Disclaimer: I do not own Arrow.

Argus base

Night

"I don't understand," Laurel said as Team Arrow and Lyla sat around Quentin's bed, "How is this possible? I watched you die daddy; the doctors said there was nothing they could do."

"The doctors said what my agents told them to." Lyla explained.

"Hive wanted me dead Laurel, they weren't gonna stop until I was in the ground. So we let them think they were successful." Quentin explained.

"And you're heart stopping?" Oliver asked curiously.

"Argus had developed a drug that, in small doses, gives the temporary appearance of death. One such dose was given to Quentin prior to the doctors giving you the 'bad news.'" Lyla explained.

"Why didn't you tell us any of this?" Diggle demanded of his wife angrily.

"In order for Hive to believe that he was dead, your reactions needed to be genuine. If you had known the truth, Hive would've known he was still alive because, no offense, your reactions wouldn't have been genuine." Lyla explained.

"So, anyone care to bring me up to speed?" Quentin asked.

Hive headquarters

Same time

"Welcome back Damien," one of the Hive heads said as Darhk stood before them, "we are sorry to inform you that we could not recover the idol."

"It doesn't matter anymore," Darhk dismissed, "our plan is entering its final stage, the world will soon belong to Hive. Thank you gentlemen for all your help. It's just a shame that you won't be around to see our plan come to pass."

The other heads looked at him confused for a moment before one started coughing up blood. The other heads looked over to see an arrow sticking out as his chest as his head fell limply to the side. Prometheus walked in, his mask back on and his bow out. Prometheus pulled out his sword and lunged forward as the Hive heads scrambled, screaming in terror.

Argus base, next day

Morning

"So, Hive has been in Star City for forty years, huh? I knew there was a reason the city was so corrupt." Quentin muttered as Team Arrow and Lyla sat around a table in the conference room.

"How do we stop those carriers?" Diggle asked Lyla.

"With these," Lyla put a briefcase on the table and opened it, revealing three circuit boards, "those Helicarriers were designed so that someone twice as good as Felicity wouldn't be able to hack it. In order to hack it, we'll need to replace their mainframe with ours. My techs will then signal the self-destruct mechanism."

"Wait, what about all the people on board?" Laurel objected.

"We have to assume that most, if not all of them, are Hive agents. If we hesitate, we don't just lose Star City, we lose the world. We have no choice Laurel." Lyla argued.

"Laurel, sometimes to win the war, we have to make sacrifices. We are fighting a war Laurel, a war for the world. No one is coming out unscathed." Oliver told Laurel and she reluctantly nodded.

"So, what do you think we're gonna be able to salvage from this?" Quentin asked wearily.

"Nothing. We're not just taking down Hive; we're taking down Star City to." Oliver announced stunning everyone.

"Ollie-" Thea began.

"We have all become part of a corrupt system, part of Hive. We can't take down Hive without taking down Star City to, their too intertwined." Oliver explained.

"If this is about Tommy-" Quentin began.

"How many Tommys have there been? How many Saras, Olivers, Roys, and Moiras? We'll never know because of the all the Malcolms and the Darhks of the last forty years, of all the Hive in our city. It ends tonight." Oliver said firmly.

"He's right Captain." Lyla said as Quentin opened his mouth.

Quentin looked over at Laurel but she just shook her head, showing she agreed with Oliver. When he looked at Diggle, the other man just shrugged.

"I just go where they go." Diggle said simply.

"I never thought I'd be signing up for dismantling my own city," Quentin sighed as he leaned back in his chair, "okay, count me in."

Queen Mansion, many years ago

Morning

"I'm sorry that your dad left." Young Oliver told Tommy.

"I don't have anyone anymore Ollie!" tommy shouted as tears streamed down his face.

"You have me," Oliver said and Tommy looked up at him, "you're my best friend Tommy. You're my brother. Even if your dad never comes back, you've still have me."

Argus base, present

Late morning

"You okay? You sort of disappeared after the meeting." Diggle said as he walked up to Oliver, who was staring out the window.

"Fine." Oliver said blankly and Diggle sighed.

"Ollie…he's probably gonna be there. And you'll have to fight him. You heard what Malcolm said, there might not be anything left of Tommy Merlyn left in Prometheus." Diggle told him.

"Malcolm also thought it was a good idea to level The Glades. If he's right, I'll do what needs to be done. But he's best friend John…I have to try to reach him." Oliver said firmly.

"Oliver, you said it yourself. He doesn't know who Tommy Merlyn is." Diggle reminded him.

"Then I'll have to remind him." Oliver told him.

"Oliver," The two turn around to see Lyla standing there with a metal box next to her, "I have what you asked for."

"That you Lyla." Oliver said as he walked over.

Oliver opened the box and Diggle gasped at what was inside.

"Is that…" Diggle trailed off.

"Tommy doesn't know me as the Green Arrow; he doesn't even know me as The Arrow. Tommy knows me as The Hood. That's who I need to be to save him." Oliver said as he pulled out his old suit.

So, what do you guys think? Please leave any thoughts or comments you may have in a review, feedback is greatly appreciated.