure kid," Slade agrees before Oliver descends down the stairs into a run. Slade's stares into space conflicted before looking at the monitor. Oliver runs hard and fast, pushing himself to his limits- after all he is a runner. Entering the forest to the camp.
Completely out of breath Oliver sneaks his way into the camp hiding behind a truck as a group of soldiers march past. Once they are gone Oliver spots Yao Fei entering a tent, he runs in after him.
Yao Fei turns around at the sound of the tent flaps rustling and to his shock spots Oliver, "how did you...No. you stupid boy, you should have never come back."
"I found Slade Wilson and he has a way off the island but we have to go right now." Oliver whispers.
"No. No," Yao Fei vehemently declines.
"What?" Oliver asked confused at him wanting to stay. "What reason do you have for staying here?" Oliver's voice gradually gets louder.
Yao Fei sharply gestures with his hand for Oliver to be quiet, "not what. Who."
"What?" Oliver asked again before getting punched by Yao Fei. Fyers and Wintergreen enter the tent and the three surround him.
"Now mister Queen. It's past time you leave this island, permanently." As Wintergreen clinches a fist staring down at Oliver intimidatingly.