Chapter 20:
Felicity sat back in her chair and looked back and forth between the two screens. The screen on her left was of her daughter tired to a chair unconscious. The screen on her right held five red dots speeding throughout the city to each of their destinations. Each of the five dots represented one of her team, they had each picked a destination and were now making their way towards their choice. Each hoping and praying that they would find Katya.
This was it, the moment twenty years of torment by Slade Wilson and his son would finally come to an end. Felicity just preyed that all her loved ones would make it out alive.
"How she doing?" Oliver voice called from the comms.
He was everything she imagined he would be as a father and more.
Felicity looked to her left.
Katya hadn't moved, her head was still down hair covering her bruised face.
"The same." Felicity told him reluctantly.
Oliver sighed.
"We will find her." He promised.
Felicity swallowed back her fear, they had no idea what was waiting for them at each of the locations and what if something happen to Katya before they could get to her.
"I know." she whispered back. They all needed to believe.
"Any sign of Joe?" Diggle questioned.
Felicity focused on Katya screen. She couldn't see Joe but she could hear shuffling around in the back ground.
"No but he's there, you can hear him." She told them.
"Ok so what can I expect from this guy?" Sara asked.
Felicity smiled despite the situation having Sara back in their time of need meant everything.
"He joined the military as soon as he was old enough. According the military he had problem with taking orders but they ignored it due to his skills in combat and weaponry." Jay said surprising them all, he took a deep breath before he continued;
"According to the military Joe settled down and built up an impressive reputation for himself as part of a sniper team. Timeline puts that around the time Slade returned to his life."
"So while Slade was part of Joe's life he was a good person?" Sara asked in disbelief.
"Not good person just a good team player." Jay replied.
"He has a sealed juvenile recorded, but the military had it opened when he started causing trouble. This was after Slade was killed and his mother got sick." Jay added.
Felicity was already opening his juvenile record.
"According to his record Joe had a fascination for death his local police suspected of killing local domesticated pets but they could never prove it." Felicity informed her team.
"I had someone from my unit look into Joe Wilson record." Jay commented.
"All records state that Joe Wilson was discharged from the army for psychological reasons but my training office stated it was more than that Wilson switched one day and killed half of his unit as well as five survillions." Jay continued.
"Why the hell wasn't he arrested?" Roy demanded.
"They believed it was a psychological break, he was meant to be going to a mental institution but he never turned up and the military lost track of him." Jay informed.
"Lost track of him?" Felicity questioned.
Jay sighed.
"It happens there are so many people to keep track of and Joe was smart, since his discharge he has not used his own name." Jay replied.
"Joe Wilson is a control freak, everything has to be his way." Jay continued.
"So as long as he thinks he is in control we should get to Katya without any problems?" Sara questioned.
"Pretty much." Jay replied.
"And if he's not in control?" Felicity asked reluctantly.
"That is unknown." Jay answered his voice cold.
They all fell silent.
"I'm here." Roy's voice called through the comms breaking the silence.
Felicity zoned in on Roy's red dot.
Roy had chosen an abounded paint factory about 2 miles from the club.
"Tell me what you see Roy?" Felicity demanded.
"I just search the area, there are two guys outside and at least three inside." Roy told them.
"Roy we don't know who these men are and if any word should get back to Joe that we are searching for them he may hurt Katya before we can get back to her." Oliver warned.
"So quick and quite?" Roy suggested.
"Quick and quite." Oliver agreed.
"I'm here." Sara voice called through.
Felicity zoned out on Roy and in on Sara.
Sara had chosen a closed down club just outside of the glades. The area itself was pretty abandoned.
Felicity hacked into the CCTV surrounding the area.
"There are four guys outside, but the place is bordered up I'm not sure if there are any inside." Felicity warned.
"I've got this." Sara reassured.
"All clear." Roy stated, he was out of breath.
"Are you hurt?" Felicity questioned.
Roy let go of a heavy breath.
"No." He replied instantly.
"But Katya isn't here." he said his voice surrounded by sorrow.
Felicity closed her eyes. She steady her fear.
"Will find her." she reassured him.
"I'm here," Diggle called.
"Roy heard back to the street, other than Sara's location everyone else is east head that way." Felicity instructed as she went to Diggle's location.
"On it." Roy declared.
Diggle had chosen a condemned house just five miles from the Queen's estate.
"Diggle I hacked into the private security system it shouldn't still be running but it is so be careful." Felicity told him.
"I'll be cautious." Diggle promised.
"I'm clear." Sara mentioned.
Felicity sighed, another no for find Katya.
"I'll head back to the streets." Sara told her.
Ten minutes later and Diggle announced he had found nothing. Which left Jay an old Navy yard and Oliver's an old prison that had been closed down after the glades.
Jay got off his bike slowly. He had chosen the navy yard because he generally believed this was where Joe would have chosen but the more he was looking at it the more he was starting to doubt himself.
"I'm here." Jay told Felicity.
"Jay be careful, there are at least four people outside." Felicity warned.
Jay hid himself in the shadows watching the four man closely there all had weapons at their side.
"So what exactly are we doing here?" One of the men said to the others.
"All I know is we are being paid to stay here for the night and to call in every two hours." One of the men replied.
Jay cursed.
If it was the same with the men at the other locations then it wouldn't be long before Joe found out that they were closing in on him.
Jay needed to warn the others.
He made his way slowly towards his bike, careful to make his footsteps light so he wouldn't get caught.
"All the guards are meant to check in." Jay announced.
"Shit." Oliver cursed.
"I'm going in but I thought you guys should know." Jay told them.
"Be careful Jay." Felicity ordered.
Jay nodded to himself, until Katya was safe Jay was going to be extra vigilant.
Jay ran back towards the navy yard. He searched the outside grounds careful not to make his presents known, but there was nothing. All Jay found was an extra two guards round the back. Thankfully the guards still didn't know of his presents. Now all that was left was the main building in the middle of the yard, the one the guards surrounded.
"Felicity I need help getting into the main building without being seen." Jay whispered into his comms.
"On it." Felicity called.
Jay studied the outside of the building.
"According to the blueprints there are two main entrance and three fire doors." Felicity informed him.
Jay cursed, he couldn't use the fire doors without setting off the alarms. Which left the main entrances both which are being heavily guarded. Jay looked up there was a window on the second floor. He could climb but if one of the guards decided to walk round he would be found.
Katya could be in that building, which meant he had to take the risk.
Joe slammed his fist against the wall.
"Dam it," he screamed.
He had known Felicity would figure out his location, but he hadn't expected it so soon and even with the fake location he had put out there Joe figure it would take longer. But he had been trying to get in contact with his guys from three of the other locations and there was nothing.
"Harrison, check in." Joe order on the fourth location.
"All quite here sir." Harrison replied instantly.
Joe glared into the darkness of the prisoner, something wasn't right.
"Do a walk around." Joe ordered.
"I won't ever inch on that place checked." he added.
"Yes sir." Harrison replied.
Joe looked over at Katya. He couldn't wait any longer, he had to make the Queens pay.
"It's time to wake sleep beauty up." Joe mumbled to himself.
Felicity waited impatiently for Jay to get back to her.
"It's been too long." Felicity muttered to herself.
"Everything will be alright." Diggle soothed.
Felicity took a deep breath as Joe voice caught her attention.
"I want every inch of that place checked." Joe ordered.
"He knows." Felicity told her team.
"Shit." Roy muttered.
"It's time to wake sleeping beauty up." Felicity heard Joe mumble to himself.
"Jay I need to know if Katya is there now." Felicity yelled through the comms.
There was a cracking sound.
"I'm sorry Felicity." Jay mumbled.
Which meant Katya had to be at the prison.
"Everyone make their wait towards Oliver's location." Felicity ordered.
"Katya has to be there." She added.
Joe returned to the screen walking towards Katya with a bucket in his hand.
"Tell me you nearly there Oliver?" Felicity begged as she watched Joe pour something over Katya head.
Katya gasped awake.
"I'm here." Oliver told her.
Felicity never took her eyes of the screen that held her daughter.
"Give him hell." she ordered.
Oliver waited outside the prison. He didn't want to wait but knowing this was where Katya was meant there was bound to be more trouble inside.
"ETA?" He demanded from his team.
"Five minutes." Roy told him.
"Me too." Sara added.
"I make mine three." Jay added.
Jay's original location had been nearer than the others.
"I won't be far behind Jay." Diggle told him.
"Make it two." Oliver ordered.
Kayta looked at Joe. Something was wrong, very wrong.
"Wh..at hap...pened?" She questioned through shuttered teeth.
She was freezing.
Joe had chosen to wake her up by pouring ice cold water over her head.
Joe ignored at her.
"It's too soon." He muttered to himself pacing.
Katya frowned she had no idea what was going on, but whatever was happening had Joe on edge and that could mean very bad things for her.
She shivered violently, the cold and fear rising within her. The chains rattled against the chair grabbing Joe's attention.
Joe's eyes zoned in on her.
"I was hoping to have more time but it doesn't matter." Joe said slowly approaching his eyes cold.
He smirked and titled his head to the side.
"I'm going to enjoy killing you." Joe told her with a smile.
Katya swallowed hard.
Joe raises his fist to hit her, and Katya closes her eyes to wait for the impact.
"You're never going to touch her again." Her father's voice calls.
Katya eyes snap open just in time to watch an arrow fly through the air and straight into Joe fist that was about to make contact with her face.
Joe curses, he grits his teeth as he pulls the arrow from his hand.
Katya looks round for her father. She had always known he was the arrow but somehow seeing him in all the arrow gear amazing.
Oliver runs at Joe knocking him from his feet.
They roll around on the floor punching, kicking, and fighting for dominance.
Katya closed her eyes tight. This was a fight her father would have little chance of winning. Joe was younger, fitter and had nothing to lose. Her father was older and had everything to lose. When Joe won control over their struggle knocking Oliver to the floor.
Joe's fist pounded into Oliver's face over and over again.
"Stop." Katya screamed.
She couldn't watch.
Joe's eyes darted to her. He stood slowly. A sob escaped her mouth as her father lay motionless on the ground.
Joe walked towards her, pure hatred in his eyes, this was the end she was sure of it. But that's when she heard it. There were footsteps, she was sure of it.
Katya brain worked overtime trying to figure out who it might be, was it a friend or was it a foe. With everything she knew about team arrow, Katya knew there was no chance her father came alone.
Katya looked over at her father. He was moving slowly careful not to make any noise. They had a plan. Katya was never surer about anything in her life. Soon this would all be over, soon they would all be safe. But right now she needed to keep Joe distracted enough that he would hear what was going on around him.
Oliver hated waiting while Joe walked towards his daughter, but his team needed to get in position. Oliver wasn't stupid enough to think he could take Joe down on his own after all Joe was younger and more skilled then he was but one thing that Joe lacked was a team that would do anything for him. Joe's men had scattered like rats the moment that he and his team had gotten to them.
Oliver heard movement from above and knew Diggle was attempting to line up a shot.
"You think you know us but you don't." Katya spat.
His daughter's voice surprised him. When he had first seen her in that chair she had been so scared, but now she sounded confident. Jay had told him she would understand that they had a plan the moment she saw Oliver but he hadn't been so sure.
"I have watched you for years, I know everything." Joe pointed out.
Oliver stood slowly, careful not to grab Joe's attention.
"You might know me and my parents." Katya started.
"You might even know Uncle Roy and Diggle," She continued just as Jay entered the room from behind Joe.
This whole plan was up to Jay getting Joe in Diggle's line of shot while he got Katya out of there. He hadn't like putting Jay at risk but as Diggle pointed out Jay was the only one who had searched his location without letting the guards know he was there. Jay was quicker that just might make him a challenge for Joe.
"But you will never understand what Jay is really capable off." Katya added.
Oliver could help but be fascinated as Jay moved slowly towards Joe.
Joe frowned in confusion.
"He is nothing more than a solider." Joe spat.
Katya shook her head.
"He is much more than that," she argued with pride.
Joe grabbed hold of her Katya's face with bruising force.
"What do you mean?" He demanded.
Katya closed her eyes.
"Hurry Jay." Diggle whispered through the comms.
Jay was almost directly behind Joe know. Katya had to hang on for just a couple more seconds.
"Tell me." Joe roared, his voice echoing out.
Katya smirked.
"I think he would rather show you." Katya replied just as Jay jumped forward his arm going round Joe's neck, chocking him.
Jay pulled Joe backwards away from Katya.
Oliver moved towards Katya as Joe thought against Jay's hold.
Oliver cupped Katya's bruised face in his hands softly.
"I'm so sorry." he whispered.
Katya's eyes met his.
"It's not your fault." she promised.
Oliver would never stop feeling guilty for this but he also knew that was the last thing she needed right now. Katya was freezing and if they didn't get her warm soon he was afraid she would get hypothermia.
"Let's get you out of here." Oliver said.
He moved behind her to undo her chains.
"Tell me you have a shot." Jay demanded through gritted teeth.
Oliver took a quick look over at Jay was struggling to stay in control.
"No not yet, I can't take the shot without hitting you." Diggle told him.
Jay cursed just as Oliver removed the last chain on Katya wrist.
Joe elbowed Jay in the gut shoving Jay off him.
"Shit." Jay yelled.
Katya grabbed Oliver's arm.
"Help him." she begged. Her eyes wide with fear.
Oliver nodded. He made his way over to Jay and Joe who stood toe to toe.
"Sara, Roy where are you?" Oliver demanded.
"Just pulling up." Roy yelled.
Joe was good but with Jay on his side they were better. They each took turns in hand to hand combat with Joe never giving him time to breath. One attack after the other and Joe was losing and by the aggravated look on Joe's face he knew it. A few seconds later and Roy was joining the fight while Sara made her way towards Katya.
Roy tackled Joe to the floor pinning him to the ground.
"This is for my son." Roy yelled his fist pounding into Joe face.
"And this is for my niece." Roy yelled as he hit Joe again.
Joe was out cold.
Oliver pulled Roy away. It was finally over. Joe would spend the rest of his life in prison and he could finally have his family.
"I'll get the car." Roy stated before running off.
Oliver looked towards his daughter. She stood on shaky legs Sara and Jay helping her either side.
Katya's eyes meet his. She gave a small smile.
"Oliver get down." Diggle screamed from above.
Oliver frowned turning slightly to see what had gotten Diggle so worried.
Oliver turned to see Joe standing there a gun in his hand.
"Bye, Queen." Joe spat as he pulled the trigger.
Another gunshot followed Joe's and they both fell to the ground.
"Daddy." Oliver heard Katya scream just as everything went black.