Disclaimer: I do not own Daredevil or Arrow
Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.
Chaos Sorcerer: I will try to use the exclamation marks less from now on. I think even the most serious vigilantes can get careless sometimes. I once read a story by Stand with Ward and Queen in which Batman accidentally revealed his identity this way. Glad you liked the reference to Batman Begins. I think I will use the fight scenes of Undisputed sometime. It's a good idea. Yeah. I saw it too. Looked great. Only after watching the season can I start my sequel to 'The Devil of Star City.' Other Marvel and DC characters will get referenced and might appear.
Chapter 6- Trust but Verify
An armored truck drove in the dark night. Two men were arguing over what kind of music to listen to.
"Whatever you're listening to, it ain't music", said the older man as he switched the rap to jazz, "There ought to be a law."
"Well, there's not", said the younger man and switched it back to rap. The older one glared at him but he then yelled, "Watch it!"
In front of the truck stood a man wearing a uniform with a tactical vest and carried an M-32 grenade launcher. The driver hit the brakes and tried to back up but a van stopped behind them and stopped them. Two men came out of them van and pointed their guns at the drivers.
The one with the launcher fired a smoke grenade through the windshield into the vehicle. The smoke was too much for them to handle and they scrambled out of the truck, only to be gunned down by the gunmen. One of them took the driver's keys, opened the door, took some money bags and then they were all gone.
A while later, Daredevil arrived there. He knelt down to check the pulses of the drivers but they were dead. He wondered who had done this.
Thea pestered Oliver about her birthday present but it was made clear that she won't get a car. As Moira and Thea went off, Tommy arrived.
"How's she holding up?" asked Tommy, referring to Moira as Walter had gone missing during Christmas and hadn't been found.
"Oh, she's okay", Oliver replied before adding, "Thea thinks she's actually a little bit too okay."
"What do you mean?" asked Tommy as Oliver helped him to some breakfast.
"Just behaving erratically", said Oliver, "Shut-in one minute, running the company the next."
"Well, her husband is missing and presumed who-knows-what", pointed out Tommy, "If anyone had an excuse to be erratic, it's your mom."
"That's what I told Thea", said Oliver. The two then saw Captain Lance speaking on the news.
"The department has got the same comment about this heist as it did the other two. No comment", he said and walked off.
The anchor appeared on the TV and said, "The SCPD may not be willing to go on the record, but traffic cameras got the entire heist in this exclusive. The $2.3 heist is like a scene out of the movies."
Oliver and Tommy watched footage of the scene on their TV. Oliver's phone rang. He then realized it was his 'business' phone.
He walked into a corner and picked up.
"Yes!" he said.
"You heard about the heist on the armored truck?" asked Matt from the other side.
"It's playing on the news right now", said Oliver.
"Well, it's the third in 2 weeks", said Matt urgently, "We need to do something about this."
"Well", said Oliver, "I haven't found out anything about it yet. But it looks like the work of army men to me."
"Rogue army men", muttered Matt, "Nothing new."
Frank Castle came to his mind on thinking that. But no matter how rogue Frank Castle was, his reason was to kill every single scum in the city and protect the innocent while these men were just killing innocents to rob them.
"I will tell you if I find out something", said Oliver.
"All right", said Matt as the call was cut.
Later, Oliver was doing pushups in the lair when Diggle arrived.
"With all the guys working up top", said John, "You might want to think about a side entrance for your, uh, Arrowcave."
"Just put one in", said Oliver as he rose, "South alleyeay. Something I want to show you."
Oliver walked over to the computers as Diggle joked, "Finally getting into online dating and you need help with your profile."
"Not exactly", said Oliver, "But there is somebody I'd like to meet."
Dig looked at screen which showed the attack on the truck.
"Yeah, I read about it", he commented, "This is the third truck to be hit this month."
"I saw it on the news this morning. I couldn't figure out why this seemed so familiar. Then I remembered this", said Oliver while wearing his shirt as he pulled up another video, this time of an armored truck being taken down by three Marines.
"Kandahar, '09, when the Marines took out a Taliban transport vehicle", Oliver supplied Dig.
"Yeah", John noted, "Well, there's a reason why it looks so similar. These guys are running the same swarming technique. Where'd you find this?"
'i was researching someone", said Oliver as he pulled up a personal file, "Bodyguard who works for a private securityt firm. Blackhawk squad protection group. His name is Ted Gaynor."
John looked at the image, stunned, before regaining composure and replying, "Oliver, Ted Gaynor was my commanding officer on my first tour in Afghanisthan."
Oliver looked at him sympathetically and said, "Dig, I'm sorry. But Gaynor's on the list."
"Gaynor's a few hundred thousand dollars short of making your list", John argued.
"Well, I never said it was just one-percentaers, did I?" Oliver asked rhetorically.
"Oliver, this guy saved my life", Dig continued arguing. Received a commendation for it. I don't care what your book says. He's not a stick-up man."
"You haven't known him in a long time, Diggle", pointed out Oliver.
"We both kept in contact with each other since we got stateside", revealed John, "Six months ago, he even offered me a job at BlackHawk. Now trust me, you don't know this man like I do."
"I know in Afghanisthan his training specialty was M-32 multiple grenade launchers, the exact same weapon used in these heists and not exactly something you find at your local sporting goods store", replied Oliver in a harsh tone.
"Two months ago, we found out that this wasn't even your father's book", Dig pointed out, "That it was written by whoever hired the other archer. Daredevil thought you were the one trying to kill him before he found out the truth from you. Doesn't that kind of beg the question what else you both can be wrong about?
"I could be wrong. Daredevil could be wrong", replied Oliver with a hardened expression, "But the list isn't."
He then said, "Now, I'm gonna have a pointed conversation withg Mr. Gaynor tonight. I will call Daredevil too as he knows when someone is lying and then we'll see what he has to say about it. I understand if you want to take the week off."
"Well, thank you", said Dig as he then looked at Gaynor's picture, "Sir."
The Hood entered the BlackHawk Squad Protection Building undetected. Two guards were walking around casually.
One of them was hit by an arrow on the back and was down. Before the other one could react, he was taken down too.
The Hood walked up the stairs and past the guards. He spotted Gaynor looking at a USB drive near a computer. As Gaynor turned to face him, he kicked him on the chest and he was down.
"Ted Gaynor, we're gonna have a conversation", said The Hood threateningly as Gaynor looked at him in fear, "You make a move, go for a gun, anything, and it will end badly for you."
He then heard a click of a gun behind him. He turned around, notching an arrow but stopped the second he saw who it was.
"Put the bow down", said John angrily, not taking his gun off of him.
The two stood still for a while, neither one making a move. Suddenly, John was grabbed from the back and flipped to the ground. It was Daredevil.
Daredevil kicked the gun out of his hands but before he could knock him out, The Hood said, "Wait!"
As Daredevil looked at him, The Hood said, "He needs to know the truth about his commanding officer."
Daredevil nodded and the two moved towards Gaynor.
The Hood pointed his arrow at Ted and growled, "So tell us, are you robbing armored trucks?"
"What?" asked Gaynor incedulously, "I know about it but me robbing it? That's ridiculous."
"Liar", muttered Daredevil and smashed his kneecap with his foot which made him scream in pain.
Oliver had not told John Daredevil's identity but he had told him about his powers. Unlike Oliver, Daredevil did not know anything about the list so if he said Gaynor was lying, maybe there was some truth in his statement.
"Tell us the truth", growled The Hood.
When he didn't respond, The Hood released the arrow in his shoulder and he screamed in pain.
"I don't know anything!" Gaynor cried out frantically.
"You can either tell the truth and end this or you can be in unimaginable pain for the entire night", said Daredevil and Gaynor gave him a defiant look.
"Oh", said Daredevil in a mocking tone, "You're gonna try to look tough with your broken kneecap and that arrow in your shoulder?"
But Ted didn't back down and got a punch on the face from Daredevil, getting a broken nose.
"What do you chose?" asked The Hood, "Confession or pain."
Daredevil put his foot on the smashed kneecap and Gaynor again screamed.
"Yes!" he blurted out, not being able to take it anymore, "We rob the trucks."
"No", said John in disbelief with a shaking voice, "Ted, how could you?"
"It's a mission, John!" yelled Ted like a delusional psychopath, "Over there, I was a god on the battlefield. Over here, I am a nanny with Tasers."
"You're no God", growled Daredevil.
"So just because you hate bodyguarding one-percenters, you're gonna rob and kill innocent people?" asked John angrily with his voice still shaking, "What kind of logic is that?"
"The logic of a psychopath", said Daredevil.
"What evidence do you have on yourself?" growled The Hood.
Gaynor pointed at the USB drive and The Hood took it.
"If this isn't it", said The Hood, "You're going to suffer something worse than this."
Daredevil heard someone approaching them. Turning around, hr threw his club, disarming another soldier who had entered.
"Knox", Diggle hissed at the soldier angirly.
"Get away from him", Knox said to the vigilantes as he pulled out his K-Bar and ASP.
Before he could do anything, The Hood fired and the arrow went through his heart, killing him.
Daredevil, The Hood and John walked away, leaving behind a badly wounded Ted and the dead Knox.
"I can't believe he did that", said John, still in disbelief, "I knew him so well."
"People change, John", Oliver counselled him, "Sometimes for the better. Sometimes for the worse."
"He thought of it as a mission", said John, "He had a taste of power, and it wasn't enough."
"I'm sorry John", said Oliver sincerely.
"No, Oliver", said John sincerely with remorse in his eyes, "I am sorry. I have trusted you this far. You haven't lead me astray. I should have trusted you on this one."
"I understand why you didn't, John", said Oliver, "But do not get in my way again. I could have shot you out of instinct."
Dig paled on realizing how close to death he had come.
"Say my thanks to Daredevil", said John to Oliver, "For opening my eyes."
Oliver nodded and John asked, "So what are you gonna do about the drive?"
"Felicity will get to the directory", said Oliver, "And then I can hand it over to the police."
Later, Thea's birthday party was in full swing. Oliver got a call from Felicity who told him she had got to the directory so he left the party.
As Thea was dancing, two of her friends approached. She hugged them as they wished her.
She thanked them and one of them said, "We've a special birthday gift for you."
She handed Thea a small packet with several green and black pills inside.
"It's called Vertigo", said the other one, "It's supposed to make you feel all floaty."
Thea took the packet nervously and said, "Um, if my mom caught me with this, I wouldn't make it to 19."
She put it in the bust of her dress and said, "I'm gonna go put it upstairs, and then I'm gonna come right back down."
On the second floor balcony, Moira watched the party as Malcolm walked up to her.
"Moira, I have a little something for you", he said as he pulled out his phone and turned it on. It was a picture of a dishevelled Walter.
"Walter", Moira said staring at the picture as it was the first time in two months she had seen anything of her husband.
Malcolm put the phone back and said, "I did as you asked."
Putting a hand on her lower back, he said, "Now it's your turn to do as I asked."
"I'll take care of it", said Moira.
"Thank you, Moira", said Malcolm as he removed his hand and walked away.
Moira sighed and turned to see- Thea.
"At my party", hissed Thea emotionally, "Right here in front of me?"
Moira tried to explain, "No Thea, youy don't understand-"
"Walter hasn't been gone two months and you're already cheating on him", Thea angrily cut her off, "Just like you did on dad."
"Thea, I never cheated", Moira lied, trying to reach out to her daughter.
Thea pulled away and said, "Like I would believe anything you say. I wish it had been you on that boat."
Thea walked away, leaving a heartbroken Moira behind. She went down to the party, trying to smile to assure her guests that she was enjoying herself, but she failed.
She reached into the bust of her dress and pulled out the small packet along with her car key. Making a rash decision, she walked out of the party.
Later, on a deserted road, Thea was driving her Mercedes poorly while listening to music. Suddenly, another car came in front of her, blaring a horn.
"Shit!" she cursed as she lost control and rammed the car into a tree, losing consciousness.
At Starling City General, Oliver and Moira made their way to Thea's room. She lay on the bed in a hospital gown, a bruise and some bandages on her forehead.
"Oh, Thea", said Moira sadly as she walked up to her bed, "Are you okay?"
Thea sighed, "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I'm just headachy. Really."
She then asked a question she was terrified to ask, "The car. Is- is it-"
"The car isn't important right now", Oliver cut her off.
"Do you remember what happened, sweetheart?" Moira asked her.
Thea scoffed and said to her mother in a disgusted tone, "You go away."
"Thea, please", Moira pleaded.
"I said I'm fine", snarled her daughter and turned away from her mother who looked heartbroken.
Some days later, Oliver was leaving with a discharged Thea.
"She promised me she's not cheating on Walter", Oliver said to her.
Thea scoffed, "Like I would trust anything that woman says."
"Miss Queen!" said a patrolman as he walked up to her with another patrolman.
"Thea Queen?" he asked.
"Is there a problem?" asked Oliver.
"We received a call from your doctor", said the patrolman to Thea, "In the event of a vehicular accident, they're required to result of the driver's tox screen."
As Thea sighed, the patrolman said, "Miss Queen tested positive for a narcotic called Vertigo."
Oliver stared at his sister and asked incredulously, "The drug they're using in the Glades?"
The other patrolman handcuffed Thea and the first one declared, "Thea Queen, you're under arrest for driving under the influence of narcotics."
The cops lead her away while Oliver looked on in shock.
Matt was quietly drinking in a bar in appropriate amounts as he was not the type of person who drowned his sorrows with alcohol. He was just drinking to pass time.
His phone rang. Once again, the one Oliver had given him.
"Yes", he said as he picked it up.
"I need your help", said Oliver desperately from the other side, "Please!"
"What happened?" asked Matt, sensing the worry in Oliver's voice, "What do you need me to do?"
"I do not need Daredevil right now", said Oliver, 'I need Matt Murdock. You defended Frank Castle and you would have won had he not started ranting like a madman. Now I want your help to defend someone."
"Who?" Matt asked.
"My sister."
So Matt and Daredevil will both have a major role next chapter. His presence really shortens the episodes now. But the next two won't be shortened. Because while Matt is a great lawyer, even he can't defend someone from a judge who wants to make an example out of the defendant for his own purposes.
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