EPISODE 4: WELCOME TO MASCOW
In a bar not far from the ARGUS base where Rick Flag works he sat at the bar where Hal Jordan and other coworkers finally convinced him to go out with them. The place was loud even if there were not a lot of people in the small establishment.
"A toast to Rick for finally getting the stick out his ass," Hal shouted.
"Very funny," Rick said taking a drink.
"Alright now that you are here I'm going to help meet a nice lady," Hal said eyeing two women as they walked by.
"You have no shame do you," Rick said.
"Come on Rick! What's your type?" one of the other ARGUS guys asked.
"Well," Rick started looking around the bar his eyes not stopping till they froze on one woman.
"Her huh?" Hal said looking.
"I've seen her before," Rick said.
"Where? Club?" Hal asked taking a drink from his beer.
"Mission," Rick said causing Hal to start choking on his beer.
"Really?"
"My first with the Squad when we secured Gholem Qadeer."
Rick realized he was starring to long when she looked over at him and their eyes met. She was with another woman that was wearing a purple blouse and white pants. She herself
"I think I'm more interested in her friend," Hal said beginning to walk over.
Rick was against this but found himself following anyway. By the time he joined Hal he saw the woman in purple slap him.
"That was fast," Rick said causing the other woman to laugh.
"You really don't remember me," the woman in purple said.
"I will now," Hal said rubbing his check.
"The name is Carol…Carol Ferris," she said.
"Oh! Right," Hal said like he just received a revelation.
She began to walk away with Hal following behind her trying to apologize. Rick turned to the other woman and began to laugh.
"Rick," he greeted with a handshake.
"Karin Grace," she greeted back.
The next morning Rick was at work looking through the book he found on the island. It had been looking through it for some time and even recognized a few names. Adam Hunt for instance who he recently had an encounter with and another name was Daniel Brickwell who made the news some time ago when he took over a prison. He researched the names and most seemed to be in the public eye and held some sort of influence.
The door to Rick's office opened and in walked Lyla. "Ready for the debriefing?"
Rick put the book away into his desk getting up. "Yeah," he said following her out the room.
The two began to walk down the hallway to the debriefing room passing other ARGUS workers.
"Heard you went out with the guys last night," she said.
"Yeah," he responded. "Figured I've settled in enough."
They entered the room where the rest of the team were already waiting. Amanda was already at the front of the room ready to start the briefing.
"Alright following up on our hunt for the Mirakuru production we have learned that there has been a version of it around Mascow."
"Russia," Floyd said.
"We think that it is getting passed off to many scientist," Amanda continued.
"Why is that?" Rick wondered.
"Because although this version is similar it has been having different effect," she specified. She pulled up a picture of a man with fire on his hands. "This guy took a pill and not only got stronger but also fire manipulation abilities," she put up a different picture with another guy surrounded by ice. "He got ice powers and there are many more."
"So there are people running around all over Russia with superpowers?" Lyla chimed in.
"The drug only makes their powers temporary," Amanda informed her.
"Couldn't keep selling it if the powers were permanent," Rick said.
"Exactly," Amanda said. "The main dealer is Bratva leader Anatoly Knyazev or as some know him KGBeast. He returned to Mascow recently along with former Triad leader Chien Na Wei.
"China White?" Harley said raising an eyebrow
"Chien Na Wei," Amanda repeated.
Rick looked to the pictures then noticed Floyd was eyeing the photo of Anatoly. He thought for a second that a laser was going to shoot out of his eye.
"So what's the plan?" Floyd suddenly asked still glaring at the photo.
"You and Harkness will pose as buyers," Amanda said.
"Wait what?" Harkness said now paying attention.
"I can't do it because Anatoly still has contacts in the KGB and they may have me on file," Rick informed. "I'll be the backup for this mission and will stay in radio contact."
"This mission is not going to go well," Harkness said.
"Do they ever," Tockman chimed in.
Rick and the rest of the team stepped off the plane and was hit by the cold air of Mascow. They were dressed in winter clothes for the occasion. They landed in a private airfield where they were met by other ARGUS field agents who drove them to their base of operations.
"I love it when we get our own room," Harley said.
"Don't get comfortable, we still need to go over the plan," Rick said.
"What's there to go over?" Tockman said dropping his computer bag. "Floyd and Harkness go in as potential buyers the rest of you are backup. They will screw something up and you all charge in and have a big fight and escape while capturing the targets."
"I hate to say it but you're probably right," Rick said.
"Hey have some faith in us," Harkness said. "Right Floyd?"
"I just want to get some sleep before tomorrow," he said walking into his room.
"Me too Harley," said following him in and closing the door. The door opened seconds later with Harley being pushed out. "You'll be mine eventually cowboy," she said squinting her eyes.
Floyd and Harkness stood outside the back of a club where they were waiting to meet with Anatoly. They both were wearing suits and carrying a briefcase. Harkness looked at Floyd who was actually smiling for a change which made him nervous.
"What are you smiling about?" Harkness asked.
"You'll find out soon enough," he said.
"You ever been to Russia before?"
"A few times," Floyd answered. "Never for pleasure."
"Business huh?" Harkness said checking his watch. "How long are they going to keep us waiting?"
The door backdoor to the club finally opened and a big man in a suit stood before them.
"Right this way," he said in Russian.
They followed inside and was hit by the noise of loud music playing. Floyd noticed the many guards around the place consisting of Triad's and Russian's. Separately they were strong organizations but together they made themselves more formidable. Harkness was fighting the urge to not jump into the mix of partiers because he hasn't been able to do much since he was put into the Squad. They continued until they came to the back of the club where the guard opened a heavy steel door. The first thing they saw was a woman sitting at a desk who they recognized as China White.
"Been a while White," Floyd said.
"Deadshot," she said getting up from the desk. Her white hair waved as she approached them. "Are you ever going to kill the Arrow or can I get my money back?"
"Already gone I'm afraid," he said. "Besides I'm sure you are doing just fine with your new setup here in Russia."
"More than fine," she said.
Anatoly came out from behind a wall adjusting his shirt as he stopped when he locked eyes with Floyd. Floyd quickly dropped the suitcase punching the guard next to him in the face and taking his gun aiming it at Anatoly.
SOME YEARS AGO
Floyd Lawton rode his motorcycle through the streets of Russia coming to a sudden stop in front of a warehouse. He got off the bike taking his sunglasses off looking at the building with both of his eyes. He walked into the place where he saw his contact waiting for him. Anatoly Knyazev leader of a mercenary group.
"Hello," Floyd greeted in Russian.
"You speak are language," Anatoly responded with Russian.
"Enough," he replied.
"We came to you because are sniper died recently while on a mission and for are next assignment we need eyes in the sky we can count on," Anatoly began to explain.
"And you came to me? I just got into the business," Floyd said.
"Perhaps but the jobs you have done so far have been mighty impressive. Is it true you hit a target that was behind three building?"
"It was four but I don't like to brag," he said. "What exactly are we going to be doing?"
"The Bratva leader here in Russia is short on man power and expects an attack by a rival crew during a shipment," Anatoly explained the job. "We just need to keep him and his shipment safe throughout the night."
"I have worked alone till now but a teaming up with someone shouldn't be too bad."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Anatoly said shaking the assassin's hand.
Night fell on the cold city of Mascow as Floyd looked down at the shipment being handled. He looked over and saw Anatoly fully armed monitoring the ground team. Floyd would say the night was going easy but he knew that was going to change. Things were too quiet like they were the only souls in the city quiet. Floyd looked at the entrance expecting something to happen but it didn't.
"Deadshot, you feel like we are just waiting for things to go to hell?" Anatoly said over the radio.
"I'm feeling uneasy about all of this," he said. "Who exactly is this crew that the Bratva is feuding with?" Now that Floyd thought about it he should have asked before the job started.
"Some pretty hard hitters apparently," Anatoly said.
Just as he finished his sentience multiple explosions happened all around them stunning them. Floyd fell to his stomach and took aim as he saw many heavily armed men begin to storm the place. There were in all black wearing ski mask with tactical goggles. A fire fight began as bodies began to fall on both sides more on the Bratva's and Anatoly's. Floyd began to pick off the attackers one by one and occasionally two by two and he fired many shots from his sniper.
Anatoly was in the heat of it all as he saw his men fall one by one. He fired into the small army of attackers as he saw their numbers were not getting smaller.
"Hold the line!" Anatoly said to his men.
They tried but were failing as Anatoly noticed a woman with long brown hair with two swords on her back began to walk through the hell storm of bullets towards Anatoly's forces. She pulled out her swords and began to cut down man after man that was not on her side. She tossed her blade at an incoming foe and then slowly took it out of him glaring right an Anatoly.
"Fall back," Anatoly shouted as he and his men ran into the building Deadshot was on top of.
Floyd was still firing off as many shots as he could but it was getting harder since there focus was on him more than the few men Anatoly and the Bratva leader had left.
Anatoly with the remainder of his men all had their weapons pointed at the door ready to fire foe anybody who came in. They saw the door open for a quick second and opened fire hitting the door and walls not stopping till they were out of bullets. They all began to reload but were to slow as the woman from earlier came cutting down man after man till she reached Anatoly stopping as both blades reached his neck.
"Anatoly Knyazev," she said. "How does running the Russin Bratva sound."
Floyd who ran out of bullets began to take the stairs down to the lower figuring he should see what Anatoly's situation is like. He saw the Bratva captain was dead so this job was over. He reached the ground level seeing Anatoly walking out the building with that woman.
"Anatoly," Floyd said. "What's the deal?"
Anatoly turned around tossing a grenade into the room where Floyd was and closing the door. The building exploded as Anatoly left the scene.
Floyd was crawling on the ground in the slums of Russia as blood fell from his right eye. He got to his feet and staggered across the street trying not to draw attention to himself.
PRESENT
Floyd with the gun aimed at Anatoly was ready to pull the trigger when suddenly China White kicked it from his hand then flipped him over her shoulder. Harkness doesn't know what Floyd was thinking but he had to react quickly. He elbowed the guy behind him then tossed the briefcase at him pulling out his boomerangs. He cut down the first guard and then the next as he tossed his boomerang across the room hitting two more.
Floyd kicked China White to the side and ran at Anatoly full force tackling him.
"What the hell is going on?" Rick shouted over the headset
"Floyd just went crazy and is gunning for Anatoly," Harkness responded obviously still dealing with gaurds.
"Why can't things go as planned? We haven't even heard anything about the drug!" Rick angered opened the door to the van he was in. "Harley gear up and let's go give these idiots and hand."
"It's not my fault this time!" Harley said following behind Rick who had his gun loaded and ready.
"You really shouldn't hold grudges Lawton," Anatoly said punching him in the face.
"You should have a little since of honor," Floyd replied punching him right back.
They struggled through the upper floors of the club passing by partiers who stared as the two men went back and forth. Floyd ducked a swing by Anatoly then punched him in the face sending against the wall. Anatoly grabbed Floyd by the shoulders and head-butted him sending him over a table with drinks on it. He quickly got up and tackled the Russian sending them both tumbling downstairs.
Harkness was currently engaged with China White who was sending quick jabs at him with swift kicks. He tried his best to block them but found himself getting hit more as there fight continued. She knocked his boomerangs out his hands and then elbowed him in the nose.
"God damn it," Hakrness screamed.
"Who the hell are you working for?" China demanded to know.
"Like I'll actually tell you," Harkness said throwing a punch that China blocked then hit him with a palm strike to the chest sending him falling to the ground.
"Then die you filth," she said pulling out her knife getting ready to throw it when a loud thunk was heard making her fall to the floor.
Harley stood behind China holding her bat. "You owe me one Boomer," Harley said.
"Where the hell is Rick?" he asked wiping the blood from his nose.
Rick was moving through the club gun raised trying to find Floyd. He turned a corner meeting the barrel of a gun by one of the club's guard. Rick quickly grabbed the man's hand twisting it then firing a shot into his leg. Rick saw as more guys came and he quickly fired off shots hitting them trying not to hit party guess. He heard fast footsteps coming from behind him and turned quickly falling to one knee as a bullet flew past his head and he fired a shot at the shooter. He saw two more guys coming and jumped behind a pillar they could see him.
"Where he go?" a Triad guard said.
"I don't see him," a Russian responded.
Rick aimed his gun at one of the guard's foot and shot it making him fall. Before he could hit the ground Rick fired a shot hitting him in the head. He then fired at the other guard hitting him in the chest.
Rick continued down the club hall reloading his gun before he saw Floyd and Anatoly come crashing through a door trading blows with each other. Anatoly kneed Lawton in the gut then punched him across the face. He went for another punch but Floyd blocked it then hit him in the jaw. Floyd then wrapped his legs around Anatoly's waist bringing him to the ground. Floyd picked a gun up off the ground from one of the dead guards aiming right at Anatoly's eye.
"Floyd!" Rick shouted aiming his gun. "Drop it," he ordered.
"Or what, you going to shoot me?" Floyd said.
Rick fired his gun hitting Floyd in the arm. "Yes," Rick said moving over to Anatoly and tying his hands together. Rick lifted him up off the ground and looked as Floyd rose to his feet.
"For what it's worth Lawton, I'm not proud of what I did," Anatoly said being pushed by Rick.
The squad returned to the ARGUS base where China White and Anatoly were put into custody. Rick was at the holding cells where he and Floyd were staring at each other through the small door on the cell.
"You could have caused a lot more damage," Rick said. "You should have told us about your past with Anatoly."
"Then you would have kept me out the mission," Floyd said casually.
"If this is going to work I'm going to need you to know I can trust you," Rick said. "Of all the crazies on this team I thought we saw eye to eye." Floyd lazily rolled his eye. "That was not attentional, look I need to know from this point forward that we are on the same page."
"We will never be on the same page Flag," Floyd replied. "You are a soldier and we are your disposable team."
"You need to stop acting like you got nothing to live for."
"I don't," Floyd said.
"I don't believe that," Rick said. "I know that after every job you wired the money into an account for your daughter."
"Don't talk about my daughter," Floyd warned.
"If you ever want to see her again you can't pull a stunt like that ever again," Rick finally finished walking away from the cell.
NEXT. EPISODE 5: IN THE TIGER CAGE