Chapter 1: Lost at Sea
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2012 JUNE
STARLING CITY
Robert Queen walked around the Queen's Gambit one more time. He was trying to stay out of the way of the crew as they readied the yacht for departure. He didn't want to get in the way of their work, but this whole trip had him a bit disturbed.
Not the trip, Robert thought. He sighed. The reason for it. Well, one of the reasons anyway.
Robert spotted his bodyguard, David Hackett as he exited the lower part of the yacht. "Is it all good, Dave?" he asked. Robert had a pretty good relationship with Dave. The man had been his shadow for years.
"It all looks good, Mr. Queen," Dave replied.
"Excellent. Now we just need my son," Robert replied. This trip was more than just a chance to get away from Starling City and think about what Malcolm had planned. It was also an opportunity for him to spend some quality time with Oliver.
Robert's cited reasons for this trip over the summer were to touch base with all the Queen Consolidated holdings around the Pacific Ocean. Technically, it was a business trip. But the nice thing about yachts was the large amount of time between work. Time he was planning on spending with Oliver and Laurel.
Robert was hoping that this trip would help inspire his son to focus more on his business studies. Perhaps even get him interested in his family company. The inclusion of Laurel was a blessing in disguise. Laurel was driven. She had just finished her second year of college and was already to start pre-law in the fall. It wouldn't surprise Robert if she had planned out her whole life like that.
Unfortunately, Oliver was not so driven. Yes, he had finished his second year of college… barely. But he was unmotivated. He had no drive.
Now, Laurel wanted to move into an apartment closer to the college… with Oliver. Oliver was shying away from the commitment. Robert thought the boy was blind. Oliver had been dating Laurel almost exclusively for the last four years since they were sixteen.
It was painful to watch the boy try to ignore his true feelings.
Robert had seen that there would be no girl for Oliver but Laurel since they were eight years old. He had looked and flirted but had never been serious with any other young woman. Even Laurel was secure in their relationship. It was no surprise that Laurel wanted to move to the next step.
"Dad!" Oliver called out as he strode down the dock with their bags.
Laurel was trailing behind him with an excited look on her face. This would be the first time she had been outside the country. She was looking forward to the adventure.
"Oliver. Laurel," Robert greeted them. "Come on up. You can stow your gear. The crew is not quite ready to depart yet."
"Sure, Mr. Queen," Laurel replied as she stood by Oliver.
"Laurel, what have I said about that?" Robert chided her. "We are going to be on a small boat for the entire summer. You can call me Robert."
Laurel smiled awkwardly. "Sorry, Robert," Laurel replied. "It's kind of a habit."
"Then this is a good time to get out of it," Robert replied with a smile. He enjoyed having Laurel around. She is good for both of us.
"I hope Tommy is okay," Oliver said as he climbed on board. "I hate leaving him alone like this."
"Is someone using my name in vain?" Tommy said as he strode down the dock with a wide grin on his face.
"Tommy!" Laurel cried and grabbed him in a quick hug. "What are you doing here?" she asked with happiness.
"What?" Tommy said with a smirk. "I can't let you two loose in the world without me. Who knows what kind of trouble you will get into?" he said with a grin.
"Come on up, Tommy," Oliver called grinning. He couldn't be happier to have his best friend with them.
Robert sighed and shook his head. Of course, Tommy would need to be here. Those three had been inseparable since they were eight. "Come on Tommy," Robert called. "I'll show you which room is yours." Tommy ambled up the ramp with his bag and followed Robert to his room.
Robert took a moment to make one last call. The yacht was almost ready to depart. He wanted to talk to Moira one more time before Hong Kong. Robert pulled into his stateroom and closed the door. He dialed Moira.
"Hello?" Moira asked.
"It's me, dear. The Gambit is just about to leave port," Robert said easily. "Oliver and Laurel made it and Tommy decided to join them for our trip."
"He did?" Moira asked. "Well, he will be a good influence on Oliver. You can get both our boys interested in business. Especially with Laurel's steady influence nearby."
"That is just what I was thinking too," Robert replied. "I may not get to spend as much quality time with Oliver and Laurel if Tommy is here though. You know how they get," he said with a sigh.
"Yes," Moira replied with a sigh of her own. "But you will get more time to think about your other problem then, won't you?" she asked.
"Moira," Robert started. "I told you I needed to think about it more. I will. But… Malcolm is my friend. This… is insane. I'm sure he just… hasn't thought it all out."
"Exactly!" Moira replied. "It is insane. It serves no purpose. Rebecca would be ashamed of him for even considering this… atrocity."
"I will think about it. But even if I decide to go against him on this, I want to talk to him about it first," Robert said. "I can make him see how unfeasible this whole thing will become. The other deal was one thing. Making them do what was right… but this…"
"Call it what it is, Robert," Moira said. "This is insane. Pathologically insane."
Robert sighed. "I'll think about it. I promise," he told her. "I'll call you when I get to Hong Kong. Goodbye, Dear."
"Goodbye, Robert," Moira said before he hung up. He gave one last sigh and headed up to the pilot deck.
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PACIFIC OCEAN
The yacht was making good time across the ocean. The captain said that they should make it to Hong Kong sometime tomorrow morning. Their dinner with Robert was fun and they were able to start planning some of their trips.
Robert had wanted the boys to come with him the day after tomorrow to tour the Hong Kong offices. He knew that Laurel had an interest in law. He set up a time to visit with the corporate lawyers at the Hong Kong office to discuss how the law varied in different countries.
That left the afternoon tomorrow for them to explore the city of Hong Kong. They were still debating on what to visit first, second, and not at all.
"We could go to Victoria Peak?" Tommy suggested.
"Augh!" Oliver exclaimed. "Yes, let's cross the ocean to climb a mountain. NOT!"
"The Star Ferry is supposed to be cool," Tommy said. "Hey, no climbing."
"We get off a boat to get on a boat. Seriously?" Oliver asked Tommy.
"At least I'm trying," Tommy replied.
"Well, I want to try the food," Laurel said. "We could take the Kowloon Food Tour. That would show us the city and feed us."
"Now that idea, I can get behind," Oliver replied.
"Laurel always has the best ideas," Tommy agreed.
Thunder suddenly cracked outside the yacht. The vibrations of the storm seemed to flow through the hull of the ship.
Laurel moved closer to Oliver. "I think it's getting closer," she said in a frightened tone.
Oliver wrapped his arm around her. "It will be fine. I'm sure," he said. He didn't sound sure.
Tommy snorted at Oliver. "It's a little hard to take comfort in you when you are sounding like a chicken shit too," he snarked at Oliver.
Oliver let go of Laurel and went after Tommy. "I'll show you chicken shit," he replied as he tried to get Tommy in a headlock. They were interrupted by another crack of thunder.
Oliver started to move back to the bed where Laurel was sitting. The yacht shuddered with a loud boom splitting the air. Tommy and Oliver were thrown to the floor.
"What…" Oliver started before the hull ruptured before their eyes right behind Laurel. She had the opportunity to scream in fright before she was sucked out of the yacht and into the black waters.
"LAUREL!" Oliver screamed.
Tommy lay stunned for a moment before the hull rolled. He screamed and pawed at the floor trying to stop his descent into the black waters. He disappeared after Laurel.
"NO! TOMMY! LAUREL!" Oliver screamed in distress even as the hull rolled again and flung him into the black swirling waters after them.
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PACIFIC OCEAN - OLIVER
Oliver came up sputtering out ocean water. It was pitch black out. The storm was raging all around him. The water was freezing cold. The salty spray stung his eyes.
"LAUREL! TOMMY!" Oliver cried into the blackness.
Suddenly, a dim light struck him. He spun around to make out the life raft coming towards him. Then hands were pulling him inside the life raft. The small awning was thrashing in the storm. He could just make out the images of two men in the life raft with him; Robert Queen and David Hackett.
"Dad!" Oliver screamed. He was trying to be heard over the noise of the storm. "Laurel and Tommy are still out there."
"We'll keep looking, son," Robert replied. He nodded to Dave as they began to search the black waters around the life raft.
"LAUREL! TOMMY!" Oliver kept screaming into the dark of the storm. But no matter how long he kept screaming, there was no answer. His voice grew hoarse from trying to shout over the storm. Robert and Dave continued to sweep the dim light across the surface of the ocean.
All three paused in their search to watch as the firelit structure of the Queen's Gambit slowly sank beneath the waves some distance from them. It was the only thing they could see in the blackness.
They lost hope of finding anyone after an hour. The water was too cold and the blackness was too thick. Robert did his best to comfort his son. They both knew the pain of loss that night.
All Oliver felt was anguish. They were gone. My two best friends. My only real friends. The love of my life. Gone. Why did I resist moving in with Laurel? Why? She is the only one for me. My soul mate. I've known this for years. Why did I hesitate?
Oliver could only take his hesitation as a point about the shortness of life. One must grab the moment when it happens. Carpe diem.
Tears formed in Oliver's eyes as he felt lost and alone for the first time in his life. Is this how Tommy felt when both of his parents left him? I am sorry, brother. You were stronger than you knew to be able to live through this kind of pain. Oliver continued to sob his loss and anguish out.
Robert held Oliver close as his son let out his anguish. His grief. His loss. Robert knew that loss as well. Tommy had become a second son to him. Robert loved that Tommy was finally able to come out of his shell after Rebecca's death. The son of my heart.
Robert clung to Oliver. I was able to save one of my boys. Oliver had everything to do with helping Tommy.
Robert thought back to those simple times. He could picture how Oliver would drag Tommy around with him everywhere. How his son would demand that Tommy be included, rules be damned. Robert smiled at those memories.
The boys had both become more restrained when Oliver started to include Laurel. But Robert was certain that girl could twist his boys into better behavior. It was obvious that Oliver was infatuated with the young Gotham girl. Of course, Tommy would do anything that Oliver was doing. Soon, the three were going everywhere together.
Robert's smile widened. Laurel always had a plan and a way with words. The boys would try to buck her authority, only to have no real disagreement. They quickly learned that Laurel always knew what she was doing. Doing it her way, was best.
Robert quickly fell under her spell as well. Young eight-year-old Laurel was able to convince Moira and himself that it was better for the boys with the 'calming presence of girls' around. She offered herself and her sister as those calming presences. It took a week before Robert realized that she had talked him into babysitting herself and her sister for free. She would have made one hell of a lawyer.
Laurel was right about their influence. Robert knew that Raisa was more than willing to keep an eye on her young charges. The fact that Laurel and Sara did calm most of the more reckless adventures that the boys could come up with, helped to seal the bargain and their friendship with the Lances. It was even better to have those girls around with a young Thea. His daughter learned proper behavior from an early age.
Robert's happy memories came to a halt with a particularly loud sob from his son. Oh, God! They're dead. Gone. He started to hyperventilate. He clung to Oliver harder. At least I saved one.
Why? Why did this happen? We were past the worst of the storm. It was only a category II storm. The Gambit has been through worse. Robert paused as the physical memory of the yacht as it shuddered beneath his feet. The vibration was from the wrong direction. It wasn't the storm. That could not have been a lightning strike. The engine is on the other end of the yacht. It was in the crew quarters. It had to have been sabotage.
Who would sabotage the yacht? Why? Robert thought of all his corporate enemies. None came to mind. None would do this.
…But Malcolm would. 'Pathologically insane,' Moira had said. This qualifies as pathological and insane. The stray thought passed through his mind. Malcolm had no problem with killing an entire city district. Why would he have a problem with killing you on a yacht? With killing your children? With killing his son?
Robert felt anguish and anger at the same time. He was now certain that Malcolm was behind this bit of evil. What has he done? To kill his son? I knew he was cold when he returned from his sabbatical, but he seemed to want to preserve Rebecca's memory. Not extinguish it.
Good, God! In anguish, Robert realized that Malcolm would do anything to achieve his goal of destroying the Glades, even if he must kill every person himself. Moira was right. He must be stopped. But how? I must tell Oliver. He must know.
"I am sorry, Oliver," Robert started as he tried to get his confused thoughts across to his son. "I never meant this to happen," he said. Robert realized he was in shock. Shock at the loss of Tommy and the horror of knowing what Malcolm had become.
"You… didn't know, Dad," Oliver said in a muffled voice. "It was a bad storm."
"It wasn't," Robert continued. Shock and horror ran through his mind in confusing images.
"What? What do you mean?" Oliver asked as he sniffed
"I… I'm not a good man, son," Robert said. He was finding it hard to tell this to his son. I've treated your mother horribly. I've cheated on her. I've killed a man. I've made bad business deals that cost my employees. "I've done things… things I am not proud of… I made alliances… With bad people," he said as he choked around the words. I don't want you to hate me, son.
"I don't understand, Dad," Oliver interrupted him.
"I am… certain that one of those bad people… did this… caused this," Robert said. It must be. It can only be Malcolm.
"Dad?" Oliver asked more confused
"I'm sorry, Oliver," Robert said in a whisper. "I am so sorry."
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The storm continued to rage around them for the rest of the night. Even with the noise of the storm and the cold rain, they were eventually able to rest. All three of them were troubled by nightmares.
The next day, the ocean had calmed. The sky was clear of clouds. The wind was faint and didn't refresh them from the beating heat of the sun. The small life raft had taken a beating in the storm. The awning that should have sheltered them, was gone. Blown away in the fury of the storm. Half of their supplies had been blown away as well. But they still had a few supplies. They had more water than food.
"Here. Drink this, son," Robert told his son as Oliver limply clung to his side. Robert was concerned that the one child he had would soon perish in this raft. I can't lose him too.
"What are you doing?" Dave protested. "We don't have enough for all of us. We can't waste any."
"You're right, Dave," Robert replied. "But if anyone is going to survive this, it is going to be him." He gently rolled Oliver away from him. He pulled out his pistol and shot the stunned Dave.
Dave didn't see the bullet coming. He was perched on the side of the raft. When the bullet struck him, the force of it threw him back into the ocean. Robert watched where Dave had struck the ocean, but he failed to surface.
"Dad?" Oliver said with a raspy voice. In fear, he scrambled to the far side of the life raft from his father.
"I told you; I am not the man you think I am, Oliver," Robert told him firmly. Yes, it is better this way. You need to survive this. I won't let Malcolm win. "I have NOT saved our city. I failed our city."
"What are you talking about, Dad?" Oliver asked in fear.
"I need you to promise me that you will survive this… Promise me," Robert demanded.
Fear clouded Oliver's face. "I will," Oliver promised. He loved his dad. He could promise to survive.
"I made alliances… compromises… they were wrong," Robert continued to ramble. "I need you to fix my wrongs. I need you to save our city. Promise me," Robert demanded again. He blinked back tears in his eyes.
"What?" Oliver asked. "I'll try."
"Protect your sister. Protect your mother," Robert said as he finalized his thoughts. His wife and daughter were safe at Starling. He could trust Moira to look out for Thea until Oliver could get to them. I love you all.
"Of course," Oliver continued in confusion.
"Survive, Oliver... Survive," Robert said one last time and then raised the pistol to his head and made sure he would not miss. Then he pulled the trigger and killed himself.
"DAD!" Oliver shouted in horror as his father committed suicide in front of him. He reached out, but it was too late. His father's corpse slumped into the raft.
"No!" Oliver started to clutch his father's body to him as he let his grief and anguish overwhelm him. "Dad, why did you do it? Why Dad?" he sobbed.
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The raft drifted for days. Oliver tried to respect his father's wishes. He tried to survive. He rationed what little food and water were left in the life raft. But it was hard. Very hard. His resolve to survive always came back as he stared at the corpse of his father. Dad wanted me to survive this.
Even with rationing, Oliver ran out of food on the first day he was drifting in the ocean. The water ran out late on the second day. He knew it was a matter of time now. He was certain he was going to die on that raft.
Everyone is dead but me. I am all alone. I am going to die alone. I tried, Dad. I tried.
Gentle rocking woke him on the third day. The ocean had been still and quiet after the storm had blown itself out. Oliver had adjusted to the lack of movement. It was the change in motion that woke him. He looked up to see an island in the distance. He grabbed the oar and started to paddle for the island.
Oliver's efforts were rewarded and he stumbled onto the shore and collapsed on solid ground for the first time in days.
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PACIFIC OCEAN - TOMMY AND LAUREL
Laurel surfaced in the storm surrounded by ice-cold water and darkness. She took a moment to tread water. The storm was raging around her. The wind tore into her eyes with the salty spray. She couldn't see anything.
"OLIVER! TOMMY!" Laurel shouted into the surrounding darkness.
Tommy surfaced in the storm. Just like Laurel, he was surrounded by ice cold water, and darkness. But he heard Laurel shouting for him and Oliver. "LAUREL!" he shouted back. I'm not alone. I have Laurel with me.
"TOMMY! KEEP SHOUTING," Laurel yelled and slowly worked her way towards him. "I found you. Thank God!"
"I'm here, Laurel," Tommy replied. "OLIVER!" he continued to shout into the darkness.
"OLIVER!" Laurel added to his cries.
They clung to each other in the darkness as they yelled for Oliver. In the distance, they could see the wreck of the Queen's Gambit lit by fire. They both watched as it groaned and slowly sank beneath the waves.
They clung to each other for the rest of the storm in the freezing water. They refused to lose each other. They were determined to stay alive as long as possible. Their bodies were numbed by the water. They moved as little as possible to conserve what energy they had.
As the storm finally subsided almost an hour later, they found some floating wreckage from the yacht. It was large enough for both. They gratefully pulled themselves out of the freezing water and onto the wreckage. They held on to it hoping that with the dawn, they could find Oliver. They clung to each other for warmth.
The light dawned on their bleak situation. With the storm gone, the remaining debris from the wreckage had drifted together and collected around them. There was no Oliver.
"Oh, God!" Laurel sobbed as dawn showed them the reality of their situation. The yacht was gone. Everyone was gone. "Everyone died," Laurel sobbed as she clung to Tommy. "Oliver died."
"I got you, Laurel," Tommy said. Oliver had always been there for him. Always. The fact that he was gone didn't seem real to Tommy yet. It would eventually, but right now, Laurel needed me. My sister needed me.
Laurel sobbed her heart out. Oliver was her reason for doing everything. If she had Oliver, then she knew that she could be a Lawyer. That she could take on the world. She could right the wrongs of the world with the Law. With Oliver. Without him, I'm lost. Her only consolation was that she had Tommy. She needed Tommy desperately with that realization.
"Thank you, Tommy," Laurel said as the tears started to slow. "I don't know what I would do without you."
"I am always here for you, Laurel," Tommy replied. "Oliver…" His throat closed in pain at the mention of his best friend. "He… would want me to take care of you. You meant the world to him."
Fresh tears formed in her eyes. "He meant the world to me too," Laurell replied with a fresh sob.
Tommy held her close until her grief started to wane. "Laurel, can you call me Thomas now?" Tommy said with due seriousness. "I… Tommy is a child's name. I can't… I can't be that child anymore," Thomas said with pain.
Laurel held him tighter and nodded her agreement into his shoulder. "I can do that, Thomas," she finally replied when she could form words.
"Thank you, Laurel," Thomas said. He let out a shaky breath. I have nothing now. Everyone in my life dies. Mom, Oliver, Robert. Dad may as well be dead. Laurel could die soon. I have nothing. I am nothing.
"I don't know what I would do without you, Thomas. You mean… everything to me. Everything," Laurel said as she was tucked into his shoulder.
No, Tommy was nothing. Thomas is here for Laurel. Thomas changed the direction of his thoughts. Laurel is the only thing important left in my life. Ollie would want me to take care of Laurel. Nothing else matters. I had a choice to go on the yacht. I chose to be with my friends. My choice. Laurel needs me. I choose to stay with Laurel. My choice. I will do anything she needs. Anything.
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The wreckage debris floated calmly for several hours. They clung to each other for warmth and security. The sun beat down on them and lulled them into a trance state. It was with some surprise that Thomas noticed a cargo ship in the distance. It appeared to be moving in their direction.
"Laurel! Look!" Thomas exclaimed in excitement. "It's a ship."
Laurel slowly blinked and saw the ship on the horizon. "Good job, Thomas. You just saved us both."
"HEY! OVER HERE!" Both Laurel and Thomas started shouting and waving their arms to attract the attention of the ship. It worked. The ship slowed and lowered a boat with several men on board.
The boat motored over to them and one of the men shouted when they got nearby.
=Who?= the man shouted in Chinese. =Who?= he shouted again in French. "Who?" he finally asked in English.
"Americans," Laurel replied. "Our yacht wrecked," she said as she indicated the wreckage around them.
The man nodded. "Come," he commanded them and then directed his men to push the wreckage aside to get to Laurell and Thomas.
"You first, Laurel," Thomas told her. He wanted her safe in a real boat.
Laurel gave a weak smile as Thomas helped her into the boat. Once they were close, Thomas helped Laurel to the boat. Then he climbed on board.
The men in the boat were dark-skinned and rough looking. The men all eyed them with caution. They did not speak to either of them.
Thomas could understand their caution. Hadn't Robert warned him about picking up hitchhikers on the road when he was younger? Does this qualify?
The men ignored the two castaways. They just picked themselves out of the wreckage and headed back to the cargo ship. When the boat was raised back to the dock of the ship, they all got out.
=Take them below. I will tell the Professor,= the spokesman told the rest of the crew in Afrikaans.
The remaining men grabbed Thomas' arms and started to push him forward.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Thomas protested.
The men ignored him and pushed them both through the dark corridors of the ship through a winding path. They ended up in the hold.
Laurel and Thomas balked when they noticed the cages that created a maze in the ship's hold. The men in the cages looked away from the new inmates. The crew shoved them forward into two different cells. Both cells were across a small walkway from each other.
Thomas was in the cell across from Laurel and he was shoved in first. He spun around as the cell door banged shut. He hit the door but it had already been locked behind him. When the doors were locked, one of the men pulled a gun and shot Thomas. Thomas dropped from the sudden pain. The man left him bleeding on the floor of his cell.
"THOMAS!" Laurel shouted in fright.
The crew holding Laurel shoved her into another cell and locked the door behind her. Laurel cowered back away from them as they leered at her. The crew left them alone in their cells. She was glad to have avoided being shot.
Her mind corrected her that she may wish that she had been shot. Laurell was the only woman she had seen on the ship. There were no women in the cages either. She whimpered as she realized exactly what her fate would be on this ship.
Her dad was a police officer. Quentin had tried to prepare his daughters for the reality of men in the world. Self-defense was only a part of that. Information on what could happen was another part. He didn't want them to be unprepared for the realities of the world. He hated telling them, but he felt it was better than being date-raped.
"Damn it, Thomas Merlin. You had better not die on me," Laurel cursed at him. Her fear for him was edging her voice. We just escaped death. You can't die on me now.
"I'll try not to, Laurel," Thomas replied quietly, as he moaned in pain. "Why did they shoot me? I was already in the damn cage."
"Is test," the man in the cell next to him replied.
"Test? Test for what?" Laurel asked in anger. "To see if we will tolerate their bullying?" she spat.
"To see if you strong," the man replied. He came forward and pointed out the medical supplies the men had provided.
Laurel and Thomas had not noticed them before. They had been distracted by the pain and rape threats.
"What is that?" Thomas asked with some skepticism.
"Supplies to remove bullet," the man replied. Then he showed her his bullet scar on his stomach.
"Jesus," Thomas replied. He dragged himself forward and grabbed the supplies and began the painful work of extracting the bullet and sewing himself up. He doused the area in alcohol once he was done then covered the new wound and stitches.
"Why are they doing this?" Laurel asked. She had been through the emotional wringer as she whimpered in support of all of Thomas' pain during the process.
"Must be strong," the man replied before sitting back down in his corner. =Strength,= he said in Russian. "I am called Anatoly," he continued in English.
"I'm Peter," the man on the other side of Thomas said. He had been slumped in the corner of his cell. "I hope you last longer than Teddy."
"Teddy?" Thomas asked.
"He not strong," Anatoly replied sadly. "Told many stories. Died some time ago."
"I'm Thomas," Thomas introduced himself.
"I'm Laurel," Laurel added. "Why are they doing this?" she asked earnestly.
Anatoly sighed with a sad shrug. "They come for you soon. You will find out. Remember," he told them. =Strength.=
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A few hours later, the men came back and removed the used medical supplies from Thomas' cell. Then they took Laurel from her cell. The ones holding her took every opportunity to grope her and leer as they drug her down the hallways.
They rose to a higher level in the cargo ship. It was cleaner in this area. The room she was pushed into had an ominous-looking chair with straps on the arms and legs. Laurel struggled against the men, but she was still forced into the chair and strapped down. They tore open her shirt and leered at her breasts while they waited.
"That's quite enough, gentlemen," a new voice announced from behind her.
Laurel spun her head in that direction. She took note of the tall, white man with refined features. The rough crewmen left the room and reluctantly closed the door.
"You will have to forgive them," the man started. "They have not seen a woman in a few weeks. They have not had one at their mercy for nearly a month."
Laurel started to huff in fear. She didn't like how casually this man talked about allowing the crew to have her at their mercy. She despised how he casually stated that this had happened before. Quite often.
"What is your name, dear?" the man asked with an affected smile.
"L… Laurel," Laurel replied with fear. She didn't believe that smile in the least.
"Laurel," the man repeated as if he didn't care. "I'm Professor Anthony Ivo," Ivo said in his introduction. "I was quite surprised to hear that my men had found two people in the middle of the ocean. How did you get there?" Ivo asked easily.
"A storm," Laurel replied. "It destroyed our boat. I… Thomas and I are the only ones who made it," she said with a lump of anguish. Tears started to form in her eyes. She blinked them away.
"How horrible," Ivo replied without sympathy. "Good thing we came along," he said with a slight smirk.
"I… What do you want from us?" Laurel asked. She KNEW this man was dangerous. She may not remember Gotham clearly, but she could remember when the teachers at her school were very careful about casual-looking men. Dangerous men.
"From you, nothing. As I already told you, my men need female companionship. But your friend may survive long enough to be of some use to me," Ivo replied.
Fear tore through Laurel. This man planned to turn her over to his men to be raped until she died. Oh god! Thomas. I can't leave him alone. "What do you mean? Useful?" she gasped through the fear. Her fate meant less than focusing on helping Thomas. Thomas needs me.
"I'm searching for the key to curing every disease," Ivo told her smugly. "I want to give the body the correct tools it needs to fight off all types of infection… including cancers."
Laurel's eyes went wide. He's insane. Brilliant but insane. Why are those men following him? "Do you need help?" she asked as fear cracked her voice. "I am very good at note-keeping and can type up to 150 words a minute. I was going to start pre-Law in the fall." She hoped that her counteroffer made her useful to him. She needed him to see her as useful to him to keep the crew from raping her.
"Interesting," Ivo replied. "I had not thought about an assistant. My available help has been… lacking."
"I am very good at keeping things organized. I can work on a computer… at least most current ones used for college work," Laurel started to ramble off her qualifications. "I received excellent grades in High School and my first two years of college. I am an excellent learner."
"Yes," Ivo replied as he came around to stand in front of her. "I can tell that you are very motivated. Let me think about it." He turned and opened the door. "Take her back to the cell and no one touches her. I may need her for my work," Ivo told the man outside.
"Yes, Professor," the man replied with an accent and then scowled. The men released Laurel and drug her back to her cell.
When Laurel got back to her cell, Thomas was up and looking her over for injury. He couldn't find any. He waited until the crew left before he started to demand answers.
"Laurel, what happened?" Thomas demanded.
Laurel let out a shaky breath. "I met Professor Ivo. I… I'm trying to convince him to let me help him… to keep me from the crew… oh God!" she whispered in fear as she sank to the back of her cell.
"Help him?" Thomas asked.
Tears started to flow from her eyes. "Yes," she gasped out. "The crew… they want to rape me… I can't… I just can't," Laurel sobbed into her knees and wrapped her arms around her head.
"Is what they usually do with woman," Anatoly said sadly.
Thomas looked on in horror. He suddenly realized how sheltered he had been his whole life. Now, his best friend was dead. His other best friend was facing repeated rape. He had been shot. He was told to perform surgery on himself without pain medication. No! He tried to deny this was his reality, even as the bars of his cage bit into his back.
"Laurel," Thomas said suddenly. "Do what you need to… whatever you need to… I mean it," he told her. "I will support you. Just… stay alive." I need you to stay alive. Please don't leave me all alone.
Laurel let out several sobs before looking up at Thomas across from her. "Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes," Thomas said with certainty. "I need you to stay alive."
=Strength,= Anatoly added with a nod.
"Do what you need to, Laurel," Peter added from his side. "I won't hold it against you."
Laurel nodded at the sudden support from the other prisoners. She was only hoping to get Thomas' support, but this was better. She firmed up her resolve and curled up under the blanket in her cell.
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The next morning, Laurel was taken from her cell a second time. She was taken to the same room, but not strapped into the chair before the crew left.
"Laurel," Ivo greeted her.
"Professor Ivo," Laurel returned formally. She still hoped that a professional air would help to convince him to keep her safe.
"I have considered your offer and decided to accept it," Ivo told her.
Hope bloomed in her chest. "Thank you, Professor. I won't let you down," Laurel replied.
"No, you won't," Ivo told her cryptically. "I have decided that your friend… Thomas is it… can forgo my experiments as long as I have your help. I wouldn't want to make you lose your objectivity on a subject."
Laurel gasped. Thomas. He is going to use Thomas to ensure that I do everything he told me to do. Okay. Fine. That means that Thomas is safe as long as I do what he wants. "Thank you," Laurel said with fear in her voice.
"Good," Ivo said. "Come with me. Let me show you your new quarters. You will be staying with me."
With him? Oh god! The crew won't rape me but Ivo will. "Of course," Laurel replied as the fear started to choke her voice... I have to do everything to make sure Thomas survives. I need him too much. He is all I have left.
Ivo started giving Laurel a tour of the ship and the upper levels where she would be working. He showed her his lab, his quarters, the mess, and the deck. Then he took her back to his quarters.
"Now, strip down. I want to take a good look at you," Ivo said behind the closed door.
Laurel started to remove her clothes and underclothes. She stood before him naked and felt vulnerable. Oh, God! He's going to rape me now. I have to let him do it. I have to be strong. I am doing this to keep Thomas safe. I have to keep Thomas safe. She chanted in her mind as Ivo started to circle her.
"Very nice," Ivo said as he started to touch her back and ass. He smacked her ass smartly. "Now, up on the bed. Spread your legs. Keep your hands behind your head," Ivo ordered her.
Laurel shuddered and moved to comply. Tears started to form in her eyes.
Ivo stripped off his clothing and climbed on top of her. His hands began to maul her breasts as his cock stabbed at her thigh. She just felt cold and ashamed. Finally, Ivo shoved his cock inside her dry pussy. The pain was sharp. Ivo took her gasp in pain as pleasure and started to thrust into her. He seemed to climax quickly and allowed his weight to pin her to the bed. He finally got up and cleaned himself up.
Laurell stayed in her position on the bed afraid to move. She wanted to break down. She had only been with Ollie before. Now she felt used. Dirty.
Ivo redressed and tossed some new clothes at her. "That was good. I needed that. Get dressed. I want to get started in the lab right away," Ivo told her.
"Yes, Professor," Laurell replied with a fake smile on her face.
Laurel finally moved. She quickly wiped herself clean of his cum and dressed. She wanted to scrub her skin, but Ivo was watching her. She dressed in the clothing he provided and followed him to the lab.
"Now, here…" Ivo said as he logged into the computer and pulled up the file log, "...is where I keep my final patient notes. As you can see from these…" Ivo pointed to a stack of hand-written notes, "...I've fallen behind in logging them in properly. Take a look and start to organize the files. Let me know before you make any changes."
"Yes, Professor," Laurel replied as she sat down.
Ivo watched her start to look through the files and then the notes before she started to attack the stack and add the hand-written notes to the digital files. He nodded in approval and moved to another part of the lab.
Laurel tackled the paperwork with a passion. Anything to keep her mind off of how he felt. His hands. His body. How disgusted he made her feel. I sold myself to keep Thomas and myself safe. I sold myself. I am no better than a prostitute. Is this worth it?
Laurell shuddered. Do I want to be raped by the crew? Do I want to see Thomas experimented on by an insane man? Or do I accept being raped by one man?
I need Thomas. He is ALL I have left. I have to do this for Thomas. I need him too much.
A week passed before Laurel was allowed to see Thomas again. But she did see Peter. Peter was one of the experiments that had already been started. It was why he looked so ill and weak in the cell. She took notes as Ivo conducted his experiments. But the few moments she had before Ivo came in, allowed her to pass the news to Thomas. She was even more relieved to have news of Thomas passed back to her.
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STARLING CITY
News about the loss of the Queen's Gambit reached Starling City within days. The yacht never arrived in Hong Kong. That branch of Queen's Consolidated immediately started searching for the yacht… or the debris of the yacht. They found the floating beacon among the broken pieces of debris.
Moira was distraught. In one blow, she had lost her husband of 22 years, her firstborn son, the son of her heart, and her future daughter-in-law. She was in shock. The company was in shock. She could barely hold up a public face in front of the paparazzi. But she refused to display her grief. That was private.
When Moira had the final word on the beacon, she struggled to put on a public face. She needed to tell the Lances. They had become dear friends over the years. Thea idolized the Lance girls. Now they had only one girl. Moira held back the tears with a force of will and directed her driver to take her to the Lance home.
"Moira," Dinah greeted her warmly after she had answered the door.
"Dinah," Moira replied with great dignity. "Is your family here? I have some news that I feel I can only tell once."
"Of course, come in," Dinah said as she led Moira into the living room where Quentin and Sara were arguing about what to watch on television. He quickly shut the TV off when he saw his guest.
Moira started before the Lances could do more than notice her and her disheveled state. "I have some terrible news. I… The Queen's Gambit was lost at sea… all hands," she choked out with her eyes glassy. The pain of losing her husband and her boys was overwhelming.
Dinah's eyes widened and she gravitated to Quentin. "I…" Quentin started. "I mean, how do they know?" he asked.
Moira started to dab her eyes before tears could fall. "The yacht never made it to Hong Kong. They went searching for its beacon," Moira said with a gasping breath. "They found it… with wreckage."
"Oh no," Dinah exclaimed as she tucked her face into Quentin's chest.
Moira rallied. "It was off-course. They think the yacht may have been trying to avoid a storm. But…" Moira gave the Lances a look of despair. "There is nothing around. No islands. Nothing. I am so sorry."
"It's alright, Moira," Quentin said. He was in deep shock. His police training took over in the face of his mental anguish. "It's not your fault."
Sara was watching the whole thing in shock. Finally, she could give voice to her despair. "But… Laurel and Ollie… Oh, God! They're gone?" she begged to be wrong.
Moira nodded sadly. "Tommy as well," she relayed.
"NO!" Sara screeched. "They are all gone… All my friends…"
Quentin and Dinah wrapped the distraught Sara in their arms.
Moira kept dabbing her eyes and made her exit. She knew that the Lances would need to seek comfort in each other. She had her own distraught child to comfort. Poor Thea is only eleven. She had lost her father, her brothers, and her future sister-in-law.
Moira considered Tommy to be her second son. She knew that Robert felt the same. Her boys. She had raised the young man since he was eight years old after his mother died and his father abandoned him. The young man had never reconnected with his father once Malcolm had returned after his six-year absence. The Queens were still acting as his parents until the day he got on the Queen's Gambit.
Moira entered Queens Manor and found Thea in the living room. The little girl was staring blankly at the TV, but not watching it. It looks like Thea has fallen into one of the lulls of grief. Moira sat with her and cuddled her daughter as she let out her grief one more time. Thea clung to her mother as only a young twelve-year-old could. For Thea, the world has ended. Poor child.
"Mrs. Queen," Raisa announced from the doorway. "Mr. Merlyn would like to speak with you."
"Thank you, Raisa. Show him to my office please," Moira replied and gently got up to confront Malcolm. She would much rather not have her daughter see this.
"Of course, Mrs. Queen," Raisa said with a swift departure.
Moira settled behind her desk and waited for Malcolm to enter. Robert had still not decided to go against Malcolm when she had last talked to him. He was unsure about trying to stop Malcolm from his insane Undertaking. Robert still remembered the friend Malcolm had been before Rebecca's death. He didn't want to move against him yet. He wanted to think some more. He planned to use his time on the yacht to go over all the ramifications. To figure out how to talk Malcolm away from his insane plan.
Robert had welcomed the time with Oliver. Moira remembered how pleased he was to be able to spend some good quality time with his son.
Moira was pleased with Laurel's solution to Oliver's hesitation to move in together. She knew her son well enough to know that his hesitation was not about Laurel, but himself. Laurel had proved, once again, how she knew and understood Oliver by suggesting the summer yacht trip.
Their relationship was moving towards marriage. Moira was certain of it. She had been certain for years. It was why I considered the Lances to already be family. In time, they would be… would have been. The loss of Oliver and Laurel struck her hard again.
Malcolm strode into Moira's office. "Moira, thank you for seeing me in your time of grief," Malcolm started with a confident swagger. "I know that you are worried about what will happen to Queen Consolidated now that Robert is gone. But I do not doubt that you will be able to replace Robert easily."
"I am not a replacement for Robert," Moira said coldly. Her anger at Malcolm and his underhanded… cowardly business. His approach was too sure. Why would she care about the company FIRST? He was my husband.
"Regardless, I'm sure the company will be fine in your hands until Oliver finishes school," Malcolm continued.
Moira's eyes narrowed. Does Malcolm think OLIVER will take over the company? He doesn't know? What an ass. "Really? Your only concern? Queen's Consolidated?" she demanded. Her fury at a mother's loss was burning bright. Losing a husband is painful. But a child… that is unforgivable.
"Well, I will miss my friendship with Robert, but the company will be fine in my godson's hands," Malcolm said with a smarmy smile.
He DARES to declare a relationship with my son? "That statement doesn't give me any confidence," Moira replied with blinding fury.
With sudden clarity, Moira knew exactly who to place all the blame on. All the reports that hadn't filtered through her grief suddenly returned. The yacht didn't lose contact until the end of the storm. Where the wreckage was found in a mild area. The yacht would not have been lost by the storm alone.
"You did this, didn't you?" she demanded. The arrogant, self-serving murdering terrorist.
"Moira," Malcolm started consolingly.
"Robert expressed his concerns about your plans. His hesitation at carrying them out. For whatever reason you think you had, you killed him for those concerns. Him and EVERYONE WITH HIM," Moira rose as she shouted at him. Her eyes were burning with fury.
"You are such a short-sighted egotist that you couldn't even allow Robert to THINK. That was his plan for this trip. He didn't plan to do anything. If he decided that your plans were ill-conceived, he was to TALK to you about this whole mess. Instead…" Moira's fury burned out on her grief. "Instead, you killed him and everyone on board."
"Moira, it is your grief talking," Malcolm said coolly. "You will feel better when you hold your children in your arms."
Moira's fury was suddenly back. "Yes, MY CHILDREN… AND POTENTIALLY MY GRANDCHILDREN. In your short-sightedness, you killed my husband… as was your plan… but you also killed my boys and my future daughter-in-law," Moira spat at him.
Malcolm froze in place. "I was only aware that you had one son," Malcolm said softly. "I regret that Oliver was on board. I assume that his girlfriend was with him. Who is the other boy? Some bastard of Robert's?" he asked with a decided lack of concern.
Moira didn't take his tone well. She narrowed her eyes at Malcolm. "I have had two boys for over a decade. One by blood. One by heart. You killed Tommy as well as Oliver and Laurel in your misguided desire for revenge," Moira spat at him. "Rebecca would be ashamed of you for killing her son."
Malcolm's eyes widened. "Tommy? But…" Malcolm started.
"GET OUT, MALCOLM," Moira said with anger. "I can't see you right now."
Malcolm nodded and walked out in shock.
Moira collapsed back into her seat. The fool. Moira tried to reign in her despair. Thea needed her.
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Endnotes:
Carpe Diem - Seize the day - Latin
Undertaking - Malcolm Merlyn's long-term plan to destroy the Glades
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