Disclaimer: I do not own anything in Arrowverse or Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC Comics, Marvel Comics or any characters or elements pertaining to the mentioned franchises or anything else you may recognize.

Oliver watched from afar as Moira was overseeing the program of restoration of Starling Bay.

"Everything seems clear." Diggle said from an SUV.

"Something might happen." Oliver said, wondering what Darhk was going to do.

"You sure you want to shut your mother out forever, Oliver?" Matt asked, concerned about him. "I understand you're angry at her. I was too, when I found out about my own mother but… you almost lost her before. What if—"

"I know you're trying to help, Matt but I'm not ready to move past it." Oliver said.

Suddenly, a drone showed up, shooting at the crowd, causing for people to run and take cover.

"What the hell?" Sara demanded.

"We gotta do something!" Oliver ordered as he, Diggle, Sara and Matt were helping evacuate people, when suddenly, a blue beam came out and struck the drone as it exploded before they looked up to see Atom fly off in the distance.

Later, the Lair

"Any news on the victims?" Oliver asked.

"No one died, miraculously but some people are still in surgery." Sara said.

"Darhk definitely isn't messing around." Matt added.

"We are positive it was H.I.V.E?" Klein asked as Oliver shot him a look and he nodded. "OK. Just wanted to be sure."

"There were kids there." Oliver whispered as his phone went off and he looked at it as he glared.

"What is it?" Diggle asked.

"My mom, she knows I'm done with her but she's asking me what should she tell to the press." Oliver said.

"Oliver, I know you're angry at her but she has to give them something." Matt pointed out.

"When we have a plan to get Darhk, then she can talk to the press." Oliver snapped.

"Letting this city die is one thing but going after a volunteer event is a bit too far." Sara said.

"Two weeks ago, Darhk warned Mom to back off her plan to clean up the bay, today he went after civilians. This is important to him for some reason! We just need to understand what that is." Oliver said, giving Diggle a look as he realized what was he up to.

"Last time I tried to talk with my brother, it didn't go too well."

"Try talking to him again. A couple of weeks in a cage will change your perspective. Trust me." Oliver said.

Later, Starling Bay

"Thanks for coming." Oliver told the team. "I've been trying to figure out how to deal with them. Sort of think that the best bet is telling the truth."

"It's the only play we've got, man." Diggle noted.

"We're outnumbered against H.I.V.E., our best bet is to ask the city for help." Sara said.

"If we do this, it's gonna paint the targets on all of our backs." Oliver said.

"We can look after each other." Matt assured him.

"OK." Oliver took a breath as he approached Moira and the tension between them was apparent as Moira hesitantly nodded before she approached the reporters.

"Thank you for coming, everyone. As today's tragedy has reminded us, we're at war. For 6 months, we have been besieged by a nameless and a faceless organization that seems hell bent on destroying our city. You know them as the Ghosts. And while they may be anonymous, their leader is not. He has a face, he has a name, and I think that it is high time the people of Star City know the truth about who he is." Moira pulled out a photo of Darhk.

"His name is Damien Darhk, he controls the Ghosts on behalf of an organization known as H.I.V.E.. H.I.V.E. wants this city to die. Now, I will be distributing this, the only known photograph to every news outlet and social media feed in the country. For months, this man has made afraid to walk the streets; I suggest that we return the favor. We will also be setting up a hotline. Now, individually, Mr. Darhk may be able to defeat us, but united, he doesn't stand a chance."

H.I.V.E. HQ

Darhk seethed, glaring at the TV as it cracked and his associate quipped. "Congratulations, Damien, you're famous."

Later, City Hall

Despite still angry at Moira, Oliver decided to keep appearances as he and his friends attended the Christmas party.

"You were not kidding with the security." Oliver told Diggle. "Where did you find these guys?"

"A friend of mine is from SEAL, he knows someone who knows someone who knows someone." Diggle said.

"Cameron is fielding in a million calls on the hotline. And he was… enthusiastic about it. He said, 'Like the old days at S.H.I.E.L.D.'" Oliver said.

Moira turned to Oliver but all she got was a cold expression on his face as he walked off, leaving her sad, even after weeks.

"Ollie…" Sara tried as they started to dance.

"Don't. Let's… let's just enjoy the dance." Oliver said before his phone went off. He pulled it out of his pocket and saw "PRIVATE NUMBER", making him frown. "Sorry, just give me a minute."

Oliver went to the corner. "Hello?"

"How is the party going down, Oliver? I guess my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail."

Oliver narrowed his eyes, recognizing the voice. "What do you want, Darhk?"

"Well, something I can't have, apparently. Your loyalty, your allegiance. And of your mother's. I told you that there would be consequences if you refused." Darhk said.

"If you think threats are going to work—"

"On the Green Arrow and Daredevil and the Canary, perhaps they aren't. But on the friends and family of Oliver Queen and Matt Murdock and Sara Lance, most certainly. A.R.G.U.S. needs to work better on protecting assets." Darhk said and both Oliver and Matt, who had heard the conversation, paled.

Oliver then received a photo on which was Quentin, Tommy, Laurel and Foggy, bruised, making him realize that they had been beaten up and abducted.

"Leave them out of this." Oliver pleaded as he put his phone back to his ear.

"I wish I could do that, I really do. But, you see, sometimes, the way to teach someone a lesson isn't to punish them. It's to punish the ones he cares about the most." Darhk said as he hung up and both Oliver and Matt paled as they turned to each other, wondering what to do and what to tell Sara.

Frankly, it always bugged me how Darhk and H.I.V.E. was unable to figure out who Oliver or at least the Team Arrow was, when he must have had resources of almost the same level as Ra's and the League of Assassins. Now that I think of it, it's a little surprising that most supervillains, especially large clandestine groups and organizations of villains have no clue who masked heroes and vigilantes are, considering their vast resources. Maybe I'm overthinking it though but like I've said, Darhk must have had resources of almost the same level as Ra's, if he was able to evade the League for centuries.

So, what do you guys think?

Please review and let me know if you have been enjoying this and want for me to continue.