Episode Three

The Arc of an Arrow

Chapter Two

Gateway City

United States

21:56 – Western Daylight Time

June 02, 2004

There was a saying: It never rains but it pours.

The Thanagarians had effectively neutralised the Earth's most powerful militaries and had declared Martial Law across the planet.

There was also another saying: It was too good to be true.

As it turned out, that applied to the winged aliens all too well. Whatever it was they were building in the Gobi Desert, it most likely wasn't what they had claimed it was, which was a shield generator to protect them from a Gordanian invasion.

While she knew there was no way she could get to the Gobi Desert, she could at least cause them some damage elsewhere.

Once the sun had gone down, Cissie had snuck out of the school with her bow and headed home. To a place, she hadn't seen in over a month.

She slowed from her run to a walk as the house came into view. The lights were all off and there was no sign that anyone was home. She crept around the back and climbed the tree before pulling open the loose window that led into a spare bedroom. She moved over to the door and hit the light switch only to find the power was out. Probably cut off by the power company.

She moved out into the hallway in the dark as she made her way to her room.

She knelt down beside her bed and pulled out a trunk from under it and pushed the lid open.

A smile spread across her lips as she laid eyes on her costume.

That was just the first step, however. Since there were no Thanagarians in Gateway City, that meant she would have to travel. The closest city was San Francisco, though she didn't know if there were any there either.

There were two cities she knew of where there were was a Thanagarian presence. Los Angeles and way up north in Star City. They were in Star City because they were actively looking for and asking civilians to tell them the locations of Green Arrow and Speedy.

Getting up the coast wasn't going to be easy. She had no car or any other transport and she didn't know how to drive. The only thing she could think of was to catch a ride in a train boxcar.

For several moments she sat there staring at her costume. She wondered if this was actually a good idea or not. She gritted her teeth. She was a hero and it was her duty to fight these alien invaders, even if it meant travelling.

She reached into the trunk and pulled out the outfit. It was time to do her duty.

June 03, 2004

Travelling in boxcars was tough. Not only because it was rough and she hadn't been able to sleep, but because of security checking the cars. It wasn't much help when she didn't really know the destinations of any of the trains. What she did know was that she was heading in a northerly direction, which was good.

She had already passed through San Francisco, where she had changed trains and continued on northward. Where she was now, she didn't know. She was starting to wonder if it wouldn't have been easier to break her mother out of jail. And have her drive her up there.

After the assault that had led to her being arrested, Cissie had found out that her mother had gotten a two-month sentence. Not the biggest sentence anyone had been forced to endure, but Cissie didn't think she deserved it, regardless. She had done what any mother would do. She had fought for her daughter and unfortunately, she had lost.

Besides, she didn't want to bring her into it. She was the hero now and she needed to do this for herself.

But if that was the case then why was she going to Star City where Green Arrow and Speedy were? They were archers just like her and they were probably better. Maybe she was just using this whole invasion as an excuse to run away from it all. To be what she really wanted to be. A hero, someone who actually could make a difference.

Sure, winning medals in competitions was nice, but it wouldn't really change anything. She would rather only be known and famous as Arrowette the hero and actually make a difference in the world.

Cissie heard and felt the now familiar feeling of the train starting to slow down. This meant one of a few things. Either they needed to give the right of way to another train, they were arriving at a depot, or it was something else entirely.

She waited while the train slowed, the airbrakes screeched as it came to a stop.

Slowly, she moved over to the door and pulled it open so that there was just a crack. It was dark, though lights illuminated the freight yard she now found herself in.

Cissie quickly retrieved her bow and arrow bag before she pulled the door open fully. She jumped down and crept across the yard.

She needed to find out where the other trains were headed. Usually, there was an office somewhere she could get that information from. At first glance, she couldn't see it, but that was usual. She found it eventually, however, it was currently occupied. She hid behind a large shipping container that lay on the back of a truck and waited. The guy would have to go to the bathroom eventually and even if he didn't, they usually left the office for a few minutes to get food or do something. It was just a matter of time.

Cissie froze as a bright light shone on her.

"Hey," a voice said. "What're you doing?"

Slowly she turned around to see a security guard shining a flashlight at her. Or at least she thought it was a guard, she couldn't see him properly because she was shining the light right in her face.

"Making my way to Star City," she told him confidently.

"Listen, kid, you don't wanna be train hopping. Especially at a time like this. I hear those aliens have taken swipes at a few trains, derailing them."

"It's because of the invasion that I'm going to Star City."

"Right," he said unconvinced. "Any reason you're dressed like that?"

"I'm a hero."

"Sure, kid," he said as he lowered the flashlight. "You should go home."

"Not quite that simple," she told him. "And I'm Arrowette if you didn't know."

"Sure, kid," he repeated just as unconvinced as he was before.

"No, seriously."

"Even if I knew who Arrowette was, it doesn't change the fact that you shouldn't be here. Go home kid."

"I'm on a mission."

The guard rested a hand on his hip. "Okay, I'll bite. Go ahead, what mission are you on?"

"I'm going to fight the Thanagarians."

"You're gonna get yourself killed, that's what's going to happen. Just go home."

"Home is in Gateway City."

The man's brow raised. "That's a fair trip from here."

"Yes it is and I need to get to Star City."

"Star, huh. Wait you're not a sidekick of that Green Archer guy are you?"

"Yes," she lied. "He needs my help, but he can't get me there because of the invasion."

The man clenched his jaw and rocked back on his heels, before muttering a profanity under his breath. "Fine," he said as he raised his arm and pointed. "That train is heading to Star City and should be there in a few hours."

"Thanks for your help," she said.

"Don't thank me. Just don't die, or else it'll be my conscience on the line, understand?"

"Don't worry about me," she said as she turned and ran for the train.

She pulled the sliding door of one of the boxcars open and climbed inside.

Next stop was Star City.

Star City

United States

16:04 – Western Daylight Time

June 04, 2004

The day so far had been uneventful. She had gotten some food from a diner and then proceeded to spend the day exploring. Of course, she got some strange looks from people as she was in costume, but she ignored them. The biggest news was that Green Arrow and Speedy had already been captured.

Honestly, she didn't know what she had been expecting. The Thanagarians had been looking for them after all and they were an army with a lot of technology at their disposal.

This meant that her journey could have been for nothing. As far as she was aware the two archers were the only reason the Thanagarians had a presence in this city at all. Star wasn't a major metropolis or anything, though it did have a healthy population. In some ways, it reminded her of Gateway City, but then again it was on the coast and had bridges that crossed a bay, similar to Gateway. However, the layout was completely different and confusing.

At that moment she was walking down the street, bow on her back. People were looking at her, most not knowing who she was. Not that she didn't understand. This was the home of the greatest archer hero in the world. Who was she next to Green Arrow?

But she was sure going to try and make a name for herself. Whether she could accomplish that here in Star City was yet to be seen.

The thought of breaking Green Arrow and Speedy out did cross her mind, but a major flaw in that idea was that she had no idea where they even were.

Arrowette found a bench and sat down on it. She had been on her feet for hours now and she felt like she needed to rest.

From her vantage point, she could see an electronics store across the street. There were a few flat screen TV's in the window and right now they were showing some cooking show.

She rubbed her eyes with her palms before sighing in frustration. It didn't help that the people passing her by stared at her. She had never felt so exposed while wearing her costume before. She felt like their eyes were burrowing into her.

This had been a mistake. She should be back in Gateway City, not here. The Thanagarians were not only trained soldiers, they could fly and were strong. It was a whole race of Hawkgirls and she was one of the Seven members of the Justice League who were way above her in terms of skill when it came to fighting crime.

Or rather Hawkgirl had been one of the seven until she had betrayed them all. As to the Justice League themselves, rumour had it that the Thanagarians had captured them as well, just like they had captured Green Lantern and Speedy.

She wondered if they were being held with the League or elsewhere? She didn't know. What she did know was that she should get back on a train and head home. This whole endeavour had been stupid from the start

"Hey," a voice shouted. "It's Arrowgirl from Coast City."

Arrowette's face turned into a deep scowl as she looked around for the owner of the voice. Not only had he got her pseudonym wrong, he'd also got her hometown wrong.

She caught sight of him. He looked like some idiot in his twenties or thirties. Everyone over eighteen looked like an old man to her and she couldn't really tell.

The guy was stood with what she assumed was his girlfriend. But it could have easily been just a friend.

"Arrowgirl," he said again as he approached, pulling his girlfriend along with him. "This is so awesome. I've never met a superhero before."

Arrowette's frown lessened. She had never been called a superhero before, at least not seriously. She had been called a 'kid vigilante' and a plain old 'hero', but never a superhero. It made her feel grown up and important. Still, he could at least get her name right.

"I wish I had a camera," he said.

Arrowette stood up and folded her arms. "First of all it's Arrowette, not Arrow Girl and secondly I'm from Gateway City, not Coast City."

The guy suddenly looked embarrassed. "Oh right, sorry."

His girlfriend laughed at him and gave him a small push. "You idiot," she said.

The guy rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Can we um, start again?"

Arrowette shook her head. "No, we can't." She was about to turn and walk off when she noticed her image on the TV's on display across the street.

She moved quickly to the crosswalk and waited until the walk sign lit up. She then made her way across the four lanes and moved up to the screen. By now it was showing something else, but she was certain that she had seen her face unless it was someone who looked uncannily like her.

After standing there for a few more minutes, she turned and made her way down the street. There was no doubt that the school back in Gateway City had reported her disappearance and since child services knew she and Arrowette were the same person, she knew that they would be on the lookout for any sign of Arrowette as well as Suzanne King Jones.

She needed some space, somewhere to think. She didn't know what to do or where to go from here. She was completely ill-prepared. She smiled as she thought of what her mother would say. Probably something about going off half-cocked.

As she passed an alleyway, she heard someone whistle. It wasn't a wolf-whistle or anything like that but was clearly to get someone's attention. She glanced down the alley and found no one there.

Something hit a trash can with a crash. She reached behind and grabbed her bow, notching a single arrow as she cautiously went to investigate.

She quickly found what it was that had hit the trash can. It was an arrow. She glanced upwards and saw him stood on the fire escape.

It was Speedy.

She moved closer as he climbed down the ladder and jumped onto the pavement in front of her.

"We don't need copycat fangirls," he said, looking down at her.

Cissie gritted her teeth for what felt like the millionth time. It seemed like almost no one outside of Gateway City even knew who she was.

"I'm not a copycat or a fangirl," she told him. "I'm Arrowette."

"Sounds vaguely familiar," he commented. "How old are you?"

"Fourteen," she answered. "And in case you're wondering, my mom was Miss Arrowette."

He shrugged. "Sure she was."

"I'm being honest."

"Whatever," he said with disinterest. "All I need to know, is do you have skill?"

"Yes, I do."

"Sorry if I can't take your word for it," he said.

"You want me to show you?" she asked, readying her bow. "'Cause I can."

Speedy looked around at the buildings. "Okay then, you shoot down that fire escape ladder," he said pointing. "And maybe I can use you."

Arrowette smiled. She thought he was going to give her a challenge. Back in Gateway, she had shot down more than a few ladders on fire escapes, to quickly ascend to a rooftop.

With confidence, she raised her bow and fired off a shot. It hit the ladder and it slid down with a rattle and a clack.

"Follow me," Speedy said as he climbed up.

She followed him as they ascended upwards. At the top, he jumped up and gripped the edge of the flat roof, before pulling himself on top. She followed with ease.

Speedy stopped and turned to her. "So, you're okay with a bow," he began.

"I'm more than okay with a bow," she answered. "I'm the best."

"Sure you are," he said clearly unimpressed. "Unfortunately you'll have to do."

"For what?"

"Saving Green Arrow," Speedy said. "He's been captured by the Thanagarians and I know where he's being held. Problem is that I don't think I can pull off a rescue alone."

"Where is he being held?"

"The old abandoned prison," he told her.

"Why are they holding him there?" she asked. "Why not take him to wherever it is the League is being held?"

"Because it's a trap," Speedy said.

"A trap?" she questioned nervously. "For who?"

"Me," he said.

"Why are they after heroes anyway?" Arrowette asked him. "Aren't they just giving us a reason to fight them?"

"Diversion," Speedy said. "They're keeping us occupied while they finish whatever it is they're building in the Gobi Desert. They fear that we'll all form up to stop them, like the league. And they're right, we would."

"Do you know what they're building?" she asked him.

"Not a clue," he answered. "But whatever it is, we need to stop them."

"Sounds simple enough," she said with more than a hint of sarcasm.

He folded his arms. "If you don't think you're up to it, then you can walk."

"No, I'll help," she said quickly. "I'm tough. I've taken out plenty of badguys."

"These aren't just any badguys, these are trained warriors who are stronger than us, not to mention they can fly. We have to stealth this, because if we're seen then it's probably over."

"I understand," she said with a nod.

Speedy sat down on the roof. "In that case, we wait until nightfall."

"Here?" she asked, gesturing to the roof beneath them.

"Yes," he said. "Here."

She pointed towards the sky. "What about the Thanagarians, they can fly."

"They haven't been patrolling. They're waiting for me to come to them."

"If you're sure," she said as she sat down beside him.

"I'm sure. What I'm not sure about is you. I guess we'll see if you have any actual talent or not."

"I won't let you down."

"We'll see," he said clearly unconvinced.

Star City

United States

23:04 – Western Daylight Time

June 04, 2004

Speedy and Arrowette moved swiftly through the darkening city. The sun had sunk beneath the horizon, washing dark shadows across the city.

The people that saw them stopped and stared, though no one approached or said a word. Maybe it was the look of absolute concentration on their masked faces, or perhaps it was because they both had their bows in hand. Whatever the reason, they were glad that none got in their way.

They had soon left the city limits behind and were on a ridge that overlooked the old prison. They were laid on their stomachs, while Speedy looked through a pair of small binoculars.

He lowered them and looked at Arrowette. "There's a reason this place was abandoned."

"Why's that?" she asked.

"Shut up and I'll tell you." She glowered at him, but he ignored her as he continued. "An earthquake a few years back shifted the rock it was built on. Half the prisoners escaped because huge holes were torn in the walls." He raised his binoculars back up. "That was a fun day," he mused.

"So I guess it was shut after that?" she asked.

"Yeah, the whole place was condemned." He lowered the binoculars again. "What are they doing," he mumbled.

"What's wrong?"

"Ten Thanagarians just jumped into their ship."

Cissie watched as the ship in the distance took to the sky and shot off to the east.

"Where do you think they're going?"

"Don't know and I don't care," he said. "What I do care about is that it means less of those winged freaks in that prison. This might be easier than we thought."

"Don't jinx it," Arrowette mumbled.

Speedy ignored the comment as he stood up. "Let's go."

The two of them made their way down the hillside and hid in the shrubbery while Speedy assessed their point of entry. Seeing no guards or signs of surveillance equipment, they headed around the back and through a large hole in the rear wall.

Inside it was near pitch black. Speedy pulled out a flashlight from somewhere and shone it forwards. "Now the fun begins," he said.

"How do we find him?" she asked.

"Look for any sign of light. He'll probably be in a lit area."

"Right," she said with a nod. "I'll be on the lookout."

"Good," came his response.

They continued down the darkened hallway until Cissie noticed some light coming from under a door to the left.

"There," she whispered, pointing up ahead.

Speedy nodded and turned off his light and proceeded to notch an arrow. "Let's go. But cautiously."

She nodded in affirmation as they made their way towards the door.

Speedy put his ear against it. He then reached for the handle and pulled it slowly open. They walked through and along a brightly lit corridor. They then slowed as they heard talking.

"That's Green Arrow," Speedy said. "Sounds like he's trying to keep the guards distracted."

"You think he knows we're here?"

"I don't know," Speedy answered. "Chances are he's close to escaping himself. He just needs a little help."

Speedy checked his bow before he continued on, Arrowette following close behind.

They soon found where Green Arrow was being held. Two Thanagarian guards were stood there guarding him, though they appeared distracted.

"Two of them, two of us," Speedy said. "You ready?"

She nodded, despite the fact her heart was pumping hard in her chest. She was used to catching low-tier criminals, not fighting two male Hawkgirls. She had to remind herself not to dwell too much on it.

"What kind of arrows do you have?" he asked her, keeping his voice down.

"Regular and some ball tipped ones for knockouts," she told him.

"You wanna cause damage or just a knockout?"

Arrowette shrugged. "I don't tend to try and wound people. I usually hit them with my ball-tipped arrows."

"Not sure that will work against these guys," Speedy told her. "We need to go in hard and we need to go in fast. They need to be down before they know what's happening."

She notched a regular arrow.

"Go for the knees and the wings," Speedy told her.

She nodded. "That was my intention," she said. Well, she was going to go for the knees. She hadn't even considered trying to disable the wings.

"We go on three."

"On three," she said with a nod.

"One," he began. "Two," he continued. "Three."

They both jumped out of cover and let their arrows fly. Speedy hit the one on the left in his right knee and Arrowette hit the one on the right in his left.

They had barely any time to respond before the two aliens found themselves hitting the floor.

It was then that Green Arrow freed himself and punched one of the fallen Thanagarians hard in the face. Unfortunately, it just angered him.

The Thanagarian grabbed Green Arrow's leg and threw him across the room. He hit the wall hard with a grunt and then fell onto the hard floor with an audible "Oof."

Cissie wasted no time notching a ball-tipped arrow and firing it. It struck the now rising Thanagarian in the face and knocked him backwards. Before she could fire another, Speedy shot an arrow that exploded into gas on impact. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of the room, Green Arrow close on their heels.

The older blond archer smiled at them. "Good timing," he said, before adding, "That gas will keep them out for a few hours."

Arrowette glared at Speedy. "Why didn't you use that first?"

Speedy shrugged. "Didn't want to knock out Arrow. The guy's heavy to carry."

Green Arrow looked at Arrowette. "While I'm grateful, would you mind telling me why you're here and not in Gateway City?"

"Aliens have invaded," she said with a shrug. "Or hadn't you noticed?"

"I noticed," he said with a frown.

Speedy interjected. "You two know each other?"

"No," Arrowette said.

"I knew her mother," Green Arrow said. "Miss Arrowette, Bonnie King. She was a bronze medal winner in the summer games. Showed promise but never achieved it, at least not in competition. I was only a year into being Green Arrow when someone else, another archer, started moving into my territory. Miss Arrowette. Turned out I inspired her into using her skills to fight crime."

Arrowette who had remained silent suddenly spoke up. "Wait, hold on. How well did you know mom?"

"I knew her well enough. Tried to get her to quit, but unfortunately, it wasn't until after your father died that she heeded it."

"D-dad?" she asked, genuinely surprised. "You knew dad?"

"Yeah, Bernell. He was a good man."

She didn't know if it was because she had breathed in some of that gas or if it was the sudden discovery that Green Arrow new her father, but she suddenly started to feel dizzy. "H-how did he die?" she asked.

Green Arrow hesitated. "I shouldn't have brought it up, I'm sorry. Forget I ever mentioned him."

Arrowette wanted to ask him, she wanted to know what happened to her father. She opened her mouth, but Green Arrow shook his head.

"No, kid. I can't tell you."

"But-"

"We have work to do," he interrupted. "We head to the Arrowcave."

Cissie would have laughed at the stupid name if she had been in the mood. Instead, she just stared. "You have a cave?"

"Yes and that's where we're heading."

Green Arrow took the lead, the other two following close behind.

Cissie was feeling slightly muddled. She didn't know that her mother had known Green Arrow and she didn't know how her father had died. She had never told her and any attempt to get the truth was met with silence or a change of subject.

Here was someone that might know and she intended to get that information out of him. Perhaps not now, but at some point.

Star City

United States

02:12 – Western Daylight Time

June 05, 2004

It took a while to get to the Arrowcave, one of the dumbest names for a secret lair Cissie had ever heard. Sure, Batman had a Batcave, but that made some sense. Bats lived in caves, arrows didn't.

Currently, Green Arrow was sitting at the computer typing away. Speedy was doing, well, he was doing something. He currently wasn't in the cave.

As for Arrowette, she was starting to become impatient.

She looked at Green Arrow. "We know where they're building their device. It's in the Gobi Desert," she said suddenly.

"I know," Green Arrow responded. "But we don't have a way to get there."

Cissie frowned and gestured to the jet that sat in a large open part of the cave. "What's that?"

"It was damaged a few months back," he told her. "I haven't had time to repair it."

"Why not?"

"Been busy and I don't even use it that much."

"So how do we get there?"

"Not easily," he answered. "It will take maybe a day or two but I think I'll be able to patch up the plane. It only holds two people, so you're staying here."

"Like h-"

"Don't argue," he interrupted as he turned around. "With luck, we won't have to go at all."

"What makes you say that?"

"The Justice League have escaped. The Thanagarians are demanding that they are found and turned in or there will be consequences. I hope they do manage to stop them, because I prefer helping the little guy, not stopping invasions by psychotic aliens."

"When did they escape?"

"Not sure, could have been an hour, could have been a day," he said standing up. He then pointed to a chair in the corner. "You sit there and don't touch anything."

She did as she was told, but she didn't appreciate how he was speaking to her. After sitting there for several minutes she heard footsteps. She looked over to see Speedy had arrived with two items rolled under his arms. He unfurled one revealing a sleeping bag.

He looked at her and gestured to it. "Thought you might need something to sleep on."

"I'm not tired," she said.

Green Arrow who was currently leaning into an open panel on his jet stood up straight and looked over at her. "Go get some rest," he told her. "You might need it."

When she didn't move, he pointed. "I'm not asking," Green Arrow said. "Look, you want to be part of the action, I get it. But these aren't just some thugs, these are powerful aliens."

"I'm not stupid," she said, folding her arms.

"I never said you were," Green Arrow said earnestly. "How about this, you go get some sleep and I'll consider taking you along."

Speedy folded his arms. "Two seats remember."

"You two can squeeze in the back seat," Green Arrow said.

"No way," Arrowette and Speedy said together.

"Either that's how it goes, or Arrowette isn't coming," Green Arrow put simply.

Speedy shrugged. "Then she ain't coming," he said.

"Fine," she said in frustration. "I'll go catch up on some sleep."

She stood up from the chair she was sat on and sauntered over to where the sleeping bags were. Then, she slowly climbed into one.

Cissie had no intention of going to sleep. There was a chance they would leave without her if she did, so she lay there staring at the rocky ceiling and waited.

Unfortunately, Speedy noticed. "You can't sleep with your eyes open."

She looked at him with a glare. Unlike his and Green Arrow's masks, hers weren't white. Instead, she had eyeholes that showed her eyes.

Speedy laughed at her, which only made her madder. "Give me that look all you want," he said.

"I don't see you getting any rest," she pointed out. "Either of you."

Green Arrow glanced over from the jet. "We're busy."

"He's not," Arrowette said, pointing at Speedy.

Much to Speedy's dismay, his mentor agreed, "She's right. Go get some sleep. I'll need you both well rested."

"So she's coming with us?"

Green Arrow put down his tool and dusted off his hands. "Just go get some rest, Speedy. We'll figure out the specifics of who's going where in the morning, okay?"

"No it ain't okay," Speedy said. "I wanna be out there kicking butt, not sleeping."

"Just do what I say, Roy."

Cissie watched in surprise as Speedy almost had a meltdown right in front of her eyes. "Don't use my name in front of her," he shouted.

"Slip of the tongue," Green Arrow said as he reached back into the open access panel on the side of the plane.

"So was this, Oliver," Speedy retorted.

Arrowette chuckled. Oliver was a stupid real name for a superhero. Oliver wasn't really a name she heard very often. In fact, the last time she heard it was back at the boarding school when her sponsor, Oliver Queen had wanted to meet her.

She looked across at Green Arrow who was now just stood there staring at her, his face going slightly pale.

That's when it hit her.

Oliver Queen had said that he knew his mother years ago. Green Arrow said he also knew not only her mother but also her father. He even had the same blond colour hair and the goatee beard. And looking around at the cave, it was clear that he had to be rich to afford all of this stuff.

She sat up suddenly as a suspicion began to form in her mind, a suspicion regarding her mother and how child services knew who she was.

"You told them," she said pointing at the man she now knew was Oliver Queen. "It had to be you."

Speedy frowned. "What's she going on about?"

She climbed out of the sleeping bag and approached Oliver, who now had a worried look on his face.

"You told them who I was," she accused. "How else would you have known, Oliver?"

"I prefer Ollie and it's not what you think," he said.

"Liar!" she shouted. "Why did you sponsor me? Was it out of guilt because you told those people who had my mom arrested?"

He turned to face her. "Listen, kid. I knew what was going on, but I never told anyone about anything. I heard an Arrowette was operating in Gateway City so I kept tabs. When I heard Bonnie had been arrested for assault and battery, I did what I could to help you. That's it. It wasn't me who told them anything. They figured it out, which let's be honest wasn't hard. Your mom, when she did her brief stint as Miss Arrowette fifteen years ago, didn't wear a mask, so people easily figured out who she was. It wouldn't take much of a search to make the connection between Bonnie and you."

Arrowette went quiet. She didn't know if he was telling the truth or not, but he did have a point about her mother not wearing a mask and people finding out who she was.

Her thoughts then fell on her father. It was said that heroes wear masks to not only protect their own identity but also to protect loved ones. Was that the reason she had never been told what happened to him? Did her mistake of not hiding who she was, result in his death?

Arrowette pulled off her cowl and looked Oliver Queen in the whites of his eye mask. "How did dad die?" she asked him sincerely. "I need to know."

"It's not my place to say, kid," he told her. "If your mom wanted you to know, then she would have told you."

"Just tell me," Cissie demanded. "I need this. I need to know what happened."

"I can't tell you, I'm sorry," he told her sympathetically.

"No," she said, not intending to allow him to refuse her. "You're gonna tell me, I need to know this, Ollie, please."

"I can't."

"Tell me!"

"I'm sorry," he said as he turned his attention back to the jet.

"Then I'm done here," she said, turning toward where her bow and quiver lay.

Once again, Green Arrow put down his tools and turned to her. "Don't be stupid, Suzanne. It's late. Just get some rest, we can deal with everything in the morning."

"It's Cissie and I'm not stupid," she said as she picked up her bow and quiver.

"Where are you going?"

"Home, to finally get some answers about dad."

"Gateway City isn't a stroll away. Just relax, take a few minutes to think this over."

"I'm done thinking this over. I'm leaving."

"Cissie, I know you're upset about all this, but you're tired. Get some rest and if you feel the same way in the morning, I'll let you leave."

She hesitated before she put her things back down. "Fine," she mumbled.

Truth was, she really was feeling tired and wasn't thinking straight. It would be dangerous to run out in her condition, especially since she hadn't gotten much sleep in the last few days.

Cissie headed back to the sleeping bag and climbed back in, all without uttering another word. She closed her eyes, wanting the day to be over and for tomorrow to begin.

She didn't know when it happened, but eventually, exhaustion took over and she finally fell asleep.

Updated January 2018