Undefeated.
Author's note: I'm finally back with the story people!
Lots of action in this one, and many of our fave characters making a significant impact! This took a lot of time to write and is truly a labor of love on my part. I live and breathe this story, it is making me feel giddy with pleasure when I do it, and challenge myself artistically.
It also has some heavy stuff so:
Warning: adult themes as in, child abuse, mentioned.
Without further ado, Dark Empres presents:
Undefeated, chapter 4: Warriors.
XxXxXxX
It was early hours of the morning as Oliver made his way into Malcolm's room. The tasks he and Emily had set for themselves the previous night had gone well. However, he needed to talk to the Dark Archer on a topic that weighed very much on his mind.
Thea.
He entered the room and found Malcolm already dressed in his slightly-worn League uniform, sharpening his scimitar.
"Good morning," Oliver said perfunctorily and somewhat shyly as he sat next to the man, knowing what he had been through.
"Good morning," Malcolm returned the greeting with a brief smile, then continued with his task.
"Quite a day ahead of us. You okay?" He still wasn't used to having these types of conversations with Malcolm, or in fact, with others as well. He preferred to get straight to the point, but that was not the case here.
"Just fighting on, I guess, as we all have to. Malcolm put the scimitar away and returned to sit on the bed, then looked at Oliver. "Are you? You seem preoccupied or worried by something."
"Yeah, I am worried. It's Thea," Oliver said in a subdued voice. "I'm afraid her bloodlust is returning. I've discussed it with Emily, others are also concerned. I know you're aware of the situation as well. She hasn't been quite herself for a long time, but it appears to be getting worse. I know she spent last night here, and she seemed okay afterwards but I have doubts and I need to-"
"She's not okay, Oliver." Malcolm sighed heavily. "She tried to kill me, spaced out in the bloodlust. You're right, it is slowly returning."
Oliver gasped in shock. "Oh. Wh-what happened exactly? Did she hurt you?"
"No, I managed to make her snap out of it, and she was very freaked out by the incident, but I calmed her down."
Oliver sighed with worry and guilt. "I probably should have seen it sooner. I mean, she was with me every day back in Stsr City… I was too preoccupied working as mayor or with other stuff, ignoring things that are the most important. And now…" He bowed his head in resignation.
"And now the last thing you should do is go on a guilt trip." Malcolm put his arm on the boy's shoulder briefly. "That's not what she needs. It will impact your focus, sap you of your strength. You spoke to Emily about the situation, so you know what needs to be done."
"Yeah, she told me about the research you did at Nanda Parbat. The way to Nanda Parbat is through Nyssa, and the way to Nyssa is through Talia and who knows what else." Oliver sighed, rose from the bed and stared at the wall in frustration. "Damn, perhaps you really were right on that roof in Starling when you called me well, basically stupid. Perhaps I should have taken your advice and then we wouldn't be facing all these horrible consequences. You'd have your hand and the League; Thea would have her soul intact."
"Oliver, you can't think in 'perhapses' and 'what would have beens'. We need to focus on what we can do NOW, gather our resources, and, well, just face what is coming our way to the best of our abilities. You made your mistakes, I made mine, we can't dwell on them. What do I need to do to snap you out of this funk?" Malcolm went up to him and grabbed his arms, but not too roughly.
"Perhaps you should just slap me." Oliver said in a weak voice.
Malcolm released him and shook his head in frustration. Adrian Chase had clearly done a number on the boy psychologically. "Oliver, this is getting ridiculous. You, and only you, can snap yourself out of this. We need you at your best."
"Are you at your best?" Oliver challenged.
"As best as I can be, under the circumstances," Malcolm said, his tone steady. "Just think of what is at stake here, Oliver. We can't allow ourselves to give in to our weaknesses. We need to strategize. We are about to go out into the complete unknown, and despite our past differences, we can become each other's strengths." He paused briefly. "I don't only mean me and you. Everyone involved in this has something they excel at, and everyone has a weakness, but perhaps we can help each other forge these weaknesses into additional strengths."
"You mean like my weakness is being stupid," Oliver said.
"Would you stop with that already? I might have implied something to that tune long ago, but we all sometimes say things in anger or frustration that we don't really mean. Just don't let a random, misguided comment of mine, taken out of the general context bring you down. Would you have made it after you were stranded here and then as a Vigilante in Starling if you were stupid? You're not. I made a quip, it got to you. I've had quips made about me that also got to me, but we can't let them rule us."
Oliver still looked unconvinced, uncertain of himself.
Malcolm sighed again and then just decided to go for the metaphorical big guns. "Okay, you feel you have failed in some way and it's weighing you down, but it has blinded you to the bigger picture." The Dark Archer looked at him earnestly then. "Have you forgotten how many lives you've saved, how many people you've inspired, how many enemies you conquered, and how many times you prevented an apocalypse from happening? If you have forgotten, then, well take a memory pill or something, because you HAVE conquered them, Oliver, and you can again."
Oliver couldn't help but be moved by what the other man said. He squeezed Malcolm's hand briefly in a mute gesture of gratitude.
"I- I know what you are saying but it's…" Something made him decide to be completely open then. "I just feel like I keep failing, and this burden is crushing me down sometimes. I've created these... personas of the Green Arrow or Oliver Queen the Mayor, and I know people look up to me, ask for solutions, but sometimes I...I just don't have them and that… petrifies me, because I know they depend on me. And... Just recetly, standing helpless on that boat as the island exploded, knowing everyone I care about was on it… It was like a-a worst nightmare I couldn't even imagine come to life." The boy's voice had grown hoarse, his expression haunted.
Malcolm looked at him with a gentle and steady gaze. "But you weren't completely helpless, though, were you?" He interjected. "You did rescue your son; you knew he was safe. And whatever you call yourself, whether it's a vigilante hiding behind a mask and a hood or a fake smile of a politician, the core remains. It can waver, by whatever reason; it shifts, adapts, reacts to circumstances, makes mistakes. But this core, however small it is, remains the same. How would I be able to stand here and still see that same kind, brazen little boy from years and years ago if it were otherwise?"
Oliver chuckled briefly then, perhaps only to hide how touched he was by what he heard. "You seem to be bent on giving me a pep-talk here, don't you?"
"And you seem to be in a sore need of one, Oliver."
The boy thought about it for a while and an avalanche of memories just collapsed on him, bringing on a sudden realisation. He struggled to process it and say something, not let the silence stretch for too long.
"I- I think I am, and um, well it worked and also…" The memory of Malcolm telling him a few years ago he had always thought of him as a son came back and he found he didn't mind it, that perhaps they could mend fences, that eventually he could forgive the Dark Archer someday.
He put his hand on Malcolm's prosthetic hand. "I'm sorry for that."
"Water under the bridge," Malcolm said, making light of the ordeal.
Oliver surprised him by holding on to the prosthesis, ever so gently.
"How does it work exactly?" He asked awkwardly. "I mean, if you don't mind telling me."
"No, it's allright." Malcolm withdrew his hand and removed his it was a prosthetic hand, which looked very lifelike.
Oliver gasped in surprise and Malcolm rushed to explain.
"It was just the cyberntic thing at first, but later on I had a surgery, when a real hand, created in a lab was attached. It needed time to acquaint itself with my DNA, connect to it, become... compatible. It is still weak, so I need the glove to protect it until it evolves to be like fully my hand, as strong as it formerly was."
Oliver took Malcolm's hand in his gently. He saw the nasty scar where the original limb had been separated. Otherwise, it appeared to be completely natural.
"Well, Damien Dahrk proved to be good for one thing, at least," Oliver said.
Malcolm chuckled. "Oh, he only provided me with the first prosthesis. The surgery was performed by a very good acquaintance of mine, a very forward thinking and talented doctor. But yes, the glove for protection was Damien's idea." Malcolm smiled.
"Well, Malcolm, I'm not sure how I feel about you seeming to continue feeling kind of warmish towards Damien Dahrk." Oliver said, with an edge to his voice.
"Oliver, I dont want you to get me wrong…" Malcolm started, slowly. "I realize you have every reason to hate him, but I have come to know him on a different level. He loved his daughter and was heartbroken when his wife died, so much so…. And I never revealed that to anyone, but I was the one who told him Ruve had died and that is when he decided life was just not worth living and well, decided to nuke the world.
"When Rebecca died, I felt similarly, about the Glades, not nuke the world extreme, but still… I understood him on some level and the sorrow he felt was real enough. Dangerous and unacceptable, but real."
Oliver chuckled bitterly then. "At least you didn't go the nuke way."
Malcolm laughed a little too. "But then again, I understand Damien's sentiment. Losing a person you have loved for so long, so much… It can make you do insane things. And whatever evil stuff he did, even before Ruve died, he still had this capability for love, so there it is." Malcolm shrugged, a little self-consciously.
Oliver looked at him, deciding to be open-minded. "It seems sort of like you became kind of… friends?"
Malcolm sighed. "Perhaps 'friends' would be saying too much, but I did understand him in a way. He had this dream and well, when I was working with him at Hive, it was not all bad."
Oliver nodded, a little doubtfully, but decided to indulge Malcolm, and felt quite a bit intrigued.
Malcolm continued. "His entire idea, from the get-go, was utopian. Using pills to make everyone obedient and happy, oblivious to life's problems. It can be tempting. Just get rid of the pain, the suffering...Which is not possible, but, there was a good sentiment behind what he did. Only he went so wrong about it, hurting Felicity, using the Idol to gain power... I dont even need to reiterate it to you. And I was no better, selling out William to him…" Malcolm's voice hitched a little with emotion.
"I'm sorry about this, Oliver."
"Well, perhaps, some day I might forgive you," Oliver said in a soft, yet firm voice. "Just keep being honest with me like you have been now."
"Always." Malcolm reassured him as he put his glove back on.
The Dark Archer was shocked when Oliver suddenly grabbed him into a tight embrace, like that of a son. He returned it immediately. The boy held on for a while and Malcolm felt his breath hitch slightly again. He was truly moved. The two men disentangled, then, each slightly self-conscious at their outburst of emotion. Malcolm patted Oliver on the back, his voice turning brisk, but still full of warmth. "So, everyone ready for our venture, I take it?"
"Yeah, I made sure they all know what to do and how to proceed. Sabrina, Emily, Felicity and I know our roles as regards to Thea and Nyssa. So now people are getting ready to move out, double checking their gear and so on"
Malcolm nodded. Then he noticed Oliver smiling mysteriously.
"Oliver? What are you smirking about?" He asked,
"Well, there's something, very important, but I will let Emily do the talking." Oliver moved to open the door and Emily entered, carrying a wrapped object.
XxXxXxXMalcolm looked at them in confusion as he opened the simple cardboard box and saw a bow, just like the one he used to have, just like Emily had.
Oliver had to smile at his shocked expression.
"Wh-?" Malcolm stuttered in growing surprise.
Emily just smiled at him. "It's one of mine. You know I keep numerous extras of the exact ones like yours and mine. I happened to have brought this one with me. Yours was destroyed in that explosion." Her gaze darkened for a moment, but she recovered fast. "We can't have the Dark Archer go without a bow and well, it was a team effort, really. Oliver, Sabrina, Tim and Kevin helped me with the whole idea." She grabbed the Green Arrow's arm and forced him to come closer, despite the fact he was blushing bright red. Then she indicated the small carving of a bow and arrow below the grip, just where the gash from an enemy sword from their mission in Thailand used to be on Malcolm's previous bow. "I wanted it here as a reminder that we can triumph despite all odds, and Oliver has helped me with the technical aspect of stuff."
Malcolm was a loss for words.
"Go on, see how it feels, " Emily encouraged.
Malcolm pulled it to it's full draw, his stance impeccable despite his previous injuries.
"Well, I never get tired of seeing that." Emily's words were muffled slightly as Malcolm suddenly turned and hugged her and Oliver. Seconds later Sabrina, Kevin and Tim filed into the room and he held them as well.
"Whoa, are we really doing a group hug?!" Sabrina exclaimed.
"Of course!" Kevin said and used his arm strength to pull them all together even closer.
Then they went out, leaving just Malcolm and Oliver in the room.
"I truly appreciate this, Oliver," Malcolm said, softly running his fingers over the bow and arrow carving on his new weapon. "Maybe it could symbolise a new chapter in our relationship, something free of pain and suffering, something built on trust and, well, support." A hopeful smile played at the corners of his mouth. "I'd truly like that, and... It is an honour to wield a weapon you helped create."
"Well, I didn't create it, I just perhaps enhanced it a little," Oliver replied, trying to sound dismissive of his own effort.
"You definitely adjusted the technicalities on it. Emily uses one like mine, but it's adjusted to her build. As is Sabrina's. I know they both know my preferences by heart. Kevin and Tim are not archers, so I bet you were the one who did the ultimate testing. I did pose as you that one time when facing Damien Dahrk, and all the settings of your bow fit me like a glove."
"Okay, yeah, Emily used the same argument when she got me to do that." Oliver capitulated.
Malcolm chuckled. "Besides, when I said 'create', I didn't mean you had to make it from scratch. I could have at some time replaced my old bow by ordering an impersonal one. This… this one will always have a special meaning, a meaning you and everyone else have given it."
Oliver nodded and smiled warmly, then his expression turned more serious. "You're sure you're okay to travel and fight? I mean, I know from my conversation with Kevin he secured the fracture in your thigh and that he is a top notch expert... I-I'm not asking this to question his skills, just to make sure you know that you can tell me if something seems off, and that I have your back as well as the others'."
"Of course, I will tell you, Oliver. and, well, I might not be my hundred percent, but Kevin truly has made sure I am as close to it as possible.
Now, you remember what I said about trusting in yourself, and if you need another pep-talk…"
"I know who to turn to. Oh, and your one hundred percent has always been sorta like a thousand, so ya just reassured me, here. Still, remember the offer."
"I will and oh, wait…" The Dark Archer cocked his brow slightly. "Did Malcolm Merlyn just receive a compliment from Oliver Queen? This is a day for the history books!" They both laughed companionably as they went out to join the others.
Malcolm and Oliver took their places at the front of the group, the rest of the people there either taken aback by their genuine and unexpected camaraderie or awed by the potential power of that duo working together.
Emily and Sabrina just exchanged knowing smiles.
"Okay people," Oliver called. "Let's get this party started." Everyone started moving.
XxXxXxX
A few hours into their trek, which for now, seemed to be going without incident, Emily fell back a few steps from her place in the group. She replaced Felicity by Thea's side as the hacker moved to walk with Sabrina.
"So," Emily begun, a little awkwardly. "Quite a bleak landscape here."
"Yeah," Thea confirmed in a bored tone. "But no need to walk on eggshells around me, as others have been. I know most of you know about my bloodlust returning but there's no use trying to avoid the harsh truth, or tiptoe around it. I'm a ticking timebomb, and frankly, I'm quite surprised I have my weapons. I might just go all freak and start shooting you. I tried to kill my father, as I'm sure you know."
Emily sighed. "Yes. I realize the Lotus potion hasn't worked the way everyone had hoped, and I won't pretend to know how you feel, or lie to you that we aren't looking out for signs of it returning." She put her hand on the girl's arm briefly. "But, Thea, that... doesn't mean you should be treated as an animal, restrained, left defenseless without weapons, or that each instance of you gettng angry should be treated as a sign of bloodlust," she said, in a calming tone. "We all get mad, and you saw my temper, how wild it can be, so let's not get panicky here, okay? We are being vigilant around you, keeping watch on you. We are also making our way to a solution that will help you. It won't be easy and it's not a sure thing, but it is a start."
"Well, your blunt honesty is refreshing." Thea admitted. "Just promise you will always tell it to me straight, Emily, no sugarcoating. Alert me to it before it gets out of control. I want to nip it in the bud, so to speak." Emily nodded and Thea continued. "Not that I mind the others' kindness about it. Sometimes it's just, you know, better to tear off the bandage. And my father, yesterday managed to find a balance between that, kind of the way you seem to be able to do. No wonder the two of you are in a relationship. Perhaps you taught him something?"
Emily laughed and shook her head self consciously. "If anything, he has taught me something."
"Come on, you're being too modest," Thea insisted.
"Okay, perhaps I brought something out in him, but it has always been there. "
They walked in silence for a while.
"It is nice you are calling him 'father' again." Emily said. "Trust me, it means the world to him."
Thea's gaze travlled to the front of the group, to Malcolm walking next to Oliver, the two of them chuckling about something companionably. She smiled briefly, then turned back to Emily.
"Perhaps I should have seen it earlier, or, I don't know… I mean, he took me in years ago when I had no one left, he risked his life for me... But then he did this thing with Sara, which turned out to be his twisted way of protecting us, then the stunt he pulled with Damien Dahrk, also to protect us... That made me think he only does it to protect himself, that he is a selfish bastard, but… he always returns for me, to rescue me, even when I don't want it…" She huffed a little in exasperation. "I mean, he doesn't have to, I have been a brat to him, and poured a world of hatred towards him… He has the means to just say 'oh the hell with supid ungrateful Thea' and move to some tropical country, which would have been easier for him, but he returns to help me."
Emily smiled softly at the girl. "Thea, I think doing that, leaving you, would be just the opposite of 'easier' for him. He truly does love you. You need to remember that. He is not your run of the mill sort of a father, but perhaps, he is better, the way he is? I have the luck of having an awesome dad, and well, he is not an assassin, but he is skilled with weapons all the same and I know he would do everything to protect me, be it kill someone or do whatever is necessary."
"So he is a little like my father?" Thea asked.
Emily smiled. "They are both warriors, in many meanings of the word. As all of us here are. Doesn't need to always be with weapons per se."
"Yeah, I get your meaning." Thea nodded. "And my father, he so often annoys the hell out of me, doing stuff that my entire being rebels against, and I realize his reasons for it...But then, just like he did when I stepped on that landmine, he revealed this absolutely wonderful side of himself, so absolutely pure, completely selfless and I-I know now I love him. He hit me then like when we trained, but it was… to save my life; I just… Damn it, I'm babbling, aren't I?" She sighed in exasperation.
Emily smiled calmly. "Well, I personally think that 'babbling' is the mind's way of making sense of things that confuse us."
"Oh yeah, 'confusing' should definitely be my father's middle name," Thea agreed. "I just… I wish I could make sense of it, of him, of me… Up until recently I kept telling myself I didn't care about that, I wanted to escape from it, but then, I realized I want to really know him, and the realisation came at the most inopportune of moments - right after that landmine exploded and I thought I'd lost him for good."
"Well, you haven't lost him, though," Emily remarked and Thea glanced at the woman, whose gaze was now focused on Malcolm, radiating with tenderness. "The wonderful maze of his soul is yours to explore, Thea."
"You really love him," the girl said softly, and Emily looked back at her.
"More than life itself," she confirmed in almost a whisper, her eyes tearing up a little at the memory of recent events. She blinked the tears away and continued, "Anyway, we aren't talking about me, we're talking about you and your father. If I may offer my advice on the subject of delving into that maze and your confusion… Just keep your mind open, don't withdraw, even if something weirds you out at first. You might not like what I say next, but I'm going to risk it all the same."
Emily swallowed and took a deep breath. "Perhaps, in order to make sense of you, you need to accept the part of you that comes from him, and there is a lot of him in you, I can see, just from what I was able to observe. The stubbornness, the courage, the capability for cruelty but also for unconditional love, among many other things."
Their pace slowed significantly and they were now near the rear end of the group's formation.
"The way I see it, we inherit certain traits from both the father and the mother, some that we desire, some that we'd rather forego. Then there is our own uniqueness and the way experiences of our lives shape us. And I've learned that if all we do is try to escape either one them, we end up making the very mistakes we wished to avoid in the first place."
"Then what's the solution?" Thea asked, genuinely intrigued.
"Well, in my book, embrace them, don't run. It does not mean surrender or war, just… sort of a middle ground. Once you familiarize yourself with them, you will be better able to make them your own, make… an informed decision. Instead of confusion, you will have...understanding. "
"You make it sound so easy," Thea said.
"Oh, trust me, Thea, it is anything but easy," Emily reasurred her.
"Well, then I'm at a disadvantage here, when it comes to making an 'informed decision' as you called it.," Thea sighed. "All the decisions I make could be skewed by the filter of the bloodlust. I've spent most of my adult life thinking my biological father is a monster because of what he did, but I am also potentially a monster, one that is like, tonnes worse? And I don't wanna be… I mean, you all have reasons to kill people, it is the trade or self-preservation... Me, with the bloodlust, I just do it for the thrill of the kill... when this… this other Thea takes over."
Emily struggled for words for a moment.
"I...I can't pretend to know what it's like, but you…" She stumbled a little, but then regained her momentum. "Well, there is also the Thea that doesn't want to kill mindlessly, so don't forget about her, or deprive her of her power by giving into your doubts. I'm not an expert on this, but what you are going through seems like a battle between different sides of yourself. The wonderful, albeit confused person you are and the 'monster' the bloodlust is trying to turn you into. So think of that better, open-minded Thea as one who has the support of all of us here. She has that advantage."
"Well my dad once sent a bunch of warriors for me to kill to quench the bloodlust for a while and then he seemed willing to let me die to keep his seat of power as the League's leader," Thea said in a somewhat disappointed tone.
"Well this you have wrong." Emily rushed to explain. "All this while, ever since he became Resh Al Ghul, he and I were searching for a way to rescue you in a manner that wouldn't be temporary, and we needed Nanda resources for that. We were on the trail of it, of a way for you to be free, like Sara is. We… there were few people we knew we could trust, and your father knew giving up his power to Nyssa would mean an end to that search. But don't blame her for that, she had her reasons, to do what she did and none of them were to hurt you. She couldn't be reasoned with, and I truly think she believed the Lotus potion would help you permanently. We knew better, that's why your father tried to fight it, but, what happened, happened, no use to rehash that. If nothing else, at least it bought you time. Now, don't for a second think that losing his hand is something Malcolm holds against you, or Oliver. I know he would happily go through that pain again to help you."
"I- I think I realize that now, but I… I just don't think I'm worth it." Thea bit her lip and looked away, an expression of self-hate painted on her face.
"You are, whatever doubt you face, know that it is worth all this sacrifice for him. Think of that love, think of all of us and let that be your strength," Emily said with kindness.
"So I guess now our best bet for me to go back to normal is Nyssa agreeing to help reopen Nanda and help us get the resources we need? You don't need to elaborate on it, I just gathered that from the general conversation."
"It is. And it does seem like a long shot, but we have quite a few aces up our sleeve. Trust that, and, most of all…" Emily just spontaneously hugged her. "Trust the better Thea. Trust the warrior inside you."
Thea hugged her back, feeling comforted and protected.
XxXxXxX
Oliver looked around the landscape, then at Malcolm, making sure the archer's injuries weren't bothering him. Kevin and Tim were circling the road around them, Sabrina kept her attention focused on William just in case, but the fact that the explosion had destroyed most of the forest made a sudden ambush almost impossible.
Still, it felt eerie.
Oliver strengthened the grip on his bow. "You know, I'd be much more at ease if we were inside some sort of armoured car right now, or at least had more manpower."
"I hear ya, but it it is what it is and, well, we need to make the best of it," Malcolm responded.
"At least we are clear on what to do and armed as well as we possibly can be," Oliver said.
They went to a clearing and then what remained of the temple where Oliver suspected Talia was hiding with her ninjas, where she was probably keeping Nyssa and Diggle.
They all nodded at each other, took their strategic positions and approached the compound.
There was a sudden whoosh of an arrow. Black clad men appeared, their bows and swords at the ready. Malcolm and Oliver moved into a position back to back, shooting at their opponents while keeping each other protected at the same time. The enemy didn't have much of a cover or a vantage point to shoot from, so soon it came to hand-to-hand combat.
Thea's bloodlust kicked in at just the right time. She attacked her opponents with precise and lethal viciousness. Sabrina and Emily used both their swords and their bows, just as Malcolm and Oliver did. Felicity and Curtis held their own with makeshift weapons that Tim and Bri had manufactured at the Chinese prison. Oliver flicked a glance towards William. He was shielded by Sabrina and Tim, although he seemed to hold his own as well, equipped with a small dagger, which he had a knack for using as a repelling tactic. Oliver's heart swelled with pride.
The fight did not go on for long. Soon the ninjas were all down, but still the group retained their positions.
Kevin and Tim reloaded their weapons, then moved to check on Felicity and Curtis.
Malcolm grabbed Oliver's arm and pulled him slightly to the side.
"What?" the boy asked.
"I think I know what's going on here." the Dark Archer said curtly. "There were just a few ninjas attacking us and Talia herself did not make an appearance. This makes me suspect she might have shot herself in the foot by going ahead with Chase's explosion, and now doesn't have a lot of numbers on her side."
Oliver nodded. It made perfect sense. "So, we storm the place like we agreed."
"Yeah." Malcolm nodded.
Oliver made the secret gesture they'd agreed upon to the rest of the group and they all entered the huge temple compound.
They made their way through the corridors and the chambers, unchallenged, aside from a few ninjas that they defeated without particular effort.
Then they entered a huge hall, lit up by torches on the walls and flames from embers burning in stone basins, illuminating the whole room with an eerie, uneasily flickering light. In the middle of it stood Talia Al Ghul, surrounded by her ninjas. "Welcome to my humble abode, ladies and gentlemen. I've been waiting for you," she said in a grandiose tone.
"Yeah, waiting and sitting on your ass. Sending missiles people's way cause, yeah, that is exactly what this island needs. Colour me impressed, Talia Al Ghul," Emily said in a not-too-shy whisper that carried across the hall and of course reached Talia's ears.
Malcolm and Oliver, as well as most of the group snorted at that remark under their breaths while Talia tried to keep an aloof expression and ignore it, even though some of her ninjas stifled a laugh.
"I think you have come here in concern for the life of your friends." She and her ninjas moved aside to reveal Diggle, bruised and chained, as well as Nyssa, who was almost unconscious, her face covered with bruises.
Both Oliver and Malcolm moved to run to them, but the ninjas around unsheathed their swords, ready for attack.
Talia made a swift movement that stayed her warriors. "No, let them, but only so they can learn a lesson. Let them see what happens to traitors and opponents of mine. What fate holds in store for my enemies."
The two men were allowed to make their way to the injured.
"Really, Talia? Really?" Malcolm exclaimed as he examined the all-too-clear marks of torture on Nyssa. "Is this what you choose to call and treat your own sister as? An enemy? A toy to indulge your own sick instincts upon?!" he exclaimed in pure indignation, then turned to Nyssa as she moaned in pain and he soothed her.
"Oh this is so touching," Talia exclaimed."The great Dark Archer, suddenly developing a conscience."
Oliver looked up from Diggle, who seemed less hurt than Nyssa and stared daggers at Talia.
"Not only a conscience but a goodness you'll never possess or understand!" Oliver shouted.
"Oh, yet another surprise," Talia drawled. "I sense a friendship between the Green Arrow and the Dark Archer has formed here. Well, colour me impressed. Now, boys. You've had your time with your pitiful excuses for friends there, and however touching it has been to observe, we need to resolve the situation." She looked around.
"We seem to be almost even in numbers, and although I rebelled against my father long ago, the organisation I established follows some of the same rules." Her tone turned brisk.
"In the League, we chose to solve our differences by a duel. The same rule is valid in my halls. The winner gets control of my forces, custody of my prisoners. Now, since these are my halls, I get to choose my opponent. And I choose him," she said as she indicated Malcolm. He was already standing, after having further comforted Nyssa a little.
"I accept the challenge," he announced as his allies gasped in shock.
Oliver quickly made his way towards him. "Malcolm, are you sure? You've been wounded so recently... She might have some other resources coming in, whoever knows, and there's our wounded friends to think about."
"Just trust me on this, Oliver. I know the stakes and what the situation is. Hold on to these for me, all right?" He handed Oliver his new bow and his quiver. Blades were clearly to be the weapons of choice here.
Kevin and Tim held a struggling Emily away as she tried to go and just challenge Talia herself.
"Okay," Oliver agreed reluctantly, then retreated as the ninjas moved to clear the area around the opponents. Emily managed to make her way to where the Vigilante now stood, foregoing her attempts to take up Talia's challenge herself, having understood it needed to be settled like this. Her position next to Oliver afforded her a better view of the duel. She grabbed his shoulder, and he squeezed her hand reassuringly.
The opponents drew their swords and circled each other.
"So, Malcolm Merlyn," Talia drawled. "You look a little worse for wear. How's that leg of yours?"
He realized then that she must have seen the brief wince he'd made as pain shot through his left thigh when he was standing up from tending to Nyssa. Kevin's ministrations held up though, and it was nothing but a minor annoyance.
"So is that why you chose me rather than someone else? Because you saw a potential vulnerability you think you could exploit?" he taunted in return.
"I might have chosen the boy. Or that girl beside him." She nodded towards William, who was now standing next to Felicity.
'
Emily heard Oliver growl under his breath at that remark.
Malcolm just arched his brow in a sarcastic manner. "Oh, so now I get it! You like the easy way out. Throwing in with Harkness and Chase for explosives, sending your ninjas to do your work for you, torturing your sister…"
"Only choosing to fight yourself when your back's against the wall and you want to preserve whatever last vestiges of respect your underlings have towards you." He chuckled, humourlessly, darkly. "And even then, you can't manage to hide your cowardice. Your every word betrays you, Talia," Malcolm remaked in disdain.
Oliver and Emily exchanged awed expressions.
"Perhaps you won't feel as humorous and talkative when I break each and every bone in your body and do the same to your friends," Talia retaliated.
"Well, I'm only talkative cause you're just standing there like a, well, admittedly pretty stick, spouting threats, after you challenged me to a duel." Malcolm smirked.
"So perhaps I had it wrong? Perhaps all this was supposed to be one of those stand up comedy shows instead of an actual duel? You're really getting me confused here." Malcolm shrugged in pretend innocence.
Most of the room exploded in chuckles.
Talia practically roared in rage and charged at him, but he was ready for her. In fact, he was counting on rage clouding her strategy as a warrior. He was not wrong. Although it did give her initial charge additional force of impact and he had to endure a powerful kick exactly to his wounded thigh.
It made him grunt in pain, but he recovered quickly. Kevin's ingenious support and precautions on that injury had paid off, so Malcolm jumped up after the blow. Physical pain was never something to slow him down.
He dodged, withdrew, observed a pattern in her fighting style. For now, she was so blind with fury, her movements were sloppy, which he used to his advantage, parrying them with ease, then returning them with interest. She had a few serious injuries of her own now, but the berserker inside kept her going. She was fixated on Malcolm's thigh and at some point, he had to go on the defensive to shield it, which made the legwork necessary for sword combat all the more difficult.
He heard most of the crowd exclaim in panic as Talia slammed him against one of the columns, a wild movement that made flecks of stone fall off the walls. Luckily, it knocked some wind out of her as well, and he hit her in the solar plexus.
"Really, people," he gasped to the crowd, regaining his balance. "I could seriously use some cheering instead of panic, so adjust your reactions."
Talia was still doubled over from his punch and Malcolm suddenly heard several cheers coming from the crowd, Emily's and Oliver's the most prominent.
Talia seemed ready for another attack so Malcolm decided a change in tactics was due. He caused a gasp of shock from the crowd, choosing to drop his sword, and use his Hop Gar hand-to-hand combat training. This unexpected change allowed him to confuse Talia, cause her own blade to go clattering to the ground. Aside from archery, Hop Gar was his favourite mode of fighting, one he'd constantly practiced. It enhanced his senses and allowed him to keep track of where their fallen blades were located.
Talia fought back with her League trained skills, but she was unfamiliar with his upgraded technique and hence, vulnerable. She was winded, growing increasingly tired and confused as he moved like water around her, without the use of any weapon, except for his own strength and stamina.
Oliver had to sigh in admiration as he watched. He had been on the other side of that type of fighting, suspected the level of skill it took and its power.
Suddenly, Malcolm performed a maneuver that caused Talia to lose her footing and he was on top of her, her own sword pressed against her throat.
She moaned from the shock of this, her head spinning.
"Yield," he growled.
"You have to kill me first," she spat, but her gaze was filled with panic.
Her ninjas made no move.
"Is that the rule of your organisation?" Malcolm demanded as he noticed it.
She remained mute.
Malcolm used his Hop Gar training again, pressing the most pain-prone area in the crook of her neck to force the answer out of her. She moaned at first.
"Listen, I don't want to kill you Talia, if I can avoid it, so tell me, is that the rule?"
"And what am I to expect, if I tell you the truth, whatever it is? My only options seem to be death or life in imprisonment," she gasped.
"That is still an option, though. If you don't give up, I will have to kill you. If you give up I can at least promise you this: you will never be treated as you have treated your sister. You can choose, Talia. You can choose to live and perhaps such a life seems bleak now, but it's still life. And you have several serious wounds," he said, his tone growing gentler. He removed the belt that had held some of her additional weapons, relieving the pressure it held on some of her bruises. "Your rage is subsiding so you're starting to feel the pain. We will treat those, not just toss you into a cell."
"What guarantees do I have of that?" Talia said, struggling not to let her voice turn into a whimper.
"The fact that I promise it to you right now, warrior to warrior. Or better yet, a person to a person."
Talia seemed at a loss for words, then thought for a while. Malcolm removed a shard of glass that had lodged itself in her arm. Relief came with that gesture and she noticed he was no longer holding the blade to her neck. He had quite a reputation of being cruel and unforgiving, but all his currrent actions proved otherwise. He could have crushed her and taken the spoils,tortured her or forgotten her, but even his fingers were removed from her neck now, his hands just holding her arms firmly but gently. It was more kindness any of the opponents she'd faced had showed her in a long time.
And Malcolm was right, her wounds were causing her increasing pain. There was one, one she had managed to keep hidden under her clothes, caused during the explosion, but she felt blood spilling from it. She showed it to Malcolm.
"Oh," he gasped. It was potentially very serious.
Talia knew it and grabbed Malcolm by the hand, suddenly overcome with emotion. "I don't want to die from this, and I will give up... I will, but only to you. I'm afraid your allies might come storming in if I just surrender now. I… Can barely move. I mean, I unofficially surrender to you now, but..."
Malcolm weighed his options, noticed she really was fading fast. He checked her pulse just to make sure she wasn't pretending, but it was thready and weak. "Tell me the name of one of your warriors, then make the official call, try to calm down and I promise I will help you," he ordered.
"It's Takeshi," she whispered. "I yield," she said a moment later in a hoarse voice and the ninjas raised their swords in salute to the new leader.
Malcolm and Oliver locked gazes and understood each other without words. No sudden movements of any kind, until Malcolm gave the signal.
"Takeshi! Approach," Malcolm said in a commanding tone after Talia's former minions sheathed their weapons.
"Yes, master."
"We have wounded people here that need tending to. I think some of the monks of this temple are also healers?" Takeshi nodded in confirmation.
"Very good. Make sure your former mistress's injuries are attended to, as well as those of the people she had you hold captive. Are there any others in the compound besides your team?"
"Yes, some... some refugees we took in after the explosions, some warriors."
Malcolm removed the man's mask from his face, noticed he was shaking with fear. "Takeshi. I'm not here to hurt you. I realize the entire situation has frightened you, but you need to get it together and understand I don't want to cause you harm, just to guide you. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
"Then introduce me to your friends so we can make sense of of this. I think all of your companions speak English?"
"Of course" Takeshi waved at his friends and they ran over, bowed, then stood at attention.
"At ease, and remove your masks. I'd like to know your faces." Malcolm said calmly.
The ninjas obliged and Takeshi introduced him to each one of them, but then returned to a woman named Yuki. He referred to her as his second in command. She was of slight build, but very lithe. She had an intelligent manner about her. Respectful, but self confident.
Malcolm smiled briefly at her and Takeshi, motioned for Oliver to approach.
"So, Yuki, here's what I need." His tone was brisk but gentle. "Bring the rest of your companions from the other areas of this place. We need to make a list of everyone here, myself and my friends included, just in case, so we're able to tend to each other's needs without it turning into chaos. "
He sighed briefly but managed to continue. "What happened on this island is a catastrophe and we aren't here to make it worse, we're here to make it better. Takeshi tells me all or most of you speak English, so feel free to talk to my friends. I would like for us to cooperate." He introduced Oliver to her. She nodded and walked off to perform her assigned tasks. Emily, Sabrina and everyone had also approached by then.
They started friendly but wary conversations with the ninjas. Sabrina hit it off right away with a young, sprightly Japanese girl who spoke English very well. Malcolm turned to Oliver. "I trust you are able to handle the situation here. I need to go and talk to Nyssa."
"Sure, just as we agreed. We'll meet up here in an hour or so."
XxXxXxX
Malcolm entered Nyssa's room in the medical wing after one of Takeshi's friends showed him the way there. She had already been connected to the IV and heart monitor. Her bruises were brutal, but he learned from the ninja on medical duty that no organs had been damaged. Still, she had endured major torture and trauma.
Malcolm decided to wait until she woke up on her own. He watched her as she slept, gently removed a stray strand of hair from her face. He had known her since she was a child. He hadn't forgotten that and realised he didn't want to. Too much of both their hope and innocence had been broken even before that first meeting, far too much after. He did not want their past enmity and the part she'd played in his downfall as Resh to define their future.
Minutes went by. Then, suddenly, Nyssa's eyes fluttered open and she looked up at him, made a broken chuckling sound. "Well, this is one surprising story, if I were to ever write a biography. Of all the people in the entire world, you came here to rescue me.
"And before you ask, I remember, back there in the hall, after Talia did what she did to me... Kept doing it… Even when I begged her to stop…" Tears started streaming down her face. She still seemed to be trapped in the nightmare her own sister had put her through. Malcolm wiped the tears away softly, shushed her a little and she continued after a while. "Then, there you were, not her, not one of her torturers, and... I remember your kindness and I remember…" She swallowed thickly. "I remember what you said. The way y-you defended me. And you, you had a duel with her, I remember that starting before I blacked out."
"I did," Malcolm confirmed. "I defeated her."
"Did you kill her?" Nyssa asked.
"No. She is in a guarded room, the medics tending to her wounds. Did you want me to kill her?" He queried.
"No." She said firmly. "I mean, we had a complicated relationship for most of our lives, but she is my sister…"
"I didn't want to kill her, " Malcolm admitted. "Her life was literally in my hands and I have taken so many already... I know in our line of work we take lives, but we also can spare some, so… Perhaps hers was worth sparing?"
Nyssa lifted herself in the bed and Malcolm handed her a glass of water. "Perhaps. And what made you rush to rescue mine? Aaaand let me guess before you answer that. The League."
"It's much more complicated than that, Nyssa, but yes, it does involve the League. Thea's bloodlust has returned."
"Oh," Nyssa said, taking a beat before the shock of that information allowed her to speak again. "I'm sorry, I really thought the Potion would help her." She had a haunted expression.
"It has, for a while, but now it is back and getting worse." Malcolm reiterated his need for access to the Nanda Parbat Library, his work with Emily on a permanent solution, the reasons why he knew the Lotus potion had not worked, the tricky way the information was scattered in all the books, reasons why he did not tell her about it at the time.
"So that's why you rescued me. After you help Thea, you are Resh again anyway. And what am I then? Just another minion?" She asked, unable to keep the desperation out of her voice.
"No, Nyssa, you misunderstand me. I won't lie to you, I intend to reinstate the League. But I didn't rescue you to use you as a tool." He paused, then turned to her with a soft expression. "Do you remember the time we first met, when you were a girl?"
"Of course." She nodded and Malcolm seemed to be strugling for words, his tone firm, but ever so gentle and… vulnerable.
"I rarely speak about it, but you didn't fully know the man I was then, before the training. I had just lost my wife, my entire world, and I was broken, unused to the ways your father had instilled in you from the start. I… I saw a girl, one that might as well have been my daughter, being drilled into a warrior, brutally, at such a young age. Then I was drilled into it the same way, or at least later, I realized it was a... version of this way…" He swallowed thickly.
"And I never asked you this, I don't not know when it started… when I met you, you already were very proficient."
"Al-Saher, I don't think I can answer that. To the best of my memory, it started years before we met. Fighting, violence, is all I knew from the get-go."
Malcolm nodded, saddened that she never got to have at least some form of a childhood. "These brutal lessons will always be a part of us, in different ways, but, your disbandment of the League... I know now it was caused by your hatred of your father's tyranny. It is a feeling I shared, what I was slowly trying to undo when I became Resh." His voice broke for a second.
"It couldn't be accomplished overnight, though. And I couldn't tell you what I was trying to do, given your enmity towards me. I know this enmity was caused by my own actions, misunderstandings, which I regret. But, Nyssa, it could be different now." Malcolm spoke a little faster now. "The League could help instead of hurt. It could be a force of positive change and you would be welcome to participate in that. Perhaps, paradoxically, what you did when you disbanded it, you provided that shock, a shock that could facilitate the change to make it something better than what it used to be. We would no longer need to be slaves to the parts of its history that I know you found obsolete. We'd still be warriors, killers if necessary, but there'd be place for reform."
Nyssa considered his words and they really resonated with her. "What if I refuse your request? Will you kill me then?"
He seemed positively petrified by the question. "Nyssa, I didn't come here with the intention to kill you or harm you!" Malcolm ran his hand through his hair in frustration, knowing he was about to admit a painfut truth. "Nyssa, I… I don't know how to say this, I have no idea… After my wife died, I just I had to leave Starling and I left my son alone, at a time when he needed me the most. I did it so that we could avoid such a tragedy as her murder from ever happening again . And then I came here and there was you, barely two years older than him, and you tell me his drill was happening for years earlier. I… perhaps I am not so much different than your father after all."
"How so?" Nyssa asked, her tone gentle in view of his distress.
"I wanted my children to be strong, both Tommy and Thea and the only way I knew was: introduce them to violence as early as possible… I wasn't the father that takes their dreams into consideration. I was the manipulative bastard who caused his beloved son to die because of my misguided quest for revenge, the dad that drugged his daughter so she would do what I wanted. You know all that, Nyssa!" Malcolm was shouting by then, barely able to stop himsel from crying, the guilt overwhelming him.
"Al-Saher, even with all that, you still are better than my father," Nyssa said calmly.
"What?" Malcolm looked up at her, shocked.
Nyssa swallowed thickly. "He murdered my mother," she deadpanned.
"Wh- What?" Malcolm stuttered.
"I saw it. I came to her chambers to say goodnight and there he was. He strangled her, his hands on her neck. I was four, I think," she said in a low, broken voice. "I've learned to deal with it since then, mostly. Talia doesn't know."
Malcolm was speechless for a while. "Oh, Nyssa…" he finally choked out. "y- you went through something like this all alone?!" he exclaimed.
"I had no choice. When he noticed me there, he said mommy just wasn't suited to our lifestyle and she had to go. That she wasn't obedient enough. He made me swear I wouldn't tell anything to my sister."
Malcolm just stared at her in shock.
"So, when it comes to bad fathers, mine just… how do you say it in English? Takes the cake? And that brings me to Thea, and what you have asked me with regards to the League."
Nyssa had weighed her options. She really liked Thea and hated the thought of her suffering. Malcolm's intentions seemed genuine. His pure, raw reaction to her ordeal when she was a child moved her. Then there was Sara, whose abandonment truly pained her and left her without a purpose in life. Perhaps rebuilding the League under Malcolm's leadership was the best option? He seemed like an improved version of himself. She made her decision then and smiled a little weakly, but it was still a smile. Both she and Malcolm realised she needed to focus on something other than her childhood trauma.
"I will help you restore the League. Or at least try to. It will involve reforging the Deamon's Head ring, and I know a lot of significant lore needed for that. Also, how to make the Lazarus Pit functional again; I might need to contact my allies from the League as well, find out if they want to come back. Provided you keep these glasses of water coming."
"Really?" Malcolm exclaimed in surprise, then almost laughed because he was pouring her another one already anyway.
"Really. Perhaps a new League is the right way to go. As long as you mean what you said and I can actually be a part of it, have a say in what it becomes from now on. I would be willing to accept your leadership, under the condition that the League wouldn't be what you very fittingly called it had been before, a tyranny."
"I do mean what I say and I know you have had a bad experience with me reneging on my promises. I don't deny that and am not proud of it. But, recent events have made me reconsider my previous convictions, do some soul searching, if you will," he said quietly, his gaze growing distant.
"Well, it almost sounds as if you had a near-death experience or something."
"Actually, I did, quite literally."
Nyssa shifted slightly in her bed as she took a sip of her water. "Oh?"
Malcolm decided that if they were to have a chance at an honest relationship, there was no need to keep the truth from her any longer, so he summarized the entire Thea-and-the-landmine scenario for her. She was bound to find out sooner or later anyway.
Nyssa remained quiet for a while, digesting the news. "Well, I wish I had a father who'd be willing to do that for me," she said finally. "All mine did was threaten me with death if I didn't marry the man he chose for me."
"Well, let's not be so pessimistic, at least he chose a decent boy."
"That he did. But wait, you say that about Oliver after, well…" She touched Malcolm's prosthetic hand. "After he did this? You two mended fences, or am I crazy?!"
"He did what he thought he had to do then, and there is no use holding grudges." Malcolm sighed. "So I think we're making progress. After years of useless strife, we might actually be mending fences. And while we're on that topic, you might, someday, also do the same with your sister."
"I very much doubt it. As you may have noticed, I haven't been very lucky with regard to family," she said, a tone of deep sadness entering her voice.
"Well, don't give up on her just yet," Malcolm advised. "I don't know the exact cause of the rift between you. Her torturing you certainly did not improve things, but, well, life can be full of surprises, ones of the positive kind." He smiled, remembering his newly developing bond with Thea. "Talia is your only family after all, and besides, there are other kinds of family." Malcolm paused. "I thought once that I was alone in this world and then I found friends, Emily amongst them, that, over the years, became my family. And since you have decided to join our, well, 'quest' to rebuild the League, you just might find there is a family to be had there. I could gradually introduce you to them, Emily in particular, to be sure," he offered.
"I don't think she'd like me, I saw her give me the Medusa glare at Nanda,shortly before the disbandment," Nyssa said in a bitter tone.
Malcolm laughed. "That's because she knew you hated me and she tends to be very protective. But she is also kind. Just give it a try, okay? You might find you have a lot in common, trust me on this."
"Alright. I admit I wouldn't mind a friend," Nyssa said, somewhat hesitantly. "And, coming back to the topic of the new League, we first need to find a way out of this wretched place. Something tells me the explosion on the island has deprived us of all modes of transport. Or do you have some sort of contingency plan for that?"
"Well, this is where your sister comes in. She must have had knowledge that Adrian Chase was going to blow up the Island or at least some suspicion."
Nyssa nodded in agreement as Malcolm continued, "I don't know her very well, but she doesn't seem like the suicidal type, even if he was, and she probably wasn't willing to go down with him. After our duel today, she had a choice to either die or yield to me and she chose life after all."
"She is the survivor type, so your theory is most likely right. However, how do we get this information out of her? She might not be cooperative."
"Well, after her defeat, her ninjas are under my command now, so they might know something. And if they don't, I will just have a conversation with her."
"You mean like torture her?"
"No, nothing as crude as that. After the explosion has left this place a wasteland, I don't imagine she'd want to rot away with us here. Like you said, she is a survivor and I promised her humane treatment if she yielded, a promise which I intend to keep," Malcolm said earnestly.
"Yes, this seems like a sensible tactic. But remember, she's a tricky one."
"I'm prepared for that. So, while I deal with it, you focus on getting better, alright? Emily might come by for a friendly chat later on."
"Alright." She nodded and threw him a brief smile at the way he stressed the word 'friendly'.
XxXxXxX
Malcolm met up with his friends in the main hall. Oliver apprised him of the situation there and then the group broke into a round of applause as Malcolm told them Nyssa agreed to help reinstate the League and that there might be a potential way off the Island in the works. He told Emily he promised Nyssa she'd visit her. She smiled. Paradoxically, she was looking forward to that encounter, on a quite innocent level.
Malcolm pulled Oliver to the side and summarised his conversation with Nyssa. The boy nodded. Then Malcolm tured to Takeshi and Yuki, asked them if they had a way to escape the island and how the entire dynamic between Talia and Chase had played out. Yuki said that for all she knew, Talia considered Adrian a very unpredictable person and did not trust him. There was a huge ship she had, but she didn't reveal its location to anyone, the explosion came without warning and Talia was very angered by that.
This information was sufficient enough for Malcolm to make his decision."I will talk to Talia," he whispered to Oliver and the boy just squeezed his arm in a mute wish of good luck.
XxXxXxX
Talia's room
Malcolm approached Talia's bed slowly, cautiously. His mind had ran through several scenarios this conversation might go on his way there.
She seemed to be dozing comfortably, but lightly, because she woke up shortly after he entered the room. One of Talia's medical staff informed him her most serious wound was not from their duel, but the one caused by the explosion.
"Hello, Talia. How are you feeling?" he asked in a quiet, neutral tone.
"Well, Malcolm, you seem to be fulfilling that promise you made me after our duel. I wasn't tossed into a cell, but are these really necessary?" She indicated the reinforced handcuffs that kept her right hand restrained.
Malcolm sat in a chair next to the bed. "As you well know, we have been on opposite sides recently, and to be frank, I'm not exactly sure what to expect from you. I barely even know you." His voice was level, yet firm. "I cannot risk you hurting someone that I care about, so I need to take these precautions. You haven't been mistreated though, have you?" He asked perfunctorily. "And you knew when you agreed to this arrangement there would be some form of restraint you'd need to put up with."
She nodded. "Well, that's fair enough. At least you're consistent. And keeping me comfortable. But I also know the reason why you're here is not just pure concern for my well-being. There is something you want from me."
"True," Malcolm admitted, again choosing frankness as the best of tactics. "However, I think it is something you also want. To get away from this Island. And from what your ninja friends tell me, you have a way to do just that. One you kept hidden from them, from Adrian Chase. I was informed it's a ship. Like I said, I don't know you well enough, and what made you go into an alliance with him, but I know you did not sign up for what happened here and the situation it put you in. Unless, maybe you were…. in love with him?"
Talia snorted with laughter. "In love with Chase, oh that's rich!" She recovered from her outburst then and spoke more cautiously. "My reasons for allying with him I will keep to myself, but you are right. I do have a ship, a way to escape this island. The question is, what do I get in return for revealing its location to you?"
Malcolm was prepared to answer that question. "You get to live, for one, he said. "It's not blackmail, just plain logic. You must realise the provisions here are not plentiful and the land is too destroyed to live off. We have two weeks, tops, and I will NOT kill people to decrease our numbers just to make sure there're fewer mouths to feed, in case that option crossed your mind. It's something I once saw in a documentary; it just made me sick." His tone turned steely firm when he said that. "And even if you tricked your way around me and killed them off, nothing would replenish the medical supplies, the very ones that are keeping you alive, staving off the pain of your wounds. Guess what happens to people in situations like these. The weakest ones are the first to go. You're not exactly the strong one now, are you?"
Talia tried not to show it, but what he said made her almost quake with fear. She tried to pretend to be brave, though. "So what, you're trying to scare me into compliance by describing to me scenarios from zombie movies?!"
"They're not scenarios, they are what happened for real and what would be bound to happen here." His tone turned insistent. "It's reality, stripped from its adornments, ones we put on it so easily, when we are cocooned in even relative safety, safety that can be torn away very easily, by the most basic human urges of pain, hunger, disease, loneliness, you name it. Survival instinct, Talia. It has its pretty and ugly face."
She remained silent for a while, but he sensed she was unnerved. "So, if I give you the location of my vessel, what guarantees do I have you won't just leave me here to face the fate you just so vividly described?"
Malcolm sighed in exasperation. "The promise I made you after our duel still stands, and I do really hate to have to repeat myself. When you reveal the location to me, you will be the first one to arrive there, escorted by my most trusted warriors. I guess there is a medbay on your ship? Your treatment will continue there."
"There is, but how do I know you won't just throw me overboard there once I get you to the vessel?"
Malcolm just shook his head in complete frustration. "I don't know what sort of people you have been associating with in your life to make you this paranoid, but it's getting really ridiculous! You either get us to that ship, then we get to Nanda Parbat, where, no, I won't throw you into some sort of dungeon. Or, we all stay here and reenact that zombie apocalypse movie! It's that simple!" He had lost his temper and shouted.
"Alright alright I agree, I-I'll do what you want. Just don't hurt me! I will help you, just don't hurt me!" She seemed petrified by this outburst and he laid a hand on her arm to reassure her.
"I won't." His tone was calm again. "Just breathe. Your wounds are already being tended to. You're safe."
She took a few deep breaths, then looked at him with a determined gaze. "Ok, you said you didn't know me. Well, here is a piece of information about me. When I get scared or stressed, I need to get busy, so get me a piece of paper a-and I will draw you a map and blueprints of the ship, I'm good with that stuff, just give me something to focus on, alright? Or otherwise I might freak out."
"Of course," Malcolm stood up, took a few pieces of paper from a table and handed it to Talia. She started sketching frantically.
"You really are very skilled at that," he commented in a gentle tone.
"Um, I- I always liked arts," she admitted, still sketching madly.
"So this is the outline of our way to the ship from here to the shore where it's berthed. It's quite huge and has a landing pad with a jet on it. I put it in this bay so that Chase couldn't trace it and rig it or the area around it. He was always quite obsessed with Oliver, so he focused on the parts of the island he knew he had visited the most. This wasn't one of those, that's why I chose it."
She grabbed another piece of paper and started sketching again.
"These are the blueprints of the vessel, the areas of the utmost importance, at least. I think I didn't forget anything essential. Oh, I call it the 'Black Swan'." She spoke all of it almost in one breath and her heart monitor's speed had increased significantly. "Um, just don't leave me here, okay?"
"Calm down Talia, really, no one's leaving you." Malcolm motioned for a medic and ordered him to administer a mild sedative. She nodded as she swallowed thickly, her hands shaking a little, one palm squeezing the pencil so hard her knuckles went white. Malcolm was quite shocked with the amount of fear and shock he could instill in people, even warriors like Talia.
"You're safe and you're healing, gradually," he said in the mildest tone possible. "I'll sit with you here for a while, alright?"
She nodded and lay back, slowly calming down as the sedative took its effect.
XxXxXxX
Nyssa was awake when Emily entered her room, perusing some old newspapers, probably more out of boredom than anything else. There were bruises on her face and her hands, but she seemed to be improving.
"Hi," Emily said gently in greeting. "We've never been formally introduced. I'm Emily Carson, Malcolm's friend." She reached out a hand.
Nyssa put away her newspapers and actually shook it. "Nyssa Al Ghul. You already know that, but since you insist on formality. Have a seat." She indicated a chair next to her bed.
Emily obliged. "Um, not formality, just, well, when we first met... You and Malcolm, and everyone that cooperated with him weren't on the best of terms, to put it mildly… From what he told me, we all agree we want to change that, so I thought it best to have some sort of you know, an official fresh start."
Nyssa nodded and regarded her calmly. She had to admit she liked the girl. She had an air of kindness about her despite the fact that she had the posture and confidence of a true, potentially very lethal warrior. She was maybe two years younger than Nyssa and quite frankly, she intrigued her.
Emily told a medic in attendance to bring them some Chinese tea, then handed Nyssa a cup, smiling a little shyly. "Well um, one can't really have alcohol in the weakened state you're in, but I thought a toast was in order, and someone who knows you since childhood told me you like this particular brew… So, I thought we could celebrate this fresh start with a makeshift toast. Healthier than a drink, I guess."
Nyssa had to smile at this. It was genuine and unassuming. "Sure, why not? To a fresh start," she said.
"To a fresh start," Emily echoed and they clinked their cups.
"So, the medics say you're improving?" Emily asked as they both sipped the tea.
"I am feeling better," Nyssa confirmed.
"And um, I would hate to sound presumptuous, I'm sorry it was your sister who did this to you." She frowned at Nyssa's wounds. "Oh, perhaps that was too forward of me," she said, suddenly flustered.
"No," Nyssa reassured her. "I don't mind. My sister and I have been estranged for years and, well, we all weren't exactly a model family before that. My father and mother had a complicated relationship and she died very early, in circumstances that traumatised me… I told Al-Saher about it earlier on, so perhaps he can tell you, I… don't feel like discussing it again just now."
"He mentioned what happened." Emily sighed. "And of course I understand that you don't want to talk about it. But if or whenr you feel like it, let me know. That is what friends are for."
"Thank you, I shall,." Nyssa said and smiled gently. "So, back to me and Talia. She decided to leave after a falling out with Father. I'm not sure I made the best choice by staying as long as I have, given what he had done."
She looked away for a second, then continued in a different tone. "But tell me something about yourself. I do not know anything about you, and since we are to be friends…"
"Oh well, umm, where to start?" Emily replied, a little bit flustered. "I'm an only child. My mother died some years ago, but my dad and uncle are really awesome. I have two cousins, whom I thought could potentially be like sisters, but then, well, we had a falling out and now barely have any contact. No contact, really. And.. it pains me because I had high hopes about my relationship with them. They sort of... Abandoned me, and my dad, for no reason." Emily exhaled deeply, trying to remain strong.
Nyssa noticed her struggle and changed the subject slightly. "What made you decide to become a warrior?"
"I never expected to become one, really. It's complicated," Emily admitted. "I was at a difficult point in my life, twenty sevenish, I think, and I always had this urge for the martial arts, dabbled in it since I was a teenager. I got tired of being put down and channeled it into this. I wasn't made for office life and the likes. Took me a while to find my path, I was kinda lacking at sports as a child. I didn't grow up in the same environment as you, so it was quite an adjustment when I'd introduced myself to it. So at the age of ten you'd probably have kicked my ass. I was considered a bookworm by my peers, really."
"Well you might still be that, given your library work with Malcolm, but one does not exclude the other. And, once I get better, we might have a practice session together, when we make it back to Nanda Parbat.'
"I'd like that."
"You have received training from Al-Saher, have you not?"
"Yeah. I first trained at a Japanese martial arts school, but after he hired me, he showed me the techniques he uses."
Nyssa nodded. "And you referred to yourself as Malcolm's friend, but you're not just friends, are you?"
Emily nodded. "We are everything to each other. What gave me away?"
"Aside from how you were around each other even then at Nanda, before the disbandment, the way he spoke of you, the way you look at each other, the way your entire face lights up even during this conversation, whenever you or I even mention his name?" Nyssa asked.
"So it's that obvious?" Emily blushed.
"It's beautiful and pure." Nyssa's gaze grew distant for a while as she thought of Sara. "Rare, precious." Nyssa smiled then and took a breath. "You know, before that duel Malcolm had with Talia, before I blacked out, I saw you, I saw how you struggled to take his place, and it spoke volumes, Emily. About your love for him; also about the kind of person you are. And that is a person whose friendship I would very much like to have."
"Then it is yours, Nyssa." Emily grasped her hand in a firm handshake, then surprised her by hugging her gently. "Yeah, there's one thing you should know about me, I'm a hugger."
Nyssa just laughed and hugged her back. It was refreshing.
The door opened suddenly and there was a slight gasp, followed by a soft knock, a harrumph of surprise then another awkward harrumph.
Emily and Nyssa just looked at the intruder, still locked in what looked like an awkward embrace. "Yes Oliver?" Emily plopped down on the bed next to Nyssa, hugging her closer.
"Um, I hate to interrupt whatever, um this is, but, I have news both of you will like to hear. Malcolm managed to convince Talia to show us the way to the ship that will get us to Nanda Parbat. Further details are to follow, I just thought you might wanna know."
He quickly ducked back out. Emily and Nyssa looked at each other and just broke into chuckles.
"Well, Nyssa…" Emily said, still chuckling a little. "According to League law Oliver is or was your husband, so did he just went out of here thinking you were about to cheat on him? With me?"
Nyssa broke into very spontaneous laughter, holding onto Emily's arm for support, then raised her head and looked at the girl. "Hmmmh, well, if I didn't know you were into men and spoken for, I might have risked my chances by trying to seduce you. You're very pretty, you know?"
Emily smiled. "I tend to be self confident about my looks.. But…" she brushed Nyssa's hair away from her face. "You are absolutely beautiful, Nyssa. Gives me girly-jealousy beauty feelings."
Nyssa was moved by Emily's shameless, innocent honesty.
"You are very beautiful too. And I am excited about having a friend like you. Meant in a non-sexual way, of course."
"Well, I think Oliver here got a slightly different idea." Emily quipped.
They both burst into laughter again.
XxXxXxX
Oliver made his way to the main room, where Malcolm was discussing logistics for the trek to Talia's ship with Yuki and some other warriors. He put his hand on the other man's shoulder and pulled him aside, "I need to speak to you, urgently."
"What is it, Oliver?" Malcolm asked with concern. "Has Nyssa's condition gotten worse?"
"No I don't think so, but, um, uh, I, well," Oliver stammered and blushed. "She and Emily, they were sorta in bed together and you know, like hugging. I mean, they were dressed and all, but…" His tone turned really conspiratorial. "Well, we know Nyssa likes women and Emily acted all gleeful about it so um, well you might wanna, um talk to them or something, since you and Emily are like, an item." He bit his lip in embarassment at sounding so awkward.
It was Malcolm's turn to drag Oliver into a very private corridor, then he surprised the boy by leaning against the wall and almost doubling over with laughter. Oliver just stood there flabbergasted.
"Well, what?! I mean, what's so funny? Shouldn't you be concerned?!"
Malcolm continued laughing because he had realised immediately what it was all about. "J-Just hang on a second, alright? I-I'll explain everything."
"Well yeah, I think you should," Oliver said with a tone of indignation.
Malcolm managed to control his giggles and put a hand on the boy's arm.
"Listen. As you heard earlier, I asked Emily to go talk to Nyssa to mend fences, given the previous differences they've had. After I managed to convince Nyssa to reinstate the League, of course. But, what you might not have noticed about Emily yet, she is a hugger and a very spontaneous one. If you ever have a heart to heart conversation with her, you'll realise that, if you haven't already, after the whole group hug situation we had when you all presented me with my new bow, and your own hugging spontaneity towards me before that." Malcolm chuckled again, softly this time.
"So, while I am touched by your concern about my relationship with her, I think we're safe in that regard. And also what you should know, Emily likes to pull pranks on people. So, when you went in on them like that, she realised what your first thought must be and played into that, just for kicks. So there."
Oliver sighed. "Ok, now I feel like such an idiot. Wait, no, it actually is funny. I mean, what if Emily had come in when you and I had that hug moment and thought something was going on between us? And anyway, what's up with all the hugs recently? Perhaps we should rename the island 'Hug Yu'?"
Both Malcolm and he snorted with laughter simultaneously.
"Better hugs than landmines and explosions," Malcolm said and they both continued giggling at that, then Malcolm suddenly grew sombre. "Oh, this might have been in bad taste on my part, given what happened to Samantha. Oliver, is there no chance of her having survived?" he queried.
"Not from what I heard from Thea and the rest that made it to the ARGUS bunker. And even if she did survive, by now, it would probably be too late with all her injuries, and the explosion, the time that elapsed…" Oliver shook his head.
"What if it isn't too late, though?" the Dark Archer said, then beckoned Emily and the rest to join them. Diggle limped closer as well.
"Wait, are you suggesting we what, trek back to the bunker based on the very slim chance that Samantha may somehow have made it?" Oliver exclaimed in shock and some of the rest made similar sounds.
"This is precisely what I'm suggesting." Malcolm held up his hand to stifle further protests. "I know it might seem like a fool's errand, but we aren't moving from here until Talia and Nyssa have recovered enough anyway, so that gives us time to make it there and back, Oliver." He paused for a second. "And speaking of slim chances, I wouldn't be here right now if Emily, Sabrina, Kevin and Timothy hadn't taken those slim chances and rescued me after the landmine. Besides, it is a risk worth taking, for, well... for William." He did not admit it out loud, but the fact that he once handed over the boy to Damien Dahrk made him feel guilty. This could be a way to make things right.
There was a long silence.
"I agree with Malcolm," came Diggle's voice. "I mean, it is what I'd do for my baby boy, anytime. Just go with it, man, no harm in trying," he encouraged Oliver.
Malcolm almost withdrew with shock. It was the first time John Diggle had called him by his first name, let alone agreed with him.
Everyone was suddenly looking at Malcolm expectantly, though, and Sabrina helped him by posing a question, her familiar friendly voice making things easier. "What's the strategy then, boss?"
"Well, I think Oliver and I should take some of the ninja warriors with us as additional support, while you and Emily stay on in charge of the rest of Talia's former crew, make sure everything runs smoothly, including Talia and Nyssa's recovery."
Then he had to address Diggle, but he wasn't sure how. He remembered the time when he was training Thea and Oliver at the Arrowcave two years earlier and the man had told him he shouldn't address him at all. He decided to risk it anyway. "John, I'm not certain what the extent of your injuries is, but it would be helpful to have another skilled, trusted fighter keeping our friends here safe."
"I'm capable of that, sure." The soldier nodded briskly.
"Alright."
It went smoothly from then on. Malcolm gave instructions to everyone else, then started making preparations for the trek.
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Oliver, all prepared, but also looking concerned. "Malcolm, are you sure you are able to do this? I mean your leg, I know it's fractured."
"Fractured, not broken, Oliver, and reinforced with Kevin's help. I might need to rest it during the trek, but it shouldn't be much of a problem."
"Ok, just… let me know when you need that, okay?"
"Of course," Malcolm said, touched by the boy's concern.
They were met at the exit by Emily and Felicity. The hacker gave a good luck kiss to Oliver while Emily did the same with Malcolm. Then they were on their way.
The ninjas they decided would accompany them had the backpacks with most of the provisions and folded tents. The trek to the bunker would take about two days there and back, so they'd have to spend the night somewhere, given that the woods were almost non-existent due to Chase's explosion.
Malcolm and Oliver walked rapidly in front of the warriors, focused on the road, bows at the ready. They didn't really expect any resistance, but one could never be too careful. Oliver was well aware how many unexpected traps this island could hold. He noticed Malcolm limped slightly for a few moments in rougher terrain. He seemed to have fought his way through it, though, so they went on. Oliver knew that as a newly-minted leader of Talia's ninjas, the Dark Archer could not allow himself to show any weakness, especially since she and her entire organisation were still quite a mystery.
They trekked on for some while longer, until they noticed evening was approaching. Malcolm halted the company then and ordered them to set up the tents. Oliver agreed with the idea. He observed the ninjas warily, watching their every move.
XxXxXxX
The tents were put up, provisions properly distributed. Malcolm and Oliver would stay in one tent, their ninja servants in the other. The weather was getting quite icky. It started to rain.
Oliver approached Malcolm as he plopped down on one of the sleeping bags they'd arranged inside the tent.
"So," he said, handing him a can of red beans. "These new minions you acquired, do you trust them?"
Oliver sat down next to Malcolm, digging into his own makeshift meal.
"To be quite honest, I'm not sure what to make of them... I mean, you probably noticed, they are all very young. I remember Talia decided to leave the League because of some sort of a major quarrel with Ra's. And you know what his politics were; he tended to train his warriors from a very young age. Children, really. When I met Nyssa, she was already well into her training and she was ten years old at most. So, despite their falling out, Talia seems to be following in his footsteps. Training them young, at their most vulnerable age, perfect age for indoctrination."
"Your questioning of her, didn't it reveal anything about that?" Oliver asked putting away their cans, making himself comfortable next to Malcolm, rearranging his own sleeping bag slightly.
Malcolm shook his head. "No, and she was very adamant she wouldn't reveal the reason for her cooperation with Chase, which I think is what you'd most like to know."
Oliver nodded in confirmation and the Dark Archer continued. "It really baffles me… She definitely wasn't in love with him and I cannot fathom another reason. She is intelligent enough to have realised she couldn't trust him. It's both what her and her ninjas confirmed. Was he blackmailing her in some way, or…" He suspended his voice for a moment. "Oliver, I don't think you did something to aggravate her? Gave her a reason to go against you? Because Chase had a reason: vengeance, but her? I mean, you have a history with her which I don't know about, so I need to ask." Malcolm queried.
Oliver shook his head. "No, when I met her I didn't even know her true identity or what it meant. We went on some missions together, she challenged me to use my skills, but, no. I didn't jilt her in the romantic way or anger her during a mission. That's why I was so surprised when she acted like this."
"Alright, I guess we will figure it out later, after we rescue Samantha."
Oliver smiled at him then.
"What, have I said something funny?" Malcolm asked.
"No, it's just the certainty with which you referred to it, rescuing Samantha. It's not funny, it's just... inspiring." Oliver snuggled into his sleeping bag.
"Well I'm glad it is; we need that," Malcolm patted him on the shoulder, then snuggled into his own bedspread, letting the rain lull him into sleep.
XxXxXxX
Talia heard soft footsteps approaching her bed, thinking it was a medic. She opened her eyes slowly but noticed it wasn't a medic at all. Still, she stretched and gave herself time to sit up in the bed.
Then she looked up at Emily, who'd sat down in a chair next to it, a neutral expression on her face.
"Hi, Talia, I'm Emily."
"Hi, Emily. What brings you here?" Talia asked somewhat groggily.
"You recognize me from before?"
"Hard to forget someone who tried to duel me so badly they needed to be restrained," Talia said, referring to the situation in the hall. "And sorry to disappoint, but I'm not exactly in a condition to indulge that need of yours."
"I'm not here to challenge you to a duel, Talia. Well, not at the moment." Emily's tone was still gentle but it carried a threat with it.
"What then, milk me for information?"
"Milk you?" Emily chuckled. "Did you suddenly become a cow?"
Talia had to laugh at that. "You definitely have a sense of humor! A sassy one too!"
Emily smirked. "Well, thanks for the compliment, I guess. You are right though, I need some information, as long as you're not about to go all 'mooooo' on me."
That sent Talia into a set of giggles, then she turned serious.
"What information do you need?"
"Malcolm told me you weren't exactly forthcoming about what made you throw in with Adrian Chase. And since you said you would get us to the ship, I cannot have you be secretive about something like this. There are lives at stake, including yours."
Talia thought for a while, then her emotions just took the better of her. "Chase lied to me, alright?! He said he would help me expand my organisation, even more, bring it to levels I would be astounded by." She paused briefly. "He had this vendetta against Oliver and I didn't really give a damn one way or the other, so I agreed to help Chase. And because of that…" She started coughing, her heart monitor beeping a little faster, but she struggled on to speak. "Now, added to the fact that I got fooled by a maniac, what lies in my future? Humiliation, imprisonment."
Emily moved to sit on the bed then, helped Talia into a more comfortable position. She didn't like the woman, but she couldn't disregard her predicament. She hadn't expected to see a warrior of her caliber this broken and tired. Her every instinct screamed for her to help.
"Talia, no one will humiliate you. Yes, you will be restrained, but like Malcolm said, you will also be treated with kindness . Just... allow yourself to be helped."
"Alright." Talia leaned into her bed as Emily moved to exit the room.
"He raped me." Talia's suddenly flat, quiet voice stopped her.
Emily turned with surprise. "What? Malcolm?! Rape anyone? NEVER!"
"No, not your precious Malcolm, I know he would never do that. I mean my father!" Her voice was haunted, angry.
Emily returned to her seat by Talia's bedside as the woman started to speak rapidly, her tone suddenly very vulnerable.
"You wanted the whole truth, now you have it! He did it repeatedly, while I was a child. Not to Nyssa though, she was his golden child, although he never intended for either one of us to inherit his throne. But he said I had a special purpose. Every night when he came to my bed, he'd tell me it was my duty and that it should always remain our secret. He trained me, but after the training he'd instruct me on what to wear, what scents to use to arouse him." All of Talia's reservations seemed to break loose then.
"He'd have these demands, ones I didn't even know the meaning of at the time and he'd hit me if I didn't perform, told me that the hitting was helping me to learn, and he hit me in places no one else could notice, or ones that would pass for just usual League bruises."
Emily almost retched at the very idea of it, but managed to control herself.
"He didn't only do it to me. After I grew up, he had others. Oh, he liked little girls, liked to brag about them to me." She laughed bitterly. "Then, when I was older, strong enough, well, I just escaped. I know he never did anything to Nyssa, though. Perhaps that is why I had this rift with her. Because she didn't have to suffer through it. I didn't think she would believe me if i told her he was capable of THAT. And I am not telling you this cause I need pity. I don't know what I need." The last sentence was said in barely a whisper.
Emily couldn't help but reach out a hand and just brush it against Talia's arm softly, then squeeze it tightly. She struggled for words. "I cannot imagine what you've been through. What I know is it must have been monstrous and difficult to share with anyone."
"It shows you, though, why I would have an issue with men in power, like Malcolm."
"He'd never do that to anyone!" Emily assured her, vehemently. "That is something I would bet a thousand of lifetimes on."
"Relax, I wasn't suggesting he would. I mean we fought and he hurt me, but it was a warriors' fight, not a pervert's fantasy, and trust me, I can tell the difference."
"Alright." Emily calmed down as her anger was quenched by a feeling of compassion for what Talia had been through. "If I might suggest something, though. Tell your sister about what your father did."
"After what I did to her? You're joking," Talia balked.
"No, that's precisely why you SHOULD tell her. Because as you said, this is the reason you hurt her. You were abused, daily, while it seemed as if she was the princess, the protected one. But you know now she wasn't, really. He hurt her too, in a different way," Emily said, understanding this difficult predicament. " And you were children, so yeah, perhaps then she wouldn't understand what it all meant. You're both adults now. Do you know your father threatened her with death if she didn't agree to marry Oliver?" Talia shook her head and Emily continued. "After years of thinking that she was heir to the throne, he just reduced her to a, well, a thing." Emily couldn't keep the frustration out of her voice. "She spent her life loving the man, gradually becoming aware of some of his faults, loving him despite them, but increasingly disillusioned, until she just couldn't take it anymore. That's why she disbanded the League. Even though it had a different leader after Oliver killed your father, she still saw it as an extension of your his tyranny. Malcolm wanted to lead it in a different way, but, well, things happened and we didn't get a chance to."
"You said say 'we'? So Malcolm was ready to treat you as his equal? Co-rule the League with him. As emperor and empress?" She scoffed slightly.
Emily refused to let the woman taunt her. "Don't mock, Talia. I realise the horror your father put you through made you wary of men in general, but not all of them are like that. Malcolm is definitely not. He is an assassin as am I. As most of the people in this compound are, really, but, he is no pervert, he is not evil."
Talia was silent for a while, remembering Malcolm's kindness towards her, but she was still doubtful. She decided to ask a question that bothered her.
"Are you sure you can trust him, Emily? What is the story between you two anyway? Come on, you came to me for information, so share some with me as well?"
Emily hesitated, but then decided to indulge Talia. "Well, first of all, I am completely sure I can trust him. We met over a decade ago. I am a mercenary by trade. At first, he was just my employer, but we developed a trust, became friends and then the relationship evolved. I have seen him at his worst and at his best, and trust me when I tell you this: his best far outweighs the worst. Despite the 'profession' he chose, he has a strong moral core. There are things he would never stoop to, under any circumstances and that is why I. ..fell in love with him."
Emily paused for a second. "But to returncome back to your question as to what the League would look like when restored. It needs a stong leader, but the way Malcolm and I wanted to run it would not be a tyrrany. It would be an organisation in which everyone's voice would be heard. We'd get rid of the traditions that are obsolete, keep the ones that work. The League has a vast potential for making the world a better place, preventing the Chases of this world from causing the tragic events we had to endure. Let's not lie to ourselves, people like that come along all the time. And none of us are ideal. We all have the potential for cruelty in us, we make mistakes, get mad."
"So don't you think Malcolm's actions in Starling a few years ago, in the Glades were those of a madman?" Talia queried.
Emily sighed. "I'm not aware of how much you know about what happened that lead to this but I am sure you know his beloved wife was killed. Like I said, we all go a little mad sometimes. I lost a close friend to the Glades myself and I started working for Malcolm shortly after, I was part of what happened in the Glades. Grief can bring you to a very very crazy place." Emily's gaze grew haunted.
"After it happened and we realized how many innocent people were killed along with the criminals we meant to destroy, both Malcolm and I were heartbroken. We decided to do everything to prevent that from happeneing again in the world, as much as it could ever be done. But Talia, you must know that in each war there are innocent victims. I have never seen Malcolm this broken after he realised his way of doing things had caused so much suffering." Emily sniffled a little then, but managed to continue.
"That's when the idea of a new League started developing. Malcolm seemed to be running around in circles. We all were, trying to juggle your father hunting him, Malcolm being a fugitive, struggling to survive that while making a plan to help people, deal with the guilt, his daughter, Oliver, all of it…"
"Malcolm, me and all of us, really, realized then that instead of giving into our guilt too much was not the right approach… Because of this experience we were better equipped, psychologically, to know what NOT to do in order to avoid the inner madness. Nip it in the bud, so to speak."
"Well, I think I failed on the 'nipping it in the bud' part when I hurt Nyssa so badly. Had others beat her… I'm not proud of that." Talia teared up a little.
"Which is the very reason you should talk to her. I can't guarantee she will forgive you at once, but it will be a start."
"What would I say though? Will she even want to speak to me?" Talia sounded doubtful and resigned.
"I can go and ask her right now if you want," Emily offered. "When Malcolm spoke to her earlier, she was not completely opposed to it. And then just tell her what you told me." Emily's tone turned gentler. "She is disillusioned enough towards your father," Emily said, uncertain if she should reveal what Nyssa had told her about their father killing their mother. She decided it was Nyssa's truth to tell. "Talia, don't be afraid to speak from your heart. She is your sister, trust in that."
"Well i admit, I like that optimistic attitude of yours." A flicker of a smile appeared on Talia's face. "Yes, I will try to speak with her, now. No use avoiding it."
Emily smiled back at her. "Alright, since you're in worse shape than Nyssa, I will just go to her room and ask her to come here. We'll bring one of our warriors to escort her, since I'm not willing to risk you acting up suddenly. I just don't know you that well yet, you understand?" she said in a gentle but firm tone.
"Yeah, I'd do the same in such a case." Talia couldn't help but smile again. The girl was really something else, and her kindness was touching.
Talia did feel a lot of trepidation, whether Nyssa would even agree to see her, if they'd find common ground, but she was willing to take the risk.
Emily returned after a while with Kevin and, surprisingly, Nyssa.
"Hello, sister," the woman said as Kevin helped her to the chair next to Talia's bed.
"Hello Nyssa," Talia said. There was a long pause. "Um, there is something, a lot of things I- I need to tell you. I'm not sure quite where to begin."
"I'm willing to listen; take your time." Nyssa replied in a calm but cautious voice.
Emily popped in her head for a second revving up the gears on an effort for a cheerful tone. "You talk at your leisure, girls, me and Kevin will be just outside if you need us!"
She closed the door and assumed a guard position next to Kevin.
"Nice work there, my fellow warrior, bringing them together like this after well, that entire debacle between them." he said, cracking a smile.
Emily just huffed as she leaned against the wall. "Warrioring is easy compared to this."
"To what?" He queried.
"I feel as if all I've been doing recetly is running a family counselling practice." She answered in a slightly frustrated tone.
Kevin snorted with laughter. "Well, you can always add that to your resume, so it is a bonus."
"Gee, thanks, now you suddenly becamea career advisor?" She elbowed him in the side playfully. "Bri and Tim are there making sure the whole ninja thing is running smoothly, right?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, I just wonder how Malcolm and Oliver's rescue mission is progressing."
"Well, we should know soon enough."
XxXxXxX
Oliver woke up, then nudged Malcolm awake.
"Time to continue our quest."
Malcolm shook the grogginess off and laughed. "Oliver, have you watched too much of the Lord of the Rings movies? 'Quest', really?"
"What, Malcolm, you think just cause I'm a 'Vigilante' or was stranded here for years I didn't give myself a crash course on popular culture since my return? And frankly, I'm surprised you know Lord of the Rings, um-"
"Cause what? Just because I'm the 'Dark Archer', I can't enjoy a good book or movie once in awhile?"
"Touche," Oliver said, chuckling softly.
"Allright," Malcolm said as they started approaching the ninjas' tent. "Now, let's just hope the 'Lord of the Rings' scenario doesn't suddenly turn into a script from it in real life," He patted his scimitar and Oliver snorted with laughter at the reference.
"Well, Malcolm Merlyn, a movie geek, who would've thunk?"
Malcolm chuckled briefly then shushed him as they came closer.
To their surprise, they found the ninjas standing at attention.
"Well, seems like they woke up earlier than we did," Oliver commented.
Malcolm smirked, then approached the warriors, assuming his most firm and threatening demeanor. He examined each soldier's gear and equipment, asked them if they'd remembered to pack what was necessary, Then he made sure they knew what their tasks were, and how to react in case of emergencies. He also told them Oliver was his partner in this endeavour, to be treated with respect and obedience.
Oliver just watched Malcolm and couldn't help but be impressed. He himself had taken the lead as the Arrow, he had experience training people, but he realized he had nothing on Malcolm. The Dark Archer had mastered this balance between kindness and firmness that Oliver felt he had lacked when training his recent recruits. Malcolm had poise and focus, the ability to switch from when it was necessary to discipline someone to when they needed reassurance, or sometimes even both. Oliver remembered his own brutality towards his recruits and felt ashamed.
Malcolm gave the necessary orders and the company obliged. He went up to Oliver then, but noticed the expression on his face. "Oliver, what is wrong?"
"Um, Malcolm, I-I mean not now, but when we stop for a while during the trek, I need to talk to you about something."
"Of course."
They started the trek and it seemed to go on far longer than it really was. The rough terrain wasn't making things easy. Malcolm noticed they were all winded and the injury to his thigh was acting up, so he called for a halt. He spoke with the warriors, then went up to Oliver.
"We can talk now if you want to," he said gently, sitting down next to the boy, noticing he was clearly troubled.
"Only if there's enough time," Oliver sighed, "It might be a long conversation."
"Well, it is alright, a ninja there has a problem with his ankle," he indicated. "I could use some rest for my leg and the other one of the warriors is complaining about muscle cramps." He turned his full attention to Oliver then. "So tell me what it is, don't worry about time."
"I'm…" Oliver struggled for a minute. "Well, it's about Chase and me in general. Um, when he tortured me. I asked what it was all about, he said there was something about why I did what I did as Arrow, something only I knew. About why I killed people." Oliver's voice went hoarse, but he continued, "Chase… he just kept saying 'the reason, the reason, tell me your reason, the reason.' He was relentless with that… and then…" Oliver broke off for a while, the memories of that day flooding in. "I realized something and said it and he agreed it was true, and finally let me go."
"What was it that you said to him, exactly?" Malcolm queried.
"That I liked killing and hurting people." Oliver blurted. "That I used all these other reasons as excuses to indulge my vengeful, selfish needs a-and-" His voice hitched before he continued. "I thought of the times that I did that and I enjoyed it at the moment. So he was right, I might be this monster. I used to think of you as a monster, but I saw you with the ninjas today, saw how kind you were, and thought of this satisfaction I'd felt after I killed an enemy and the cruel way I had acted towards the recruits I took on this year... So, perhaps he was right, p-perhaps…"
Malcolm lay a hand on his shoulder firmly. "Oliver, Oliver, listen to me. Calm down a little first, then listen."
The boy obliged, then sat a little closer for comfort.
Malcolm breathed in slowly, thinking of what to say. "First of all, Oliver, consider this fact. In our line of life we have to kill sometimes, right?"
Oliver nodded, a little vulnerable and uncertain, focused on the guilt and the trauma he had been through with Chase.
Malcolm continued. "We have a choice though, Oliver, a balance we can maintain. Sometimes there is no other choice but to kill, in a fight, depending on the stakes, the opponent, the sequence of action and reaction, the odds. You know that, right? And when I trained you and your sister, it wasn't exactly a non-violent experience. When you were acquiring your fighting skills before that, it was also violent. The challenge of it made you stronger. And you enjoyed that strength, the fact you gained a way to defend yourself and those you love, the confidence it gave you, the confidence you needed."
"I think so, yeah." Oliver leaned in closer, letting Malcolm's voice calm him a little.
He was still very confused and vulnerable and Malcolm sensed it. "Listen to me, Oliver. Chase made you think you enjoy killing, that you're this horrible person?"
"Well yeah. Perhaps he was right, perhaps I am. Just a stupid hypocrite."
Malcolm sighed in exasperation. "Let me remind you of something. We all have our demons, wrong things we have done, but we have a good side too and you actually continuously remind me that I have at least remnants of mine. You bring that side of me forward."
"Really? Me?" Oliver still sounded uncertain.
"Really." Malcolm paused, then continued in a firm voice. "Allow me to elaborate. First and foremost, you are the one who stopped me from an act that would have haunted me, that would have brought unimaginable destruction, caused by my unquenched need for vengeance."
Oliver just looked at him in askance.
"The Undertaking." Malcolm said. "Not fully, but you stopped at least the larger part of it, at a very great risk to yourself." He sighed. "I had a lot of time to reflect when I was recovering from that wound you gave me and I am actually grateful to you for it."
"What?!" Oliver exclaimed.
Malcolm's gaze turned distant. "It made me think, remember I was acting against the values of the very person I was trying to avenge. Rebecca. Your intervention didn't stop the damage, didn't prevent what happened to Tommy or countless other people whose lives were destroyed, but Oliver, you also rescued so many!
"Then, when I was kidnapped by the League, you came to rescue me despite of what I had done to you and Thea.
"Then you convinced me not to kill Brick, you… Oliver, you showed me there is a capability for good in me and what evil person does that?!
"When we had that duel for the leadership of the League, yes you did cut off my hand, but just as well you might have cut off my head. You chose to let me live.
"And there were numerous times when you and other of your opponents fought, that might have resulted in you killing them, but you didn't."
"Well, there were numerous times I did." Oliver looked all broken down again.
"I think that for the whatever number of times you took a life, there is lots more lives you actually rescued." Malcolm said, then chose to pose a question. "Is it perhaps possible, Oliver, that what Chase did to you, what he made you tell him… That it was just what he wanted to hear, not your true sentiment? I mean we enjoy the... rush of the fight, but after, do we then sit and cackle, saying: 'Oh yeah, I killed that person, awesome me!'?"
Malcolm's voice grew lower with guilt then. "Do we not think, at some point, 'Damn it, they had families but it was necessary, nevertheless.'?
"It's a burden we need to deal with in this line of life, Oliver, or otherwise we what? Lay down our bows, decide to give it all up, move to a, well, nicer island, make a bonfire, sing 'Kumbaya'... And then, several years later, another Adrian Chase appears, only then, instead of accusing you of killing someone, he accuses you of not helping?" Malcolm's voice grew stronger with conviction. "What's the better choice, Oliver? Action or inaction? This is the conundrum Emily and I are trying to solve by forming the new League. Not making it a rule that killing is always necessary, no. Bringing people together to decide when it might be absolutely necessary. Discuss. Because the harsh truth is, Oliver, there will always be people who kill, who want to create dictatorship states. We, together, could make a difference, prevent that as best we can."
Oliver pondered the thought and decided he liked the idea and admired the genuity of Malcolm's sentiment. "I agree." He nodded.
"Well then, before we take on the world, let's try and prevent the disaster of William losing Samantha." Malcolm clapped Oliver on the shoulder as he rose briskly and gave the ninjas their orders.
The rest of the trek went smoothly and they made it to the ARGUS bunker easily. Malcolm ordered the ninjas to check the inside of the building while Oliver and he stayed outside, looking around.
The woods weren't destroyed completely, a stump of a tree or a boulder remained here or there.
"Samantha!" both of them shouted in turns, running around the terrain. No response.
Oliver sighed as one of the ninjas emerged from the ARGUS bunker and informed him there was no one inside. "This is pointless, Malcolm. "
"No, Oliver," Malcolm said as he approached the boy. "Did any of the ones who survived tell you where or when they lost Samantha?"
"No, they were all running for their lives. It was pure chaos. They just noticed she was gone when they were already inside. Malcolm, I really think we are just-"
The Dark Archer shushed Oliver as he looked around. He was NOT going to give up that easy. He knew from a brief conversation he'd had with Sabrina earlier about how doggedly Emily had searched for him after the mine explosion. He still remembered the fear on William's face when he'd handed him over to a stranger, Damien Dahrk. He couldn't take back the past, but he could at least try to fix the future. Do his damn best to het Samantha back.
Then he realised something and grabbed Oliver's arm. "Look!" He indicated some small buildings in the distance, perhaps belonging to the compound, most of them completely collapsed.
"Malcolm, this is hopeless… You think they lost her that far off?"
"Thats precisely why I want to check. Their route when they ran would have brought them that way, right?"
"Correct."
"And they assumed that she died in the explosion?"
"Yeah."
"What if she made it to one of the buildings?"
"Malcolm, they are ruins, there's no chance…," Oliver said.
"There is always a chance." Malcolm was tired of Oliver's defeatist attitude. "Coming with me or not?!" he shouted as he ran, limping slightly because of his leg, but his purpose made him shake it off. Oliver followed him, inspired by the Dark Archer determination.
"Samantha, Samantha!" they shouted. Silence.
Suddenly they heard a soft moan coming from one of the less-damaged buildings. They hurried there and Malcolm let Oliver kick the door open, then ran down the stairs, followed by the ninjas. Oliver ran after them, startled by their speed.
Malcolm looked around. It seemed to be a spare provisions basement, mostly damaged now. "Samantha!" he shouted again.
Another moan came from a darkened area. Samantha was laying on a makeshift mattress, looking pale and weak. There wasn't too much rubble in the room, but she clearly had been hurt.
Malcolm approached her and checked for potential injuries as Oliver crouched close to them. There didn't see to be many, aside from some bruises, but he knew there might be internal ones. He swore inwardly at not taking any of the ninja med staff with them, but they had had their hands full with everyone else at the compound. He needed to rely on his own painfully-gained knowledge of wounds and what he had learned from Kevin.
"Samantha, can you hear me?" Malcolm asked in a soft, but insistent tone.
She looked up at him, her gaze focusing slowly . She seemed disoriented though.
"I c-can, I-I know you; you were on that mine, and then we ran to the plane and Felicity said something about a bomb…" She was clearly disoriented and confused, both from her wounds and malnutrition. There were some water bottles and food cans scattered around. She was clearly in need of medical help after days of surviving on just that.
She coughed and continued. "We were running for cover, but I couldn't keep up, I-I saw this building... I ran inside and hid downstairs, then I fell and everything was falling, so loud…I found this old matress and some of this food here but I was afraid to go out after this horrible explosion, and there was no one here and i think I fell unconscious for some hours." She was rambling, clearly very uneasy.
"Wait, where is William?" she asked " A-And how did you survive?" She struggled to sit up, but Malcolm stopped her gently.
"William is safe, Samantha, and I survived because, well, that's a longer story, for another time." He smiled at her. "Now, I need you to focus and let me examine you, ok?" She nodded weakly, but seemed to grow more awake.
"Alright, now tell me if anything hurts here." He touched her neck and abdomen first and she said she didn't feel any pain. "Can you move your legs?" He asked, checking for potential spine injuries.
"Yeah, I'm just... just sore," she said wriggling her toes. "Um, but my left elbow was hit by the rubble."
Malcolm checked it out and from her gasp of pain he figured the bone might have been fractured.
"I just want to get to William, so help me stand up, I'm sure I can walk," she said.
Both Malcolm and Oliver protested firmly against that.
"Samantha, William is not at this compound and it is a long trek to where we are stationed," he explained firmly. "You might have a concussion or internal injuries. You can't just walk there."
Malcolm motioned for the ninjas to bring the makeshift stretcher they had taken with them and helped Samantha onto it. "We need to make sure you are well. You won't do William any favors if you injure yourself further."
She nodded.
Oliver was in awe of how Malcolm handled the situation. He also noticed the Dark Archer winced in pain when he stood up.
"We should head back. We can make it before tomorrow night if we start now," Malcolm said.
Oliver looked at him with concern. "Malcolm, you promised me you would tell me if your leg acts up and I saw it is. Perhaps you should rest it first?"
"Oliver. Yes, it feels strained, but I can make it, and Samantha may be seriously injured. As to my leg, I can rest it tonight, then have it treated further at the compound when we get back."
The Green Arrow still had a doubtful expression on his face, so Malcolm continued, in an insistent tone, "It's our best bet, Oliver. What can we do here? This place is desolate and Kevin did an awesome job of making the support gear for my leg. I can endure the pain. So, let's not dally."
Oliver nodded and Malcolm motioned for them to start the trek. It was long and he saw the toll it took on Malcolm, saw how he fought through it and pushed on. He never expected to admire that man this much.
They made a stop for the night, then arrived at the temple the next day just before dusk.
Emily and Felicity met them at the entrance with Tim and William. Samantha rose from her gurney at the sight of her son and took a few wobbly steps to hug him.
"Mommy!" the boy shouted as he ran to her and held her.
Felicity threw a glance at Oliver to check if he was okay.
Malcolm just watched Samantha's reunion with her son, smiling softly as they whispered to each other.
Everyone was smiling and then, William suddenly ran up to Malcolm and hugged him.
"My mommy says you rescued her, so I just want thank you; you're a hero!"
Malcolm had no idea what to do, the memory of when he handed the boy over to Damien Dahrk all to vivid in his mind. He decided it could be replaced by the image of the smile that lit up the boy's face as he looked up at him. And being called a hero? That was a first. He hugged the child back, his breath hitching with a tonne of emotions, but he managed to regain his voice. "You are very welcome, William. Now go and hug your father, he's the real hero here."
"You're both heroes!" the boy exclaimed as he moved to hug Oliver.
Malcolm turned to the ninjas to give them orders to bring Samantha to the medbay, then hugged Emily and got a sitrep on the compound from Sabrina.
Everyone moved on to perform their tasks and suddenly, there was only Malcolm and Oliver standing there in the corridor. The boy clamped his hand on Malcolm's shoulder amicably.
"Well, if several years ago someone told me the Dark Archer was capable of this level of kindness, I'd laugh them out of the room."
Malcolm chuckled softly. "Well, if, several years ago, someone told me I'd be called a hero, I'd laugh them out of the room."
Oliver chuckled as well, then turned serious. "Your actions recently, Malcolm, they've proved my son's statement might be true."
Malcolm had no idea how to respond to this. He returned Oliver's friendly gesture and clamped his hand on his arm.
Then they just stood there, two warriors sharing a moment of peace amongst the chaos.
XxXxXxX
Author's note is here:
To be continued, soon, of course.
Some more Arrow characters made their impact here and I must admit I enjoy writing Oliver and Malcolm camaraderie. Also put in some twists with other Arrow characters, really enjoyed figuring stuff out with them. There is still a lot of surprises awaiting you in this story, things i very much love writing.
It is an honour to meet you all, read your wonderful reviews and comments, that is always appreciated. There were some heavy themes here as well as some humour and as always, the wonderful editing and support by my amazing friend and awesome artist, Bloodsong!
Cheers and hugs to you all, people! Enjoy:P
