Disclaimer: I do not own DC Comics or the CW TV shows Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl or any other characters or elements pertaining to the mentioned franchises.
After getting some rest from stabbing himself, Oliver returned to the mess hall as he and Stanley were taking their meals.
"Wow. I still can't believe you stabbed yourself. Did you hit anything big, like your liver or something?" Stanley asked and Oliver shook his head in annoyance. "Right. You probably don't have a liver, just muscle."
"You think I had any other choice?" Oliver pointed out. He then turned and saw Brick, Sampson and Turner and limped towards them. "I did what you asked. Now tell me what you know about Diaz."
"That wasn't exactly what I meant by getting rid of Yorke." Brick said.
"Well, I found a better way."
Sampson chuckled in amusement. "He still thinks he's a hero."
"You're a bigger idiot than I thought." Turner said.
"Easy, gents, a deal's a deal. Getting Yorke off our back means we're in business. Thanks to Queen here, we're gonna have one hell of a night." Brick said.
"Where is Diaz?" Oliver demanded.
"I don't know, but I do know who does." Brick said as Oliver looked intrigued. "There's an informant here at Slabside. Anything that goes on here goes through the Demon first."
"The Demon?" Oliver asked. He certainly wondered who this person was, if they were going by this alias.
"The person, who arranged the hit on you and who's the direct connection to Diaz. All I did was handle the transaction but seeing as how I'm a man of my word, I will arrange a meeting." Brick said.
"You expect me to trust you?" Oliver snorted.
"You don't have much choice, do you?" Brick reminded.
"When?" Oliver asked.
"Tonight. Cell 3-B after lights out." Brick said and was about to leave but stopped to add a final note. "And you will know when."
A.R.G.U.S.
"So, from what I can tell, the Longbow Hunters hacked into the CDC and breached their security protocols and looks like they are looking for a shipment that just came from Central City." Curtis said.
"Diaz is gonna want to take that shipment." Sara realized.
"Then why aren't you doing something about it?"
They turned to see Felicity, who had entered the room, clearly upset.
"Tell John or Lyla to get him, if we have a lead on Diaz, shouldn't we pursue it? We can set a trap." Felicity demanded angrily.
"Felicity, it's not that simple." Curtis explained.
"Besides, last time we went up against Diaz and the Longbow Hunters, we barely made it out alive." Sara pointed out. "I called in help, they're on their way here."
"I'm done sitting here and waiting, when that monster is still out there and we're still in danger!" Felicity exploded.
"Felicity, calm down. I understand that you're upset but there is nothing you can do—"
"No. Diaz took everything away from me. It's time I fought back. Until that monster is out there, Oliver's sacrifice will have been for nothing." Felicity said firmly.
Sara considered and sighed. "Fine. But you're going to do everything we say, down to the letter and you're not gonna do anything stupid. Understand?"
Felicity considered and nodded.
Slabside Maximum Security Prison
Oliver and Stanley went outside and saw the inmates leaving their cells after lights-out, realizing Brick was up to something as they went to investigate until they approached the cell 3-B.
Oliver opened the door and entered the cell, which turned out to be empty. "Not here."
"So, what do we do, do we wait?" Stanley asked.
"It'll be a long wait." Turner said upon entering with two more inmates.
"Where's the Demon?" Oliver demanded.
"Hell, if I know." Turner chuckled. "You actually thought Brick was gonna help you? Well, Brick got what he wanted, and now he wants you dead."
Turner pulled out a knife as Oliver gestured for Stanley to back away and Oliver ducked as Turner attempted to stab him and threw Stanley aside before Turner kicked him as Oliver fell against a table. Oliver picked a book and used it as a shield as Turner attempted to stab him before elbowing him in the face and Oliver then threw Turner aside.
One of the inmates attacked but Oliver threw him down on the floor before the second inmate rushed at him but Oliver dodged as the inmate fell off the railing down to his demise. The first inmate attacked again but Oliver slammed him against the door, knocking him out.
Turner pulled his knife out and attempted to stab Oliver but Oliver grabbed Turner by his hand and pinned him to the wall, with the blade against Turner's neck.
"You're not going anywhere until I get some answers." Oliver growled and then tied Turner up against the door. "We had a deal!"
"A deal that means nothing, now that Brick got what he wanted. With Yorke gone, we're finally free to have some fun." Turner smirked. "Brick's got a game going on right now in the mess hall, all thanks to you."
"First rule of prison: Trust no one." Stanley noted.
"Ah, the kid's right. Now, how did he manage to figure that out before you did?" Turner asked rhetorically.
"Alright, so Brick was lying. There's no Demon." Oliver grumbled.
"Oh, there is, but you don't summon the Demon. The Demon summons you." Turner corrected.
"I think I'll take my chances." Oliver sneered.
"You're not getting this. The only way to get to the Demon is through Brick. There's a system, that's how this place works." Turner explained.
"Well, looks like I'm gonna force Brick to make good on his deal."
"Hmmm. Good luck." Turner said sarcastically. "His party's 'invite only', and you're not on the guest list."
"I'm guessing you are." Oliver said, pointing the tip of the knife against Turner's neck.
CDC
Sara, Nyssa, Dinah, Rene, Curtis and Felicity approached the security checkpoint as Nyssa pulled out a fake FBI ID.
"Agent Nyssa Raatko. FBI. We'd like to commence a routine security check of your facility, please." Nyssa said.
"You're working late." The receptionist noted.
"Orders are orders." Nyssa shrugged.
"Door to the right, I'll buzz you in." The receptionist said, unlocking the door as they entered the corridor.
"Thank you for the help." Sara said, turning to Nyssa.
"Thea and Roy wanted to go after the Thanatos Guild on their own anyway, besides, if the Longbow Hunters are in your city, then it's as much my problem as yours and I respected your father." Nyssa said, turning to Sara in sympathy.
"The biocontainment lab should be right here, this is it." Felicity said as they stopped.
"So, all we gotta do is trap them inside?" Rene asked.
"Rene, Dinah, cover the exits, Nyssa and I will keep an eye on the labs." Sara said and they nodded.
"The cameras are on the loop. Curtis and I'll be in the server room. As far as Diaz can tell, the place will be empty." Felicity said.
Rene was hiding in one of the labs as Diaz, Red and Bear passed by him. "I got eyes on Diaz and he brought two psychos with him."
"Felicity, do you have eyes on the third one?" Sara asked.
"Not yet. Maybe they left her at home." Felicity said.
"It's doubtful, the Silencer wouldn't want to miss this." Dinah said as she went down the corridor.
"They've reached the lab." Rene observed and was shocked to see that they didn't need to override the lock. "Hold up. The zombies just walked right in. No keycard or nothing."
"That doesn't make any sense." Felicity said.
"Can you lock them in?" Sara asked.
Felicity typed away and swore. "Frak. Frak, frak, frak."
"Make better sounds, Felicity." Rene grumbled.
"Whatever's jamming the door is jamming my access frequencies, it's some sort of sonic disruption." Felicity said.
"Comms are still working." Nyssa noted.
"The Silencer. She must have brought a new toy." Dinah noted.
"I got her, she's in the northeast corridor, headed towards the mechanical room." Felicity said.
"I'm on it. But once I catch up with her, it'll be radio silence, literally." Dinah warned as she fastened her pace.
Rene, Nyssa and Sara observed as Diaz was seizing some vials from a cooler.
"Felicity, when I tell you, lock them in." Sara ordered as she entered the lab with Rene.
"I'm in the mechanical room." Dinah said as she walked down the corridor but suddenly, she heard no sounds and tapped a nearby canister with the barrel of her gun and when she heard no clanging, she immediately realized what happened.
Dinah turned around and dodged, when Silencer attacked with her knife and knocked the gun off Dinah's hand. Dinah and Silencer exchanged blows briefly before Silencer kicked Dinah back. Dinah picked a wrench from a nearby worktable and rushed at Silencer.
"Uh, guys, just, FYI, a lot of things in that lab don't react nicely to gunfire. So, one stray bullet and the whole place goes 'boom'." Felicity warned.
Sara, Rene and Nyssa entered as Nyssa pulled out her bow and notched an arrow.
"It's over, Diaz. Drop the box." Sara said.
"Miss Lance. Looks like our paths cross on many places." Diaz said, not turning around.
"This is going to be the last." Sara vowed.
"Can you please handle this?" Diaz asked.
Red fired darts from her wrist gun as Sara, Nyssa and Rene dodged. Rene slid down to avoid as Bear swung his shield, while Nyssa fired but Bear raised his shield to block the arrow before kicking Rene, sending him sliding across the floor.
Sara picked a tray and used it as a shield as Red fired more darts before rushing at her as they exchanged blows.
Dinah kicked Silencer in the back and swung a wrench but Silencer dodged and attempted to stab Dinah. Dinah grabbed Silencer's arm and threw her down on the ground before Silencer kicked Dinah back and got up on her feet.
Sara blocked Red's punches and tried to kick her but Red grabbed Sara by her leg and knocked her down. Sara rolled away as Red fired more darts and some of them grazed Sara, as she and Nyssa started to realize, why had even the League feared the Longbow Hunters.
Rene attacked with his knife but Bear blocked with his shield and forced Rene to dodge as the blades of the shield scratched Rene's jacket and Bear threw Rene, sending him sliding down the floor. Nyssa attacked with her sword but Bear raised his shield to block and pushed her back and slammed her against a nearby cabinet. Nyssa ducked and rolled away as Bear was about to finish her off and cut through the cabinet door.
"Playtime's over!" Diaz shouted as he pulled out his gun and opened fire, forcing Sara and Rene to take cover behind tables as Diaz hit some containers and gas leaked before Diaz turned to Red and Bear. "Let's go!"
Diaz, Red and Bear retreated as Sara, Rene and Nyssa stared in disbelief.
"Guys, we got Silencer, she's still here in the mechanical room." Curtis said.
"Go help Dinah, Diaz is mine." Sara ordered as Nyssa and Rene ran off and Curtis got up, rushing out.
Sara attempted to chase Diaz, Red and Bear but Red fired a flashbang dart, blinding Sara and giving them an opening to escape.
Silencer aimed at Dinah's head with her knife but Dinah dodged and attempted to throw a punch but Silencer slammed her in her chest as Dinah gasped for air. Before she could recover, Silencer punched her in her face, dazing her and slit her throat as Dinah gagged and fell down.
Silencer smirked in satisfaction as she turned off her device. "One down."
Silencer dodged as Rene threw a knife and ran off.
"I got her, she needs your help." Nyssa ordered as she followed Silencer.
"Dinah! D!" Rene exclaimed, horrified as he knelt next to her.
"Oh, God…" Curtis panicked.
"We have to call an ambulance!" Rene said.
"They won't make it in time but maybe there's something I can do." Curtis said as Rene turned to him. "I've been working on a new prototype, mid-infrared lasers that might be able to cauterize the wound."
"Might or will?" Rene demanded.
"I don't know but the only way to bond the cut is by burning it first, I've never tested it, though—"
"We don't have time, Hoss, just do it!" Rene said, holding Dinah's wound as she choked, blood filling her mouth. "It's gonna be OK, D., just hang on."
Curtis turned on his T-Sphere as the laser started to cauterize the wound on Dinah's throat as she gasped.
Slabside Maximum Security Prison
"Brick's gonna be extra pissed to see you, he thinks you're dead." Stanley said.
"Well, he's in for a surprise. Come on." Oliver said as Turner accompanied them down the stairs. "What are we walking into?"
"Brick will probably have prisoners posted outside the mess hall." Turner said.
"You talk us past them. And if you say one wrong word—" Oliver warned.
"Yeah, slash goes the artery, I get it." Turner drawled. "You know, it's nice to know that you'd rather shiv yourself to save some hard-ass guard but you have no problem shivving me."
"Well, you ambushed me." Oliver reminded.
"You think I had a choice in that? Brick calls the shots, if I don't try to kill you, then Brick kills me. Every man here is out for number one, including you." Turner said.
"Everything I do is for my family. You're just out for yourself." Oliver sneered.
Turner stopped and actually looked at Oliver in disbelief before his expression turned into full of contempt. "You think you know me so well. You know nothing about me."
"I know you made a deal with China White to have me killed and I know you helped steal a weapon that blew up half the Glades." Oliver noted.
"What about Markovia, 2014? A known terrorist named Gholem Qadir. Or did you forget I was part of the mission that helped bring him down?" Turner reminded.
"A.R.G.U.S. put an explosive in the back of your neck. You didn't have a choice." Oliver pointed out.
"But I did have a choice to save your friend's life." Turner revealed and Oliver looked shocked. "Yeah. Lyla and I were alone, when Qadir threatened to slit her throat and I drove my blade right through his back."
"John never told me it was you who saved her life." Oliver said in surprise.
"Yeah, why would he? You and your team only saw me as one thing, the enemy. But now look at us, both in prison. So I guess we're not that different after all." Turner said and Oliver considered that perhaps he had misjudged Turner.
When they approached the door to the mess hall, it was guarded by two inmates.
"Step aside, fellas. Green Arrow's joining our little game." Turner said.
"Are you kidding? We can't let Queen in here." One of the inmates protested.
"You'd better. He's VIP. The high rollers will be very happy to see him." Turner said and after a moment, they banged on the door.
"You're coming in there with me." Oliver warned.
"Good. I'd hate to miss all the fun." Turner smirked.
A moment later the door opened and the inmates cheered as the mess hall tables were positioned to act like walls to a fighting ring and Oliver watched Sampson beat up one of the inmates as he entered the ring.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen!" Brick yelled as Oliver and Stanley looked up to see him above on the upper floor. "It seems we have an unexpected treat for you this evening. An epic once-in-a-lifetime matchup: Our champion, Sampson, vs. the Green Arrow!" He pointed at Oliver as cheers sounded across the mess hall and Oliver realized they wanted him to fight.
"I kind of wish we stayed outside." Stanley muttered as they turned to Sampson.
"No. I don't have time for this." Oliver protested but the inmates blocked his way out of the fighting ring.
"Where are you going, Arrow?" Sampson taunted and Oliver sighed and turned to him, realizing he had no choice but to fight.
"Oh, you're way better than this guy." Stanley assured.
"What do you say? Time for a rematch?" Sampson asked.
"Last time didn't end so well for you." Oliver reminded.
"This time, I'm gonna kill you." Sampson growled.
"Gentlemen, place your bets." Brick said as the inmates and guards cashed in their money and then they cheered as the fight began.
Sampson tackled Oliver to a table and started pummeling him and Oliver groaned in pain as he still felt the wound where he had stabbed himself before Sampson punched him in the face as Oliver slumped back.
"That's it, Sampson, hit him!" Brick said.
Oliver blocked Sampson's punch and sent a right hook at his face as Sampson staggered back and Oliver then noticed he was bleeding out and realized that he needed to put a quick end to the fight. Oliver rushed at Sampson and pinned him to a nearby table but Sampson kicked him back as Oliver fell against another table and blocked Sampson's punches.
"You got this, Oliver!" Stanley cheered as Oliver slammed Sampson against the table. "Yes!"
Oliver jumped off the table and slammed Sampson to the ground before they both got up on their feet and Oliver kneed Sampson in the groin and elbowed him in the head and then slammed him against another table. Oliver then flipped forward and kicked Sampson in the head as Sampson fell down.
Sampson got up and threw a punch but Oliver grabbed him by his arm and kicked Sampson in the head and broke his arm as Sampson groaned in pain. Sampson got up and Oliver pummeled him in the chest and pinned him to the table, grabbing him by the throat.
"Yield!" Oliver snarled as he grabbed Sampson's other arm.
"Never!" Sampson choked out.
Out of patience, Oliver broke Sampson's other arm as Sampson screamed in pain and the cheers of the spectators stopped.
"That was awesome." Stanley said, amazed.
"What a performance." Brick said as Oliver looked up. "I'll let you in on a secret, Queen. My money was on you. You're a hard man to kill."
Oliver jumped off the table to the upper floor and kicked a guard in the chest as he fell down before pointing a knife at Brick, while the rest of the guards aimed at him.
"Stand down!" Oliver warned Brick nodded as the guards dropped their weapons. "No more games. Tell me how to find the Demon." Brick smirked as Oliver's patience was wearing thin. "Brick… don't make me ask you again."
Brick chuckled. "I've had you running around, playing fetch for me like my grandmother's springer spaniel. And you know the best part? You'll never get to the Demon 'cause you're on the wrong level. The Demon is on Level 2, the place for the worst of the worst and that just isn't you now, isn't that right, Arrow?"
Oliver sighed and considered. For so hard he had been trying to play the good guy in prison to make sure he could return to William and his friends as soon as possible, but with them all in danger now, he had no other choice. Oliver kicked a guard and cut Dunbar across his arm and then punched another guard and stabbed another in the shoulder and then punched him in the face before dropping his knife and more guards entered, aiming their weapons and Oliver fell on his knees and put his hands behind his back and Brick chuckled, impressed that Oliver would go that far.
"Oliver, you got a plan, right?" Stanley asked as they were back in their cells.
"Stop worrying about me. Just try to keep your head down." Oliver said.
"Maybe Level 2 isn't as bad as everyone says." Stanley said optimistically.
"As long as it gives me what I want, I don't care." Oliver said.
"You were never going to stay hero… not in this place." Stanley said, looking at Oliver worriedly.
Later, A.R.G.U.S.
"How are they?" Sara asked as the medics were treating Dinah's and Rene's injuries.
"Rene's just a bit banged up but Dinah… it's bad. If not for Curtis, she'd be dead. Her vocal cords had been damaged." Felicity sighed in frustration. "God, we almost had that son of a bitch."
"Felicity, I told you how much dangerous the Longbow Hunters are. Look at what they did to us today." Sara pointed out. "Look, you did everything you could, what happened tonight is not on you. Just rest, OK?"
Felicity considered and nodded before Sara walked off.
Star City
Sara entered a basement as she approached Nyssa. "I secured her as much as I could."
They turned to Silencer, who was in shackles, bound to the floor as Sara pulled out a knife. "Now… you're going to tell us everything you know about Diaz."
Slabside Maximum Security Prison
Oliver was sitting in his cell as Dunbar approached with a small group of armored guards with billy clubs, showing Oliver the cuffs. "Let's go, 4587. You're going downstairs."
Oliver let himself be escorted out as the inmates, Stanley, Turner, Brick and Sampson included, observed.
"Have fun down there. I hear that the only way out of Level 2 is through the morgue." Brick said as the guards escorted Oliver out.
Hope you liked Nyssa here instead of Watson. Her not showing up in Season 7 was most likely because of unavailability of Katrina Law but I found it stupid that it was Watson who would try to take on the Longbow Hunters, which brings me to the following issue I'd like to address as well.
To be honest, I had a similar issue with the Longbow Hunters as with the Nazis in Crisis on Earth-X, where none of the main characters, save for Stein, were killed off. The Longbow Hunters are supposed to be feared even by the League of Assassins itself and while Season 5 showed that Rene and Dinah are skilled enough to take on even Talia's students, whose training matches the LoA, best-case scenario is that the recruits could barely hold their own against the Longbow Hunters before getting knocked down on their asses. It was ridiculous how nerfed the Longbow Hunters were, considering their reputation Oliver and Diggle later interrogated Bear in 7x18 and I could've bought Team Arrow catching Silencer, if it wasn't Rene or the recruits, of all people, who caught her. I could've killed both Dinah and Rene off here but that seemed like too much for me, since despite their flaws and glaring issues, I like Rene and as for Dinah, I have a bit of a soft spot for her because of Juliana Harkavy, but it's stupid that for how threatening the Longbow Hunters seemed to be, they were nerfed so much that they turned out to be as much of C-list villains like Brick, Sampson or Darhk for example, so I tried to make them more tougher and threatening than how the show portrayed them to be and yup, Dinah's slitted throat means losing her Canary Cry.
So, what do you guys think?
Please review and let me know if you have been enjoying this and want for me to continue.