Chapter 150: Resolve

If Barry had access to his powers, this fight would've been easy. It would've been mere child's play for him to disarm Joe and knock him out, to be restrained and sent back to prison. Unfortunately, Joe had foreseen that, or at least the possibility of metahuman interference. So he didn't have his powers, just his own skills as an assassin and martial artist. He had to admit, it made him feel a bit nostalgic.

As it went, their duel was a stalemate. Barry was faster and more agile but Joe was bigger and stronger. All the blows Barry dodged and returned would find themselves blocked. He struggled constantly to keep his knives in his hands as they clashed again and again, sliding his weapons across the powerful blade.

"You're good," Barry couldn't help but compliment his opponent as they began circling each other again.

"Right back at ya," Joe replied, grinning savagely.

They both lunged forward. Barry sliced upwards with his left knife, and Joe leaned back to dodge the blow before retaliating for a horizontal slice, one meant to cut Barry's head off. The speedster turned with the blow, twisting around Joe's body and knocking him down to the ground, before mounting him and trying to stab out his eye with right knife. Joe used his powerful legs to buck and throw Barry off his body, before getting to his feet. Barry rolled with the throw, and the two mirrored each other as they began to rise, when Joe suddenly stopped and started pressing two of his fingers against his right ear.

Barry, of course, wasn't going to let this opening go and threw one of his knives directly at Joe's face, forcing him to do a backwards roll as he dodged. The younger man tried to press the advantage, making numerous swipes that his opponent had to use all his dexterity to avoid. Just when it seemed Barry had him cornered, Joe suddenly bull-rushed him, slamming into his chest with a fierce shoulder tackle. Barry was thrown backwards, just barely managing to roll with this blow as well.

When he looked up, Joe had drawn something from his belt, and was about to throw it to the ground. "Sorry, Allen," the man said, smirking. "Maybe next time."

The scientist widened his eyes, and he threw himself away as Joe dropped the smoke bomb onto the ground. Barry began coughing as he tried to wave the smoke away, hoping to unobscure his vision. An explosion rocked the entire building, and he looked up to see Joe climbing up a rope ladder, which gradually lifted him through the newly-made hole in the ceiling. The Australian gave his foe a sarcastic salute, and then he was gone.

As the last foremost authority on the base, Barry found himself directing most of the clean-up once it was confirmed all the intruders were either dead or gone. He lifted the lockdown and began ushering agents to either start collecting bodies or doing an audit of the damage. It was only after Sub-Director Maseo Yamashiro arrived with a frantic Slade in tow that he was able to relieve himself from those duties and return to Kara's room — at which point he turned on his phone, and found himself bombarded by constant calls from just about every member of the Justice League, asking to know what happened. Another mass meeting was in order, it seemed.

"Barry!" Oliver exclaimed in relief, Laurel beside him. He threw his arms around his little brother and gave him a fierce hug. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Ollie," Barry assured him, gently pushing the other man away. He turned, giving Oliver a full view of Kara. "Look who's up."

Kara smiled weakly as Oliver's face immediately brightened upon seeing her. He made his way to his sister to see her own condition, while Barry watched them fondly. The speedster felt a hand on his shoulder, and glanced to see a concerned Laurel. "Are you sure?"

Barry nodded. "I'm good, Laurel. I'll tell you guys what happened soon enough."

Laurel gave him a look, before finally nodding and going to join Oliver at Kara's bedside. Barry sighed and leaned against the door, taking a moment of rest. What a day.

"Joe Wilson?" Oliver blinked in genuine surprise. "Are you sure?"

Barry nodded. "Positive. Matched the picture and everything. And the fact that he put in all this effort into killing Amanda Waller… well, I think that's proof enough." Slade had told them, after all, how much Joe had wanted Waller did for forcibly separating them.

"But how did he even get out?" Laurel asked, crossing her arms. "Didn't you guys say he was imprisoned in Australia?"

"He was," Kara said, darkly. "We should've gotten an alert the moment he broke out. There's no way his escape went undiscovered long enough to plan something like this without us knowing. Not unless somebody was keeping us from finding out he was gone in the first place." Her serious statements were punctuated by a heavy coughing fit, and Oliver quickly rushed to get her some water to drink.

"So we've got another plot against us," the lawyer surmised, sighing and giving one of her temples a rub. "And with Reign looming over us too. I doubt that's a coincidence."

"This is likely a plot that has been brewing for a while," Oliver noted, refilling the cup Kara gave him with more water and handing it back to his sister. "Whoever's behind it probably saw an opportunity with both Kara and Astra on the mend and struck."

"And we don't even know who it is, beyond the fact that they recruited Joe Wilson to help them. Joy."

"We should search for whoever sprang him from prison. Likely that person, or whoever they're working for, is the one behind this plot."

The entire group turned to the door, where a stern-looking Maseo Yamashiro was standing. Next to him was a gloomy Slade Wilson, who was no doubt brooding over the latest act of murder and destruction from his eldest child. Joe always did tend to bring his mood down.

"Acting Director Yamashiro?" Oliver asked knowingly.

Maseo shook his head. "Not Acting. Official. The President confirmed it after I made my report to him."

"We'd congratulate you, but considering the situation, it wouldn't be very…" Barry tried to search for the right word. "…considerate."

"No, it wouldn't be." The new Director of A.R.G.U.S. cleared his throat. "We've done a preliminary tally of the damage. Besides Amanda, of course, casualties were surprisingly light. About five agents died, and several dozens more were injured, but it could have been far worse."

"And the intruders?" Oliver asked, all business.

"Most of them managed to escape, unfortunately, but we're in the process of identifying those that were killed. Hopefully, by tracing their identities, we'll able to locate their employer, or at least someone who can lead us to them."

Laurel frowned. "That's not all though, is it?" she noted, seeing the severe expression on Maseo's face. "What's wrong?"

The Japanese man sighed. "It appears that while killing Amanda was one of their goals, it wasn't their only goal. They were also here to steal something from us as well."

"What is it, Maseo?" Kara asked, coughing lightly. "What did they take?"

"Three things. First, our remaining samples of the Mirakuru serum and its derivative."

That got a curse from all three of the younger Lian Yu survivors. "We can never leave that fucking drug behind, can we?" Barry asked the universe, thoroughly incensed.

"You do remember I have the serum, right?" Slade asked his children, torn between being amused and offended.

"Yes," Oliver said bluntly. "And saving you is the only good thing it's ever done for us. Otherwise it's been nothing but a pain."

Their adoptive father wasn't able to argue with that, and wisely fell silent. Maseo cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention. "The other thing they stole is, well…" He winced.

Everyone looked expectantly at him. He sighed and inhaled a deep breath. "They also stole the Alpha-Omega Virus," he finally admitted, then braced for the fireworks.

It took a moment for his words to register. "The Alpha-Omega Virus?" Barry glanced towards Slade. "Isn't that…?"

"The bioweapon I stopped during my visit to Hong Kong," Slade confirmed. "The one that led to me meeting Maseo and his family in the first place. Amanda collected it after we stopped Shrieve, and has kept it with A.R.G.U.S. for all these years since."

"Why didn't she destroy it?"

"It was Amanda Waller — what did you expect?"

"Enough," Maseo ordered, silencing the group. "What's done is done. Our first priority right now is locating whoever the hell plotted this heist before they unleash the virus somewhere. Or else we're going to have a lot of dead people on our hands, and that is the last thing we need."

He didn't receive a response. Judging by the looks adopted by everyone, it seemed no one could find it in themselves to disagree with that assessment.

Later that night…

"The raid was successful?" Tommy asked eagerly. He had made an immediate trip to his Coast City safehouse as soon as darkness hit and he was sure neither Oliver nor Laurel would be visiting his apartment to ask for another friendly hangout. He couldn't afford to let them start getting suspicious or anything like that.

Joe grinned. "It was. Multiple doses of the Mirakuru, its derivative, and of course, this puppy." He jabbed his thumb backwards, towards a highly secure containment unit covered with biohazard warnings. "The Alpha-Omega Virus. Primed and ready to be deployed just about anywhere."

"Not yet," Tommy ordered. "We need to replicate more of it for my plan to work." He suddenly grew a little sheepish. "You know, if you're up for it."

That got him a pat on the back. "You helped me get my revenge on Amanda Waller," Joe pointed out, grinning darkly. "And it looks like what you're planning is a lot of fun. Whatever your schemes, count me in."

"I'm glad to hear that," Tommy said, grinning back.

Joe nodded, and crossed his arms. "So, partner, what's the next step?"

That only caused Tommy's grin to widen, and take on a sly tilt. "Simple. It's time for Ra's al Ghul to come to Star City. And when he's here…" The younger man mimed having his throat slit.

"Oh really?" The mercenary shook his head. "I can't wait to see how you'll make that happen."

The following day…

When Kara woke up the next morning from a well-deserved sleep, she found that she was feeling much better than she had the day before. She felt more energetic and awake, and her coughing had decreased exponentially. It seemed her Kryptonian healing was finally kicking in and fighting off the rest of the plague. Barry projected she'd be at full health either tomorrow or the day after.

She had been so grateful to hear that. Especially when Barry decided it meant she was ready to have a certain visitor. "Kal!"

"Kara!" Her young charge cheered as he rushed to her bed, reaching over to hug her with everything he had. Kara returned the embrace heartily, breathing in her little brother's familiar scent. She had never felt more at home than in this moment.

"I hope you weren't too worried about me," Kara told him after they finally parted from each other.

Kal looked down for a moment. "I was at first, but you're okay now, and that's all that matters."

The older Kryptonian frowned. "You're looking tense," she observed. "Is this about Astra?"

The boy looked up in surprise. "You know?"

"Everyone filled me in yesterday, after the attack," Kara explained. "It felt pointless to keep anything from me after that. They knew they wouldn't have been able to keep it from me for long."

"Did you see the fight?"

Kara's frown deepened into a scowl. "I did. That's why there's a dent in the wall over there." She gestured to the wall next to her television, where there was indeed a massive dent in the wall. Kal turned around and looked at it, blinking in surprise.

"How did I miss that?" He wondered.

"So you want to come to Argo with me?" Kara asked. Kal nodded vigorously.

They had spent the last half-hour or so catching up on what had been happening in Kal's life since Kara had been forced to go on the mend. Kara had been concerned about the migraines Sam had been apparently suffering prior to her abrupt trip to Metropolis, but according to Kal she seemed to be okay now, so Kara had let it go. Nonetheless, she reminded herself to call her best friend and check in on her when she had the chance.

"I want to see Krypton," Kal said, insistent. "The real Krypton, not holograms from Dad and the Fortress. Argo may just be a city, but… it's all we have left of our planet."

His sister didn't look very pleased, though. "It might be dangerous," she warned him. "It might not even be Argo."

"I don't care. If it really is Argo, then I need to see it." And then, Kal smiled. "Besides, you guys have been training me all my life to protect myself. With you there with me, I'm going to be as safe as I'll ever be."

Kara peered at him, trying to see if there was any doubt or reluctance in his words. "Alright," she finally said, when she saw that there wasn't. "You can come. But you have to listen and obey every order I give you. Alright?"

The teenager perked up. "Alright."

In Central City…

"You didn't have to come with me, Captain Singh," Iris commented as they drove through the streets of Central City, heading towards the precinct where the detectives in charge of Ralph's case worked. Because of that, the evidence locker for the aforementioned case was stored there, forcing Iris to go there to pick it up directly.

David Singh waved her off. "It's nothing, Iris. I have some business with the captain in charge of that particular precinct. Much more convenient we travel together."

"Right."

The minutes passed by in companionable silence. As they reached a red light, Singh glanced at the daughter of one of his closest friends. Someone who, in some ways, was family to him. "You know you might not like what you find there. Or what you won't find there."

"I know," Iris admitted. "But I'm okay with that. I need the closure."

Singh couldn't argue with that. A few minutes later, they arrived at the precinct. He parked the car and the two exited the vehicle, heading to the front lobby, where they were directed to the captain's office. One Julio Mendez was in charge of this precinct, and just one interaction between Singh and him made it clear the two were friends. After the conversation finished, Mendez summoned an officer to guide them downstairs to their evidence locker.

"Do you think I can talk the detectives that were in charge of Ralph's case?" Iris asked the officer, one Otto Unrau.

"Detective Patterson and Detective Pike? Sure, though you might have to call them instead, or just swing around tomorrow. They're not in today."

"Okay." That sounded reasonable.

They arrived at the lockers and went inside, with Otto heading for the directory while the two visitors looked around. Singh frowned. "Do you guys smell that?" he asked.

The two younger officers looked up. "Now that you mention it…" Iris trailed off, sniffing the air.

"It smells kind of familiar," their third commented.

"Yeah, like—" Singh's eyes widened, and suddenly he rushed back towards the door and up the stairs, grabbing both of his fellow officers by the arm and dragging them with him.

"Captain!" Iris exclaimed, surprised and confused. "What's going on—!"

The explosion cut her off.

An hour later…

Ambulances and fire trucks swarmed CCPD's fifth precinct as the building was sectioned off, still smoking from the explosion that had destroyed its entire basement level and rocked its walls. It had been a miracle that no one had gotten seriously hurt. Even Singh, Iris, and Otto had only been lightly singed, though they were still being treated for potential smoke inhalation.

When a frantic Joe arrived to the precinct with Eddie and Patty in tow, he found his friend and his daughter sitting together in the back of one of the ambulances, hair frayed and covered in soot, but very much alive. "Baby, you got stop doing this to me," Joe commented, sighing in relief as he went to hug his daughter.

Iris smiled weakly at him. "Sorry, Dad. But you know how it is: trouble always seems to find me."

"So the entire evidence locker was blown sky-high?" Patty asked, face grim.

Singh, an ice pack pressed against his forehead, nodded. He had smacked his head across a door frame during the escape. "That's going to screw up a lot of cases for this precinct."

"You're telling me." The entire group glanced to the side, where one Julian Albert, who had also accompanied Joe, was observing the building with unhappy eyes. "If this had happened to our evidence locker, I'd be having kittens right now."

"Do you think this might have to do with Ralph's case?" Iris suddenly asked, an epiphany in her eyes. "Maybe someone didn't want it investigated further?"

Eddie shook his head. "It's possible, Iris, but that evidence locker had to contain evidence for dozens if not hundreds of active cases, for stuff much worse than the murder of a disgraced former police detective. The suspects for those cases have just as much, if not more motive to destroy it than Ralph's potential murderer would. Especially since the case just closed."

It was disappointing to hear, but it was true, Iris was forced to admit. Eddie was right; more than likely it had been some kind of drug lord or something the police at this precinct had been investigating. It was just her luck they had decided to firebomb the evidence locker the day she was supposed to get the evidence for Ralph's case.

The young detective glanced at the smoking building, and sighed. I'm sorry, Ralph.

A lot going on this chapter. Our trio discover Joe's escape, Maseo is made the new ARGUS director in the wake of Amanda's death, the alpha-omega virus has been stolen and is now in Tommy's possession, Kal is going to Argo with Kara, and now the evidence locker at another CCPD precinct, with all the evidence for Ralph's case, has been destroyed, along with the last hopes Iris had to get Ralph justice. But of course, it couldn't be that easy.

Just wait until the next chapter. That's when things really start going off the rails.

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