"Where did you see her? How is she?" Oliver fired at Roy.
"I saw her today when I was taking down a goon in an alley…"
"How is she?"
"She's…ok, um but different…"
"Different? How?
"Different…you...just not really like Thea."
"What? What do you mean not like Thea if it's Thea you met?" Oliver asked confused.
Sighing Roy tried to explain, "Thea was not Thea," at the confused frowns on his friends' faces he tries once again, "there was something very different about her…just really different."
"Okay…let's just drop that for now, where and when did you see her?" It was Felicity who finally put an end to the confusing conversation.
"I told you I saw her in an alley when I was taking down some lowlife with a gun."
"And…"
"And what?
"And why did you come back so angry? Something must have happened for that kind of reaction?"
"We could have just had a fight you know…"
"Then you would have come back broody not angry, so spill…"
Roy hesitated, his eyes jumping from person to person, stalling knowing his next words could be his last, "This is…actually not the first time I have seen…met her. I have been running into her randomly for the past two weeks…" before he could finish Roy found himself pinned to the wall behind him, his collar bunched tight in the fists of a very furious Oliver.
"Oliver…" Felicity's reprimanded him, "put him down. Fighting amongst ourselves will not get us anywhere."
"Felicity's right, we don't know why the kid didn't say anything. Let's hear him out before we lose our minds shall we…" Diggle supplied.
Oliver slowly loosened his grip on the shorter man's collar heeding his friends' advice and releasing him. "Guess it really was a great idea having you all here," Roy remarked in a strained voice as he slid down the wall nodding his gratitude to the two for their interruption.
At Oliver's angry growl he gulped continuing, "Anyways," he said stepping as far away from Oliver as he could, "I ran into her again tonight and again just like every other time she demanded the truth. She said I was not telling her everything and I confessed that I couldn't betray someone else's secrets…we have been doing this same dance where she taunts me and demands from me and I give her as much as I can. But today for the first time I saw her up close. She looked into my eyes furious and I couldn't recognize her. She's different Oliver, I can't point out how exactly but she's different and not in a good way."
"So any reason why you are suddenly coming out with this two weeks after your first meeting with her?" Diggle asked.
"And what kind of truth? If she wants the truth so bad why hasn't she contacted Oliver yet?" Felicity added.
"Truth, she thinks I know more about the Slade debacle than I let on, she wanted to know what my, Arrows and Oliver's involvement in it is and as for why she hasn't contacted Oliver yet, I wouldn't know. The reason," he continued looking towards Diggle, "I never said anything was because I thought she would want to be the one to come out herself and I just wanted to give her time. I saw someone with her today, that's what spooked me and I decided it was time I told you guys everything. All this time she met me alone, I think whoever it was that found us didn't know that she was meeting me and he didn't sound happy. But Thea…Thea seemed unfazed. She just left when he ordered her too…"
Felicity had already turned around proceeding towards her station, ready to set a search perimeter she inquired, "Ok, what can you tell us about this man…"
"He wore clothes I recognized," he interrupted Felicity's question.
"And that is supposed to help us…" he directed his attention towards Felicity behind the interrogating form of Diggle, ignoring the still form of a fuming Oliver and the blank faced Sara.
"He…whoever he was, was wearing the Leagues uniform."
"How is that possible? You are sure you saw the League's uniform?" Felicity asked while pacing the short distance between her computer set up chewing on her thumb nail, to where the boys and Sara stood near the mats.
"Yeah, I don't think I'll ever forget what a League's uniform looks like," Roy replied.
"Do you know who it could be?" Oliver spoke up finally from his place beside his friends looking hopefully towards the pacing blond.
"Oliver if I had seen her there, you don't think I would have brought her back with me?"
"I know you would have…" Oliver said hanging his head in sad defeat, searching for the right words.
"This doesn't make any sense. If she would have enrolled into the League I would have known…"
"How? She left months before you went back to your home." Roy questioned.
"When I was at Nanda Parbat my father insisted that I oversee some of the League's operations, which included background checks and scrubbing of a few members' identities, which meant I met and interacted with all of the new and old league members. I toured to all the other League locations with my sister and father."
"This was your father's idea of a vacation?!" Roy asked incredulously.
"You have no idea what we did for summer break, this comparatively was fun…well, fun-ner."
"Wow…and I thought my childhood sucked."
Throwing Roy a glare for his comment Felicity commenced her furious pacing.
"Maybe it's a rogue," she silently supplied, lost in her thoughts.
"I thought League of Assassins doesn't have rogues," Sara asked.
"Technically you were one until a few months ago and so is Cassandra Cain."
"Who's Cassandra Cain?"
"You don't have to worry about that Roy? Didn't you say the figure was definitely a man? So it couldn't be her."
"Then what do we do?"
"We don't do anything," at the others' sharp look Felicity raised her hands to placate them before continuing, "I do this. I have contact with the League now, don't forget. So if it's anyone from our ranks I'll know."
"Our ranks?" Oliver asked pointedly.
Ignoring Oliver's comment, Felicity proceeded to her station, setting up some searches on her programs she left a message to her sister through the channels that they had agreed upon before she left for Starling City. Since the League avoided most modern technology only using what benefitted them in their quest, mobile phones weren't easy to come by in a League compound. Turning back to her team she explained all that she had set up.
"So what do we do now?" Roy asked impatiently.
"Now, we wait."
Her phone rings the same time as her computers let out a series of beeps. Noticing the number on her caller id, Felicity moves away from the group leaving them behind to check out the alerts her searches yielded.
"مساءالخير(Good Evening)"
"ياأختيالخيرصباح(Good Morning, My sister). كيفحالك؟(How are you?)"
"أناجيدةالنيصي(I'm good, Nyssa). أناآسفهذاليسوقتاطيبا. هللديكماسألتعنه؟(I'm sorry this is not a good time. Do you have what I asked for?) أعدكمسوفنتحدثفيوقتلاحق (I promise we'll talk later.)"
" نعم،راجعت. كانتأبدافيأيمنالمركباتالشقيقةلدينا. هلكلشيءعلىمايرام؟ (Yes, I checked. She was never in any of our compounds sister. Is everything alright?)
"...لا. ولكن(No. But…)"
"قللي،ربمايمكننيالمساعدة (Tell me, maybe I can help.)"
Taking a deep breath Felicity took a leap of faith, once again placing her trust in her sister Felicity gave her the description of Thea's companion she got from Roy. She waited as her sister fell silent over the phone, debating in her head whether she had done the right thing and not betrayed her team by laying out information to a member of an organization that they were wary of.
"واناذاهبلاقوللكمشيئاشقيقةويجبأنتعرفأننيلاقدقالكلمةلولمأكنأعتقدأنهذامهم. هلتفهم؟ (I am going to tell you something sister and you must know I would not have said a word if I did not believe this to be important. Do you understand?)"
" نعم،أنالاالنيصي. ماهو؟ (Yes, I do Nyssa. What is it?)"
"الأب،لميكنيريدمنيأنأعرفولكنتبينلي. طلبتمنهأنيرسلليعلىمهمةللعثورعلىالرجللكنهرفض. أناقدقلتلكممنقبل،ولكنهاقدتراجعذهنيقبلالآن(Father, hadn't wanted me to know but I found out. I asked him to send me on the mission to find the man but he refused. I would have told you before, but it had slipped my mind.)"
"...النيصي،وأناأفهم. ماهوعليهالآنتقولليمنفضلك (Nyssa, I understand. What is it tell me now please…)"
" انهعضوالمارقةالجامعة(He's a rogue League member...)"
"...النيصي،وهذاليسالوقتالمناسبلجامعةالأعمالولكم(Nyssa, this is no time for League business, you…)"
"Merlyn مالكولماسمه.تالياكانحياويجرياصطيادهامنقبلالجامعة (His name is Malcolm Merlyn. Talia he's alive and being hunted by the League.)"
Felicity felt her breath rush out of her lungs, the shock of her sister's words sending her pulse into overdrive, the choked sound that rushed out of her in an attempt to answer her sister's repeated calls startled her and attracted the attention of her friends. Their worried eyes landed on her pale face and wide eyes, rushing over to her side, they heard Nyssa calling out for Felicity from the other end of the line. Taking the phone from her shocked friend, Sara pushed her into the fussing arms of the men as she picked the phone to talk to Nyssa.
"It's Malcolm…he's alive." Felicity choked out in a small voice. "That's who you saw Roy. That was Malcolm Merlyn and the League is hunting him which puts Thea in even more danger," the words tumbled out unbidden as Felicity finally looked into the worried eyes of the men in front of her. Turning to Oliver she softly whispered, "He's alive Oliver."
His footsteps echoed in the silent confines of the abandoned building he was moving in, his bow held at the ready arrow notched and held down, his team situated around the outskirts of the building as backup. Three days after the ground shattering news he received he had come to the dilapidated structure in hopes of reuniting with his sister. The consequent beeps on Felicity's network on the night of the revelation had alerted the team to a crime similar in nature to some about two years ago. The black patented arrow embedded in the victims' body they realized after the news of Malcolm's survival was a message to them.
Finally getting a lead after nonstop searching, the team had closed in on the building on the outskirts of the Glades, the structure abandoned after the Slade riots. Turning around a corner on the fourth floor he ran straight into a petite figure. Raising his bow in defense Oliver noticed the brown locks and the familiar smirk adorning the masked face of the girl before him. His breath caught in his throat, different emotions battling for dominance inside him at the sight of his sister, alive and well.
"So I finally get the pleasure of meeting you Arrow." Thea talked haughtily sauntering towards him, "I never really got to thank you for saving my life last year…sothank you," she smirked. Oliver remained silent throughout the exchange, realizing she didn't know who he was. "Can't find your voice Arrow?" Thea heckled. "Then let's discuss why you're here shall we? You Mr. Arrow have managed to piss off a lot of people including my mentor. You are my final test. So, what do you say to a good old fashioned fight, my green leathered friend?"
Oliver's eyes widened in horror finally understanding Merlyn's game. Creating discord between him and Thea wouldn't have been difficult given the circumstances behind Thea's departure but this was not about divide and conquer it was Merlyn's twisted play of displaying the control he now held over his sister.
Before he could reply another figure rushed in from behind him, blocking him from his sister's periphery. The light black leather coat bellowing about her, the pink lining peeking out, her turban and veil protecting her identity, her weapons shining in the dim lighting of the building Felicity came to a halt before his sister, ready for a fight.
Shocked at the new arrival, Thea reacted, slipping her gun out of its holster on the left side of her waist she fired incessantly. Seeing the woman deflect every single one of her bullets with expert spins of her retractable silver Bo staff, Thea was shocked. Spinning the Bo staff above her head and pivoting on her toes the woman stepped towards her knocking the gun out of her hands with a simple swing of her staff as she brought it down.
"Who are you?" Thea gaped.
"Darling, that doesn't matter, what matters though, is that you just submitted yourself to a suicide mission. Walk away now and I promise you go unharmed."
Thea laughed regaining her composure before replying, "My battle is with the Arrow, you are not needed here."
"He doesn't fight little girls," Felicity retorted. "If you want to fight the Arrow you'll have to go through me first," she continued at Thea's snarl.
"Why, is he that scared of me that he would hide behind a woman?" The petite woman mocked.
"You know, I hate it when women are condescending towards other woman, that's just insulting to our own gender. And no he isn't scared, he's just a noble idiot who wouldn't hurt you. But lucky for you I have no such qualms."
"Fine…whatever. I am going out of here the victor anyways."
"Oh darling you should know, overconfidence and arrogance are not attractive qualities."
"So do you plan on fighting me with words or are you finally gonna jump in the ring."
"Bring it on, Brownie."
Thea charged in anger towards the woman, twisting into a five-forty degree Lotus kick, jumping with two feet, her upper body held upright she turned her head and body in a twisting motion swinging her arms around, her right leg coming out to kick at her opponents shoulder and her left leg below held straight. Predicting every move of the younger girl, Felicity moved her upper body sideways to avoid the hit as she extended both her hands out towards her left to grab the pinning girl by her ankle and knock her down. Before she could stand back up, Felicity had detached her staff into two and aimed both points at her throat.
"Tired already?"
"I don't get tired," Thea said as she placed her palms face down beside her head using them to push forward raising her lower body up she pushed her feet down on the ground landing on her feet as her mysterious intruder moved away this time securing away the retractable staff on her weapons belt. They circled each other, holding the others furious gaze, as Oliver watched still frozen from the sidelines. The image of a bouncing five year old Thea jumping into his arms clashing in his mind's eye with the warring woman he saw in front of him.
Thea attacked first, her fists coming out in a one-two punch combo, easily deflected by Felicity, her arms coming out to block the punches. As she blocked the last punch from Thea, she opened her palm and caught onto the other girls' wrist twisting it behind her back. Thea, twisted her body the other way and wrenched her wrist out of the hold, regaining her fighting stance she broke out in a run towards Felicity, jumping on one foot she spun in the air, sticking out her right foot to deliver a kick to the other woman's head. Felicity ducked, and spun a step away to stand upright once again, an appreciative smile adorning her veiled lips, "You're good...but I'm better.
At Thea's condescending laugh, Felicity turned and ran backwards; stepping onto a railing she pushed down on her right foot and jumped up arching her back she sailed downwards head first, her hands slipping inside her coat she ducked into a somersault as she neared the ground. Landing in front of Thea on one knee she broke out her knives, slashing through the leathers under the other woman's knees. Thea's grunt of pain sent shivers down Oliver's spine, watching his baby sister fall to her knees finally breaking the ice that had formed over his body, concern and a need to protect her taking over his senses moving his feet forward in an attempt to comfort her.
A sudden noise from the corner he had previously entered from broke his gaze from the two women he loved most in the world, his worry for the young girl taking a backseat for the moment. Adjusting his slackened grip on the arrow he turned to see the dark figure of his formerly dead nemesis standing in the shadows watching the scene unfold behind him. A smirk graced his lips as he moved his gaze to Oliver, his eyes holding a challenge. Loosening his arrow in answer Oliver advanced, his bow extended out to hit, dodging the jab from Oliver Malcolm pivoted aside grabbing Oliver's left arm he twisted it behind the man's back.
Breaking out of Malcolm's hold easily, Oliver turned to step into a basic stretch kick, catching the man on his chin; Oliver twisted to deliver a blow to the man's temple with his elbow. Before he could complete the turn Malcolm did the same catching Oliver in the neck, unbalancing him. As he dodged Malcolm's punch to his side, he twisted around facing his back to the man and extended his hands backwards to grab onto his head, grabbing him under the chin and around his nape Oliver flipped him over his back, down on the ground in front of him. Malcolm sweeped his feet under Oliver's as soon as he landed hard onto his back, to trip the green archer, jumping up he avoided the other man's sweep, landing back on his feet he pivoted one step away, grabbing an arrow in the process and nocking it, aiming towards the recovering dark archer he let go. The arrow sliced through the air racing towards Malcolm's right arm, its destination the brachial nerve on the inside.
Raising his arm to avoid the arrow Malcolm charged towards the Arrow, the projectile previously headed in the direction of his arm nicking him in the shoulder as he bent into a sprint towards the hooded figure. Closing his arms around his waist Malcolm picked the man up from the floor and threw him on the cold concrete below. Oliver landed on his back with a thud, Malcolm's hands closed around Oliver's throat as he was moving to spin away from his opponent's approaching form. Malcolm he sneered into his face taunting him, "Looks like you haven't learned your lesson yet Oliver."
Butting his head against Malcolm's nose, Oliver managed to slacken the man's grip on his throat. Pushing the dark archer off of him, he stood up his lips ticked up in a smug smile, his hands already readying an arrow as he watched blood trickle down from the man's nose, the answering growl from his opponent attracting the attention of the two fighting women behind them. Seeing the two men return to battle, their paces quickened. Jabbing her elbow into Thea's temple Felicity grabbed her arm to spin her in locking her right arm around her throat in a choke hold while securing both of Thea's arms beside her waist with her other.
"Anger will not get you anywhere Thea, and throwing a tantrum the size of Malcolm Merlyn will not help but deter."
"How do you know who I am?"
"It doesn't matter, believe me Thea this won't help you."
"I don't care. I am stronger and more capable now that's what matters."
A kick to the front of her knee unbalances Felicity. Seeing the smug smirk on the younger Queens face Felicity, not once loosening her hold on the woman, pulls the girls head back with one arm, a fistful of her hair gripped lightly between her fingers, before whispering, "Don't. Get. Cocky. That's the first rule to being a good warrior."
"I thought the first rule was never get tired…"
"Whoever taught you that doesn't know the first thing about being a warrior."
A shout interrupts from behind Felicity diverting her attention to the warring men. Her breath leaves her as she sees Oliver sliding down a concrete pillar, a black arrow sticking out of his left shoulder, pain etched across his features.
"I'm done indulging you!" Felicity snarls to a smirking Thea, with that she unlocks her arms from around her captives throat, pushing the brunette forward, a quick look behind her she sees the towering figure of Malcolm Merlyn nocking another arrow, pulling her staff out she separates it in two parts, hurling one towards the former League of Assassins member she knocks the bow off balance from his hand before he could notch the arrow and in the same move crouches down to sweep Thea's feet off, hitting her ankle, effectively twisting it as the girl goes down. Standing back up she crosses her arms, slipping her palms inside the jacket she slips 2 Glock 17's from the holsters fastened on both sides of her waist, she points one at a smirking Malcolm and the other on the downed form of the younger Queen.
"Move a muscle and I shoot."
"Oh please, do you really think you can hurt me girl!" Malcolm sneered.
"You would be better off not to doubt me Merlyn."
"Really and why is that?"
"Because I am Talia Al Ghul," she watches smugly as fear replaces the once aloof expression on the older man's face, "nice to finally make your acquaintance Mr. Merlyn."
Thea's costume has been put up as the cover for this story. Anyone wondering, the reason that she doesn't get a proper costume yet is because she is on a vengeance drive right now. She still has to evolve as a hero, has to find herself, that's why she doesn't get a complete costume yet.
Cassandra Cain was conceived and trained with the intention of creating the perfect bodyguard for Ra's Al Ghul. She is the daughter of David Cain and Sandra Woo who would later become Lady Shiva after training under Ra's.
Cain never taught her speech or reading, so that the parts of the brain normally used for speech were trained so she could read other people's movements and body language and predict, with uncanny accuracy, their next move. Killing Faizul, a target at age eight, she understood for the first time in intimate detail what it meant to take a life. She ran away from her father after that for what he had caused her to do. She spent the next nine years homeless as a wandering, mute drifter, later becoming a student of Oracle's (Barabara Gordon) at age seventeen she finally learnt how to read and speak through the therapy Barbara provided.
After seeing the handy work of her father Cain, Cassandra became involved with the Bat Family and after saving Commissioner Gordon's life from her assassin father she was given the Batgirl costume with the approval of both Batman and Oracle. She later also took up the mantle of BatCat after giving up the moniker of Batgirl to Stephanie Brown.
The information above is courtesy of Comic Vine ( .com)