At Iron Heights Prison, a guard brought in the prisons latest guest., already decked out in a prison jumpsuit.
"Got a new customer for you." The cop told him. "The genius robbed a convenient store across from a police precinct."
"Not the smartest plan." The guard commented as the prisoner walked through the metal detector.
To the surprise of both the cop and the guard, the metal detector started going off as he walked through to the other side.
"Bum knee." The prisoner responded as the cop walked up. "Had it replaced a few years ago."
"Well then I guess we'll have to do this the old-fashioned way." The cop remarked. "Arms up."
…
After the security check, the prisoner was taken to a cell that was currently being occupied by Bronze Tiger.
"Got your new bunk mate!" The cop announced. "Play nice."
The cop opened the cell and put the prisoner inside. He then closed the door and walked off, leaving the two alone.
"Ben Turner?" The prisoner spoke. "Tonight, midnight. Redwood Drive and Larkspur Avenue."
"The hell are you talking about?" Bronze Tiger asked.
"Redwood and Larkspur," The prisoner repeated. "rooftop. Be there."
"I don't know if you've looked around, but we don't exactly get in and out privileges here." Bronze Tiger remarked.
"My son is with him mother." The prisoner continued. "I won't get to see him anyway. This way he's set. I do this, he gets the money."
Bronze Tiger slowly sat up on his bed, questioning what his new cellmate was talking about.
"Do what?" He asked.
The prisoner then started pushing on parts of his arms, legs, and soon his chest. As he pushed, blades began poking out beneath the skin. As Bronze Tiger watched, he saw that these blades were the pieces of his usual claws.
"What's going on down there!" A guard called out, walking past.
As he came up to his cell, he saw the prisoner lying on the floor presumably dead.
"Crap." He let out, reaching for the keys.
He finally unlocked the door and entered the cell to check on the prisoner.
"The hell did you do?" The guard asked.
"I didn't do anything." Bronze Tiger reassured, finishing assembling his claw.
As the guard continued to check on the prisoner, Bronze Tiger used his claw to slash the guards throat, causing him to drop to the ground dead. Once the guard was killed, he grabbed his keys and made his escape.
…
As promised, Green Arrow got to work training Roy. Implementing the tactics that made him the man he is today, including slapping a bowl of water.
"Again!" Arrow instructed.
Roy obliged and slapped the bowl again.
"You know, I slapped water out of a bowl yesterday." Roy told him. "And I slapped water out of a bowl the day before."
"Then you must be getting pretty good at it." Arrow remarked, walking around him.
"Yeah, I can't wait to be attacked by a dog dish." Roy joked.
"That's how an archer builds arm strength." Arrow explained.
"I'm not sure if you've been paying attention," Roy spoke up. "But strength isn't my problem."
"No, controlling it is." Arrow replied, stopping in front of him. "Again."
Roy just sighed before punching straight through the bowl, shattering it, and through the table.
"And that… is how you put a guy in the hospital last week." Arrow reminded.
Roy help up his shaking hand before hiding it in his pocket.
"H-how'd you know about that?" Roy questioned. "It's none of your business."
"You made it my business when you agreed to let me help you." Arrow countered. "I knew someone like you. Someone injected with the Mirakuru. He was my friend, but it warped his mind to the point where I didn't even recognize him anymore."
"Who was this guy?" Roy asked. "How come I've never heard of him? Or that Mirakuru?"
Arrow just remained silent, much to Roy's frustration.
"Is there anything you can tell me about him?" Roy pressed.
"Yeah…" Arrow finally spoke. "I had to put an arrow through his eye."
…
In the Arrow cave, Felicity was working at her computers while Laurel and Diggle were sparring with practice sticks. The two kept a fairly constant pace as they smacked sticks back and forth.
"You're pretty good." John complimented.
"Thanks." Laurel replied.
The pace continued to pick up steadily, and Diggle managed to smack Laurel across the face. She winced in pain as she stepped back.
"You alright?" Diggle asked.
"Yeah." Laurel replied. "Just got me good."
"Gotta keep a pretty fast pace with these." Diggle told her.
"So I've noticed." Laurel replied, standing back up and starting the sparring match again.
Their speed continued to steadily progress until Diggle took another swing at her. This time, she was quick to dodge it and return with a smack to the face of her own.
"Fortunately, I pick up quick." She remarked, slinging a stick over her shoulder.
As Diggle was clutching his face, Oliver came into the cave and immediately got to work on the salmon ladder.
"So I'm guessing the training with Roy isn't going very well?" Laurel asked.
"Not at all." Oliver reported.
"I don't know the kid well," Diggle voiced. "but he seems to be five kinds of angry."
That might be putting it mildly." Laurel commented.
"Roy was mad at the world before he was injected with the Mirakuru." Oliver told them. "Now it's been amplified."
"You sound like you've seen this before." Laurel noted.
"Oliver encountered this stuff on Lian Yu." Felicity told her. "Apparently."
"Really?" Laurel responded.
"I couldn't handle those injected with it before," Oliver admitted. "but I know more now, and I'm not gonna make the same mistake with Roy."
"Yeah, that's not vague at all." Laurel remarked.
"That's something you're gonna have to get used to." Diggle told her.
Just then, a beeping noise went off on one of the computers.
"What's that?" Oliver asked, leaping off the ladder.
"Iron Heights." Felicity reported. "Due to their low security post-quake I thought it'd be a good idea to keep an eye on their internal communications for a while."
"You hacked into a prison system network?" Oliver questioned.
"Is that judgement I'm hearing?" Felicity asked.
"Pride." Oliver answered.
Felicity just smiled as she returned to her work.
"Looks like they just put out a bolo for Ben Turner." She reported.
"Who?" Laurel asked.
"Bronze Tiger." Oliver answered. "A mercenary who helped China White steal FEMA supplies. I met him the same night you introduce your, 'other self'."
"Yeah, sorry about that." Laurel said a little embarrassed. "So he got out?"
"Killing ten guards along the way." Felicity added.
"Think that would have made the news." Diggle remarked.
"Well, Iron Heights is better at keeping secrets than inmates these days." Felicity replied.
"Any idea where he's heading?" Oliver asked.
"No, but I'll get looking." Felicity reported.
As Felicity typed away, Laurel's phone started going off. She took it out and saw it was Quinten who was calling her. She just sighed in irritation before turning it off.
"You really think it's a good idea to ignore him?" Oliver asked.
"I wouldn't if I wasn't convinced he was only calling to try and get me help I don't need." Laurel replied.
"Well, he doesn't know that." Oliver responded.
"Well it's not that I can tell him that." Laurel countered. "Dad maybe alright working with the Green Arrow, but finding out his daughter is on the streets in a mask…"
"Right." Oliver relented. "Just… try to work with him. Maybe give him some reason to not worry. Tell him you're making progress."
"Well as it happens," Laurel replied. "I happen to have a job interview coming up. With Joanna's new firm."
"See?" Oliver responded. "Progress."
…
On the rooftop described to him by his cellmate, Bronze Tiger arrived and held his claws to the neck of a man in a business suit standing there.
"Tell your boys to take a walk." He told them.
"Leave us." The man told them.
"Tell then to leave their weapons." Bronze Tiger added.
The man nodded, telling them to leave their weapons on the ground before leaving. Bronze Tiger let the man go so they could speak to him face to face.
"Thanks for the early release," Bronze Tiger spoke. "Thought about skipping town, but… I'm curious. Why would someone break a stranger out of prison?"
"Because I wish to hire you for a job." The man told him. "I need you to help my men retrieve a certain item."
He then pulled out a piece of paper, containing what the item exactly is.
"You know it?" He asked.
"Yeah." Bronze Tiger answered. "You know what you're messing with here? It won't be cheap."
"Price won't be a problem." The man reassured
"You know this thing can kill hundreds of people, right?" Bronze Tiger replied.
"No Mr. Turner." The man corrected. "It will kill thousands."
…
The following night, a knock at Laurel's door caused her to walk over and open it, revealing her father on the other side.
"Hey." He greeted.
"Hey." She greeted back. "Didn't expect you to stop by."
"Well you weren't returning my calls, so I thought this was the only way we could talk." Quinten remarked.
"Been busy." She replied. "Come on in."
He did so, noting the messy state of her apartment.
"I see you're going for that lived in look." Quinten noted.
"Can't really afford a housekeeper without a job." She joked. "Though I may have made some headway with that."
"Really?" Quinten said in surprise.
"Got in touch with Joanna's new firm." She told him. "My interview's tomorrow."
"That's… great." Quinten told her. "Glad to hear it."
"Forgive me for being suspicious," Laurel responded. "But I'm hoping you didn't come here just to check up on me."
"No, of course not." Quinten reassured. "I came by because I miss you, Laurel."
Laurel took a seat on the couch as Quinten continued.
"For the longest time it was just you and me." He told her. "No matter how bad either of us were doing we didn't disappear on each other. You're my family and… well, I miss my family."
Laurel paused for a moment, taking in her father's words.
"So, how about we have dinner?" He offered. "Just you and me."
"… Sure." Laurel agreed. "That be great."
…
Across town, Arrow was demonstrating some moves on a practice dummy for Roy.
"Now you." He instructed, finishing up. "Go slowly.
Roy slowly walked over to the dummy, looking it over. He then started punching erratically at it, much to Arrow's irritation.
"Stop!" He ordered. "This is not about learning to throw a punch. It is about learning to control your strength."
Roy let out a sigh and went through Arrow's motions slowly.
"First water slapping, now this." Roy griped. "When are you gonna run out of ways to make me look stupid."
Raising his voice with those last few words, Roy punched the top of the dummy clean off.
"All I'm learning is new ways get pissed off." Roy continued. "And in case you haven't noticed, I'm already good at that."
"There's nothing wrong with anger Roy." Arrow told him. "Anger is energy. But you need to channel it in a positive way.
"How about putting the hurt on guys going after the city?" Roy suggested.
"Too soon." Arrow shot down.
"Get me out there with you." Roy insisted. "Just one night. it would make this a lot easier to take."
…
Meanwhile, Laurel and Quinten walked down the street towards whatever place Quinten had in mind.
"So where are we going?" Laurel asked. "I'm starving."
"It's this little hole in the wall I found." Quinten told her. "Over here."
The two went into the building, only for Laurel to find that it wasn't a restaurant, but a support group meeting. All she could do was laugh it off before turning to leave.
"Laurel, wait." Quinten insisted, stopping her.
"Save it." Laurel replied, brushing past him. "I can't believe you pulled something like this."
"You wouldn't have come otherwise." Quinten defended following after her.
"You don't know that." She told him.
"Actually, I kinda do." Quinten replied. "Laurel, you need help."
"And you think it'll come from them?" Laurel asked, turning around to face him. "There is not one person in that room who knows what I have been through."
"Yeah, you're right." Quinten replied. "Some of them have been through worse. But for better or worse, everyone in that room, needs to be there, and you need to be there too. You're not the first person to lose someone, or to get fired over the mess in their lives, and you sure as hell ain't gonna be the last."
Laurel just sighed in response.
"Look, we're here now, so why not go in for a bit." Quinten suggested. "You don't have to share, just listen."
"I thought I made it clear I wanted to eat." Laurel told him. "Now I think I'll eat alone."
With that, Laurel walked off, leaving Quinten in the dust.
…
Back with Arrow, he continued working with Roy when he got a communication from his suit.
"Go ahead." Arrow answered.
"SCPD network just lit up with a fresh homicide." Diggle reported. "Multiple stab wounds. Like claw marks."
"The victim was an architect." Felicity added. "Turner ransacked his place, took blueprints of his designs. One of the designs, Malcolm Merlyn's mansion. I don't know much about architecture, but I don't think it's good."
"What would Turner want with Merlyn's house?" Arrow asked.
"Not sure yet." Felicity admitted. "All of Malcolm's holdings, including the house, are in receivership."
"Who's that you're talking to?" Roy asked. "Oh wait, let me guess, you can't tell me that either."
"A guy I put in prison got out," Arrow answered, turning towards him. "and I have a pretty good idea where he's heading."
There was a brief silence as Arrow took a breath, about to take a massive risk.
"Do you have one of your hoodies?" Arrow asked.
"You have to ask?" Roy remarked.
…
At Merlyn's house, Green Arrow and Roy moved through the hallways, on the look out for Bronze Tiger and whatever he was after there.
"Whatever happens," Arrow instructed. "Whoever we run into do not engage."
As they walked down the halls, Roy lifted one of the countless white sheets to see some pictures on a table.
"And don't touch anything." Arrow told him.
"This is his kid, right?" Roy asked. "The guy that dies?"
Arrow was hesitant to respond, thinking back to his long time friend and the memories he had with him.
"Yes." Arrow confirmed.
"You know your way around this place pretty well." Roy commented. "You been here before?"
"Let's keep moving." Arrow decided, ignoring the question.
Just then, some metal screeching rang out, much to both of their surprise.
"What was that?" Roy asked.
"Must have come from underground." Arrow deduced. "Merlyn has a large garage. Let's go."
…
Down in the garage, a large truck backed in, allowing Bronze Tiger and several armed goons to walk inside and look around. They walked up to a massive vault where Bronze Tiger stabbed the control panel, short circuiting it. He opened it up to reveal their prize.
"What is that?" one of the goons asked.
"Looks like a prototype." Bronze Tiger deduced.
"Of what?" the goon inquired.
"The machine that killed 503 people." Bronze Tiger answered. "Merlyn's earthquake device."
It didn't take long for them to move the device onto the truck and prepare to move out.
"Ok, a simple smash and grab." Another one of the thugs commented, walking up to Bronze Tiger. "Don't see why Mr. Armitage felt we needed you."
"For that." Bronze Tiger answered, gesturing to Green Arrow and Roy entering the garage.
One look at the device and Arrow went wide eyed.
"Step away from the device!" He ordered. "You don't know what you're dealing with."
"Big machine. Makes earthquakes." Bronze Tiger listed off. "That about sum it up?"
"Do you have any idea what happens if the wrong people have it?" Arrow asked, sounding furious.
"Yeah, I get paid." Bronze Tiger remarked. "Close it up!"
As the men moved to get out of there, Arrow fired off an arrow, only for Tiger to slice it to pieces. The two wasted no time going at it, Arrow spinning behind Tiger as he tried to strike him. Bronze Tiger continued trying to slash at Arrow, but he was able to block and dodge his attacks fairly easily. Arrow easily ducked under one slice, causing Tiger to cut a hydraulics cable, allowing him to strike at the back of Tiger's leg, causing him to kneel. Tiger tried stabbing at Arrow's legs but he just moved out of the way as Bronze Tiger got back to his feet.
While all this was going on, Roy smashed the drivers seat window of the truck, and pulled the driver out, throwing him to the floor. Roy then stepped on the thug's gun while it was still in his hand, breaking the gun, and quite possibly a few fingers.
"That thing killed eight of my friends." Roy told him before just wailing on him.
Back with Arrow, he managed with hit Tiger with his bow, but Tiger quickly kicked him in the chest and quickly began making his escape. Bronze Tiger made it to the truck and began driving off. Green Arrow tried shooting at the truck but it was to no avail.
"You son of a bitch!" Roy cried out, getting Arrow's attention.
Seeing what he was doing to the man, Arrow quickly ran over to him.
"Hey!" Arrow let out, grabbing his arm. "That's enough!"
Hearing Arrow's voice seemed to be enough to snap Roy out of his rage. Sadly though, it was too late and Bronze Tiger was already gone, with the most powerful weapon in the city at his disposal.