So sorry for the very long delay but with Master Program schoolwork already at a high amount, I just haven't had the time or the passion to write as much as I used to. That being said I am still committed to this story and while it will take time, I am very willing to get to the end of this story.
So today we've finally gotten to the chapter that I wanted to write where the team takes on Pestilence. I hope you enjoy!
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Chapter 12: Of Two Minds
Oliver walked into the DEO having received a call to return by Kara. Apparently Pestilence, the last of the worldkillers might be closed to being identified and Oliver was eager to take them down once and for all. Lena meanwhile had still been working with Sam to try and find some cure for her affliction. However they were nearing Oliver's deadline and Lena hadn't yet made any major progress. Lena had tried to convince Oliver to extend the deadline but Oliver knew that wasn't a good idea. He didn't like lying to Kara. She had proven herself to him time and time again and Oliver knew that once the truth came out, she would be hurt. Oliver just hoped that if he was the one to reveal it, it might make her more understanding.
Oliver arrived in the lab and entered as they were in mid conversation.
"Remember the cure is written in our DNA." Mon-El reminded everyone.
Imra then spoke. "With Brainy's help we'll be able to extract it, weaponize it and use it to kill Pestilence before she ever becomes Blight." Oliver noticed the steel in her voice as she tried to walk out but Kara moved to stop her.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. We're not killing anyone." Kara argued. "We got too aggressive with Purity and that's when things got worse. I'm not making the same mistake twice. There is a human side to Pestilence. We are going to find her and we are going to save her."
"We came here to end the threat to our time." Imra shot back. "And that means ending her life in this time."
Kara however didn't seem convinced. "That's just not how we operate."
"That's not how I usually operate. But these are extreme circumstances." Imra fired back seemingly getting angrier at the minute."
As Oliver looked past Imra, he say a young man who he didn't recognize enter the room. Instinct taking over, Oliver notched an arrow and aimed as Alex and J'onn aimed their pistol. "Hey! Stop right there!" Alex ordered.
"Whoa guys. It's Brainy." Mon-El said trying to calm everyone.
Brianiac then realized what happened. "Oh of course. I'm wearing a personal image inducer. I had to purchase some apple cider vinegar and I nearly caused a riot at the Piggly Wiggly." He said deactivating and then reactivating the device.
"Right…" Oliver said as he returned his arrow to the quiver. "This world gets stranger by the minute." Oliver thought.
"I thought this would help me fit in better." Brianiac explained.
"Hey guys I just got world from city hall… Hey Briany." Winn said as he walked in.
"Wait, you recognize him?" Kara asked clearly surprised at this.
"Agent Schott, you were saying?" J'onn said.
"Oh yes! The major, the chief of police, like five city councilmen are all sick, high fevers bloody noses. So either was sushi day at the cafeteria…" Winn began.
"It her." Imra interrupted her focus returning back to her mission. "Let's go." She said nodding to Oliver and Mon-El.
Kara however wouldn't let her leave. "Hang on, hang on. Wait! We have sick people now. So, let's run some tests on them. Meanwhile you guys extract the cure so we can give it to the victims."
Imra was about to speak but Mon-El spoke faster. "It wont take long on our end. We'll meet up with you later."
Oliver interjected. "I'll stay and coordinate things here with Winn. The people there should see Supergirl there to give them hope."
"Don't worry. We'll get her." Kara said trying to calm down Imra who looked very annoyed.
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Oliver had watched everything happen on the feeds including the argument between Imra and Kara. Since the little argument in the lab, Oliver had been watching Imra. She had made it clear that she wanted to kill Pestilence. That surprised Oliver. Imra didn't strike him as a killer or even the kind of person who believes in the needs of the man over the needs of the few. Oliver wondered if she had it in her to truly kill.
However Oliver knew that Kara was definitely not on Imra's side with this. Kara had made it clear that she had made a vow to never kill no matter what. Oliver did admire her for sticking with her values here. If what Imra had told them about the Blight was accurate and the Legion didn't stop Pestilence now, billions could die.
Oliver didn't even have to think about where he stood regarding the issue. Oliver respected Kara and admired her especially for how moral of a person she was. But if Pestilence couldn't be redeemed or contained, Oliver knew Kara wouldn't be able to kill her. As he contemplated what their next actions would be, he saw Winn rush off to Kara and Alex yelling something about having found her.
"Ok, so there was one person who came in contact with everyone who got sick at the mayor's office. Adelaide Swanson, an administrator known for her famous lemon poppy seed cookies." Winn explained.
"A Worldkiller that bakes cookies. That's unexpected." Alex remarked.
"Wait let me see." Kara said. "Yep I saw her at City Hall. She looked… terrified. Just like Julia. You have her address?"
Winn then pulled it up on his tablet. "Right here. 4651 Steel Street, Apartment 414"
"Winn, get a team ready to hit the site." Alex ordered.
"I'll reinforce the Legion if you need backup." Oliver said as Kara bolted off into the sky and Alex and Winn departed to Adelaide's place.
However once the room was clear of Alex and Winn, Oliver casually made his way over to one of the communicators that the DEO had to communicate with the Legion ship. "Imra, are you there?" Oliver asked softly.
"Oliver?" Imra asked. "What's going on?"
"The DEO found a possible location and name of the third Worldkiller. A woman who was at City Hall today." Oliver explained.
"Where is she?" Imra asked
"4651 Steel Street, Apartment 414." Oliver answered.
There was a pause. "Why are you telling me this? I doubt Supergirl will be thrilled that you did."
Oliver sighed. "I've been where you've been, having been forced to take a life to save millions more. I want to trust that Kara and get through to the human side. But if she can't she needs someone on her side who's willing to do what needs to be done."
Oliver could hear Imra's voice crack a bit. "Thank you."
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Oliver, like the other DEO agents watched the operation from the feeds and watched as the two heroes collided once more when the supposed worldkiller turned out to be another victim.
However another emergency arose when Winn's nose began bleeding. "J'onn, Supergirl, you need to get back here. It's Winn." Alex said as worry rose in her voice.
Winn was infected.
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Oliver had wanted to be there with Winn. Despite the differences between the two men, Oliver had come to respect Winn for his commitment and bravery. However Evelyn had called having said that William was scared after having seen the news.
"Hey buddy you ok?" Oliver asked. "Evelyn said you seemed a little scared."
"I'm a little shaken dad. They cancelled school early because of this. Apparently some parents had gotten sick so the school decided to be proactive against this disease." William explained, not even bothering to hide the fear in his voice.
"Well at least they're being careful." Oliver said.
"Guess every city has scary stuff happen to it." William remarked.
"I hear you William but don't worry. Kara, Alex and all the others are working on healing everyone who got sick. Hopefully this will be over soon." Oliver explained.
William sighed in relief. "That's a relief. So I wont been seeing the Green Arrow on the news tonight?"
"You know they don't actually call me the Green Arrow here." Oliver joked. "But hopefully not. There really isn't much I can do here. Cant exactly stop a disease with an arrow now can I?"
William laughed. "Nor with super speed."
Oliver laughed. "Well I should probably get back to work. The Green Arrow might not be able to do anything but I can still help here where I can."
"Hey before you hang up, you might want to talk with Evelyn." William requested. "She won't say it but I get the feeling she's more worried about this than she'll admit."
"Yeah that sounds like Evelyn to me." Oliver admitted. "Put her on."
As Oliver waited for Evelyn to come on the phone, he looked up on the terrace and saw Kara and Imra arguing quite loudly about the same subject as before. Imra was still adamantly in favor of killing Pestilence but Kara wouldn't budge refusing to believe that the Worldkillers were beyond saving.
Finally Evelyn came back on. "Hey dad." She said trying to hide her fear.
"Hey Evelyn. You must be having a pretty rough day." Oliver began.
"Not more rough than trying to survive on the streets of Star City for months." Evelyn retorted.
"It's ok to be afraid Eve." Oliver said softly.
"I'm not afraid." Evelyn snapped back.
"I never said you were afraid. I'm only saying if you are, it's ok." Oliver said keeping his voice calm and even. "Something like this is scary I know. But you're not alone anymore. You've got me, Kara, Alex, J'onn, William."
"I know." She said her voice filling with emotion. "I'm just… worried."
"Worried about?" Oliver asked.
"You dad!" Evelyn exclaimed. "This isn't like Prometheus or some other bad guy that you can just shoot full of arrows…"
"But I'm not alone here." Oliver retorted. "I've got tons of supporters here working hard to solve this crisis. I know the city is close to panic but I need you to be calm. Kara's allies are working on a cure right now and hopefully in a few hours this will be over."
Evelyn took a deep breath. "Just be careful out there."
"I will sweety." Oliver remarked. "Now you and William get to bed. It's late and you two need sleep."
"I will dad. I love you." Evelyn cried.
"I love you too." Oliver said as Evelyn hung up.
As he looked up, he could see Kara coming at him with a look of anger in her eyes. She was pissed. "You told Imra where to find the apartment." Kara said in a tone that made it clear that this was a fact, not a question.
"I did." Oliver answered.
Kara looked exasperated. "I thought you trusted me. Instead you go behind my back and sent Imra because you didn't trust me!"
Oliver shot back. "I do trust you Kara. But I also know how dangerous these Worldkillers are. Even if there is a human side to them, There's no way to be certain you can get through to them. I told Imra as a precaution in case you couldn't."
"That's the same thing Oliver!" Kara screamed.
"No it's not!" Oliver yelled back. "Kara you are an amazing woman and a better hero than I ever was. But there are times where hard choices have to be made to protect people."
"That doesn't mean killing is the answer. It should never be the answer!" Kara argued as an audience began to gather.
"It's the only way to be certain that we can stop the WorldKillers." Oliver shot back.
"I got through to Julia. I can do it with Pestilence's human side too." Kara fought back feeling very sure of herself.
Oliver was getting annoyed by now and it showed in his tone. "Oh really? And how do we contain them once they stand down. What's to stop the Worldkiller personalities from taking over in a moment of weakness?"
"I will stop them." Kara said. "Without killing them."
Oliver closed the distance between the two of them. "That's why I sent Imra. Because when push comes to shove, your refusal to kill them puts you and everyone else at risk."
Kara scoffed. "You don't trust anyone do you?" Kara then walked away. "No wonder your old team left you."
Oliver turned to watch her go taking several deep breaths to calm down his anger. As the crowd that had been watching dissipated, Oliver moved to the practice room, eager to blow off some steam.
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Less than 10 minutes at the gym Oliver was called into the med bay by James. Winn's condition hadn't improved.
"I… I don't think the cure is working." Winn choked out.
Alex moved to his side and administered a painkiller. "This should keep him stable for now."
"Come on Winn." J'onn whispered, worry evident in his voice as Winn's heart rate slowed and his breathing returned to normal. "What happened?"
Brainiac began making mental calculations. "Oh yes there it is. I see now. The cure is designed to cure victims of the Blight. But because Pestilance is not technically Blight but the forbearer of it, the cure we have will have to be modified to fight her particular strand of the virus."
"So how do we do that?" Oliver asked.
"We need a piece of Pestilence's DNA." Mon-El answered.
"So if we can't find her, more people could get infected and the people who are already affected…" Kara began.
"Yes." Brainiac answered. "Finding her as soon as humanly or as non-humanly possible would be…"
Alex then collapsed onto the group, having fainted. Everyone rushed to her side to see blood dripping out of her nose, indicating her infection.
"Imperative…" Brainiac finished.
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Oliver watched from behind the screen as J'onn and Kara comforted the recently infected Alex. Oliver saw Imra walk up to the glass and observe the scene as well. He was surprised when he saw a tear slip down her face.
Oliver followed her as she turned away. "Imra."
Imra quickly ran her hand across her face trying to cover up the tears. "Oliver. Now isn't exactly the best time."
"I just wanted to make sure you were alright." Oliver admitted. "Back there, you looked pretty distraught."
"I've seen this happen before, in the future. So many people lose their entire family to this curse." Imra explained trying to keep her composure.
"Forgive me." Oliver said. "But this seems a bit more personal."
Imra gave Oliver a hard look before more tears came out. "It is. My sister… Preya, was killed by the Blight. If I stop Pestilence here, I might be able to save my sister."
Oliver sighed. "I know what it's like to lose someone close to you. I almost lost my own sister a few years ago. I almost gave up everything to ensure her safety."
Imra took a deep breath. "If we find Pestilence, are you willing to do whatever it takes to stop her?"
Oliver just gave her a nod.
"Then come with me." Imra said as she grabbed Oliver and flew him up to their ship.
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As Oliver and Imra got armed with every kind of anti Kryptonian/Worldkiller weapon they had, Brainiac's voice came over the comms. "Imra, they found her."
Oliver and Imra nodded to each other as they mentally prepared themselves for battle.
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As Oliver and Imra stormed the building, Kara and Mon-El arrived before them. Oliver could see their target, Pestilence squared off with the Girl of Steel.
"Don't take another step Grace." Kara ordered firing her heat vision.
It's not Grace anymore." Pestilence said as the employees in the conference room ran out. "You would save even these scabs? They, who profit on the suffering of others?"
"Everyone deserves saving." Kara said, her voice filled with conviction as she approached the Worldkiller.
"Not them." Pestilence countered. "They're not good."
"But you are." Kara countered back causing Pestilence to scoff.
"Imra wait." Mon-El requested. "Give her a chance." Imra and Oliver both held their fire.
"Think of the all the lives you've saved. You're a doctor Grace. The day you took an oath, you swore you would do no harm." Kara argued.
Oliver and Imra were bother surprised to see the Worldkiller shake. "Do no harm." She repeated, her voice uneven. Eventually, the human side, Grace gained control.
"Grace, it's gonna be ok." Kara offered.
"My mother used to always say that good would be rewarded with grace." The woman said chuckling. "But when I became a surgeon, I finally saw the truth. There's no reward for being good."
Kara continued. "Whatever's happening to you power over who lives. Only who dies. You don't want that. We can stop it."
Kara offered her hand and Grace took it. "Stop it? Why would I ever want to stop it? This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I don't have to worry about saving anyone anymore because I don't want to."
Kara tried to salvage it. "No…"
"I get to choose who dies." Grace announced.
"Grace…" Kara whispered.
"They say that surgeons have a God complex but it's simple." Pestilence spoke. "I am a god."
Pestilence tried to stab Kara but Mon-El wrapped his cape around her hand and stopped her. But she yanked him off the ground and threw him over the table. Oliver notched a Kryptonite arrow and fired as Imra used her powers to send a chair flying towards her.
Pestilence dodged both of them and landed on the table. Trying to charge Kara, Kara threw her through the nearby window. Pestilence quickly dove off the terrace and onto the ground floor with Kara hot on her tail.
"You honestly though you could talk me into being redeemed?" Pestilence mocked her. "Words will never hurt me."
"What about sticks and stones?" Kara shot back just as several objects fell from the upper floor due to Imra throwing them. Oliver took the chance to fire off several kryptonite arrows but Pestilence dodged them all. Pestilence then grabbed a pole and tried to throw it at Imra but Mon-El managed to grab it mid-air. He then smashed the pole into Pestilence, sending her into the air.
Kara took advantage of this to charge Pestilence and engage her in high-speed aerial combat. They were both moving so fast Oliver couldn't land a shot let alone predict their movements. Kara then managed to slam the Worldkiller into the wall and send her plummeting to earth.
As pestilence rose, she smiled. "Oh Supergirl, you got a little something…"
Kara then checked her face to see blood before she fell down to earth as well. Oliver managed to catch her before she hit the ground. Meanwhile, Imra secured Pestilence in a shield before sending some kind of dart into Pestilence's body, effectively taking her down. Her veins turned a yellow color as she tried to breath.
"She's here." Pestilence spilled as thunder struck and Purity came crashing down to rescue her sister. Before anyone could react, she sent a sonic scream that sent all four heroes flying. The two Worldkillers joined hands and went flying off into the distance.
"She was dying." Imra yelled.
"Purity made her stronger." Mon-El said as Oliver helped Kara to her feet.
"Wait!" Imra yelled as she grabbed the discarded dark. "It's her. Her DNA."
"Is it enough for Brainy to alter the cure?" Kara asked, barely keeping conscious.
"More than enough." Imra answered.
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Once the team returned to the DEO, Brainiac managed to administer the cure and both Winn, Kara Alex were on the mend. Oliver however didn't feel too much like celebrating. He instead waited by the balcony as Kara came over. "Kara."
"Oliver." Kara said. "I have a few things I feel I should say."
"And so do I." Oliver admitted as well. "But I'll let you go first."
"I'm sorry for going at you so hard today." Kara said. "I truly felt that Pestilence could be saved but I was so wrong and I nearly got people killed because of it. But even with all that, I never should have accused you of not trusting me. Barry told me about what happened with your team. Bringing that up was wrong and I'm sorry."
Oliver smiled. "And so am I. Kara, I don't want you to doubt who you are or even change. This life I lived required a lot of sacrifice. But part of what makes you a hero is you unyielding hope in others. You should never doubt that."
"But you were 100% right about Pestilence." Kara questioned.
"And I wish I wasn't." Oliver admitted. "I wish you had saved her. Killing someone, no matter who does cost something and I shouldn't have been too quick to see it as a valid reason."
Kara nodded. "I know you've killed people in the past. I can't imagine what it's cost you."
Oliver nodded silently as Kara continued. "I will never kill and I hope you'll respect that. But I will try and be more open to your methods. We may have different methods. But at the end of the day, we both are in this to protect people."
Oliver smiled. "Kara, you are without a doubt the most amazing person I have ever met."
This caused Kara to noticeably blush. Since Oliver had been around more, Kara had found herself increasing intrigued with Oliver. Despite everything that happened, he was still heavily committed to being a hero to both his children and to this city. Kara had seen men crumble under ever less stress. And yet in her mind, Oliver still retained a spark of goodness and hope, even if it was covered under layers of cynicism and ruthlessness.
"Thank you Oliver." Kara smiled as she gave him a small kiss on the check. As Kara and Oliver walked into the command center, she smirked as she heard Oliver's heartbeat speed up a bit from the kiss.
"Winn, welcome back." Kara said patting her friend on the shoulder. "Where are we with the Worldkillers?"
"So, last time you fought Purity, we managed to identify the frequency of the sound waves she emits." Winn explained.
"We put a tracker on the frequency which should alert us when it's present in…" Brainiac began as the computer began to beep. "… the city."
"Already?" J'onn asked.
"She's on the move." Winn announced.
"Hopefully with Pestilence." Oliver commented.
"Where's she headed?" J'onn asked.
"Towards L-Corp." Winn answered.
"Lena!" Kara exclaimed.
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The team quickly made their way to L-Corp and with J'onn's help slipped into the building.
"Lena, the Worldkillers are coming." Kara said to her friend. "We have to get you somewhere… safe." Kara finally took note of the surroundings and that that Sam was on a medical bed in the center of what looked like a bunker.
"What is this?" Kara asked.
"I was gonna tell you." Lena said.
"We were." Oliver said.
"Tell me what?" Kara asked, concern clear in her eyes.
"About me." Sam said, her voice filled with contempt. She sat up but Lena touched something on her pad and Sam started to convulse and collapse. Just then the walls of the bunker burst open and Purity and Pestilence burst in. They freed Sam from her bindings while Purity kept Kara and J'onn at bay.
After freeing Sam, Reign took over and transformed into her dark combat attire. All three Worldkillers rose from the ground and took off leaving behind the wounded heroes in Lena's destroyed lab.
SUPERGIRL/ARROW
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And so after two months of waiting, this chapter is finally out. I'm so sorry for the delay and I will try and avoid this in the future but I do have a life and I'm not writing 24/7. All the same I appreciate those of you who have read the story and have waited patiently for an update. I hope this was worth the wait.