Episode Three

The Arc of an Arrow

Chapter Three

Star City

United States

13:21 – Western Daylight Time

June 06, 2004

Cissie felt someone gently shaking her awake. She frowned as she opened her eyes to see a maskless Oliver Queen stooped over her.

"Good afternoon," he said smiling.

She rubbed her eyes as she sat up. "Afternoon?"

"Twenty-past one," he told her.

She quickly climbed out of the sleeping bag. "That's like eleven hours."

"Just about, yeah," he said with a nod.

She slowly stood up. "Are we going?"

"Going where?" he asked as he too stood up.

She rolled her eyes in frustration. "To stop the Thanagarians."

He turned away from her casually. "No need."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Justice League dealt with it. The Thanagarians are packing their things and should be gone well before the end of the day."

That surprised and also disappointed her. "When did that happen?"

"They would have been dropping their space station onto the Gobi Desert around the time you were helping me escape."

"They crashed their space station onto that thing they were building?"

"As far as I'm aware, yes. The news is still unclear. Now get ready, we're heading out in the jet."

That confused her. If they weren't off to stop the Thanagarians, then where were they going in the jet? She verbalised her thoughts. "Where?"

"I'm taking you home, Cissie. You should be back at Saint Elias, not out here."

She shook her head. "No, I'm not going back there. I'm Arrowette, I'm a hero."

"You're a kid."

She felt her ire rising again. "And how old was Speedy when he started?" she questioned.

"It's not the same," he said dismissively.

"How is it not the same?" she demanded.

"Because I was there to back him up. I was there to make sure he was safe. I was there to make sure he wasn't hurt and I was there to make sure if he was, that he got the medical attention he needed. You're all alone, you have no back-up, you have no one looking out for you."

"There's plenty of kids my age who're heroes. Why am I different?"

"Because the other kids that act alone all have powers. You're just a normal girl. Besides, they shouldn't really be doing it either."

She shook her head in disagreement. "You're trying to justify your opinion, but you can't. I have as much right as they do, as Speedy did."

Much to her surprise, Speedy, who she didn't even know was there, came to her aid. "She's right. She has the skill and she'll just waste away in that school."

Both Arrowette and Green Arrow looked around to see Speedy stood there in his full uniform.

"She still needs an education," Ollie pointed out.

"And I know where she can get that and be Arrowette."

Oliver shook his head. "She's not joining the junior Justice League."

"They're not the junior Justice League, they do some real good. And I think it should be her decision, not yours."

Ollie looked at her. "I guess he's right. It should be your decision. But I don't think it's the right decision."

Cissie had to admit. She had no idea what they were talking about. "I'd like to know what I'm deciding first."

"To join the Titans," Speedy explained. "Bumblebee's in charge, not sure who the other current members are, haven't kept up, but they're always looking to boost their ranks with skilled heroes."

"I'm not sure," she said.

"Big decision," Oliver said. "Make sure you think it through fully before deciding. What you decide here might shape the rest of your life."

Before he had even finished exhaling from the last sentence, she made her decision. "I'm in."

Ollie frowned. "That's not thinking it through."

"I have thought it through, and I'm in," she said firmly. "But I wanna see mom first."

"That'll be difficult. She's in jail," he pointed out.

"You could bail her out," Cissie said.

Ollie folded his arms. "I don't tend to bail people out of jail. Besides, it's best I don't get involved."

"Fine, but I want to see her all the same."

Ollie glanced at Speedy, then back to Cissie. "I'll leave it up to the both of you."

Speedy perked up. "What do you mean?"

"You're taking the jet. Bring it back in one piece."

A huge grin spread across his lips. "Now we're talkin'."

"You have twelve hours," Oliver said. "Then I'm recalling the plane."

Speedy practically ran to the jet. "Come on Arrowette," he called over. "Let's get going."

She grabbed her bow and quiver and followed, stopping briefly in front of Ollie. "Thanks," she said to him.

"You're welcome. Just make sure that this is really what you want. You have the chance to be a normal, kid. Don't throw it away."

"I don't wanna be a normal kid, the same way you don't wanna be a normal man. Arrowette is more than just a costume."

Oliver Queen rested a hand on her shoulder. "Good luck, Cissie."

"I don't need luck, I have skill." She ran after Speedy and climbed into the rear seat of the jet.

"Bring the plane back in one peace," Ollie shouted.

"You've said that already," Speedy pointed out.

"Because I mean it."

"Don't worry, there won't be so much as a scratch."

"There better not be."

Speedy waved with a goofy grin on his face as the dark tinted glass canopy closed and the jet swung around before it was accelerated down the short runway, the door opening up as the jet shot between them, its destination: Gateway City.

Gateway City

United States

14:32 – Western Daylight Time

June 06, 2004

The small city jail was used for short-term sentences for what was deemed smaller crimes. A few of the people Arrowette herself had caught ended up here.

Arrowette and Speedy stood at the front desk, a guard sat behind it, looking them up and down.

"Who did you say you were?" the man asked Arrowette.

She repeated what she had just told him. "Arrowette, I'm here to see someone."

The man looked from her to Speedy then back again. "You know there's people looking for you," he said to her. "It's pretty much gotten out that you're Suzanne Jones, so I guess you're here to see your mom?"

She grimaced. "Yeah, I am."

"Well, it was a wasted trip. She's been moved to a different location for her own safety."

"Where?" Cissie asked him.

"Don't know," he replied.

"Don't you have some idea?" Cissie pleaded. "I really need to see her."

"I heard she was put in a safe house somewhere. You'd have to speak with the police commissioner."

"Then that's what I'll do," Cissie said as she turned and left with Speedy hot on her heels.

"You think that's a good idea?" he asked her as they stepped up to the jet.

"To see the commissioner?" she asked back, looking for clarification.

"Yeah," he said.

"I don't know, but I need to see her. I need to find out what happened to dad."

"Then let's go find the commish."

Gateway City

United States

14:56 – Western Daylight Time

June 06, 2004

Mike Schorr, the Police Commissioner of Gateway City stepped over to his office with a cup of coffee in hand. It had been a quiet day so far and with the Thanagarians packing up their things, it was only going to get better. Not that they had really affected things here in Gateway, they had largely gone unmolested by the invasion.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside only to find that he wasn't alone. Stood before him, were two of the so-called "heroes" in full costume, apparently waiting for him.

"Well if it isn't Suzanne Jones," Schorr said with a smile, before looking at Speedy. "And Robin Hood's sidekick."

"It's Green Arrow and I'm not his sidekick," Speedy objected.

Schorr simply shrugged as he moved past them and sat down in his chair. "I'm guessing you're here to find out where your mother is," he said. "And I'm also guessing that you have no intention of going back to Saint Elias."

"Yes to the first and no, I'm not going back, to the second," Arrowette said, confirming his suspicions.

He leant back in his chair "I could try and force you to give this up and return to Elias," he began. Arrowette tensed up. "But I know better," he finished. "Besides, I think I owe you. You helped get some real scum off the streets."

She folded her arms. "So, you're not gonna lecture me on me being too young?"

"No, but I am gonna tell you that I think you heroes are dangerous."

Speedy folded his arms. "Heard it all before."

"Not in the way I'm thinking," Schorr said. "You're dangerous because you can make a police force become idle and lazy."

"Don't worry, once I've seen mom, I'm gone," Cissie assured him. "I'm going to join the Titans."

"I'm not going to pretend I know who they are," Schorr said as he steepled his fingers. He then leant forward and opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a scrap of paper, before he scribbled something on it. He slid it over and Cissie picked it up. "It's the address of where your mother is at," he told her. "I'll call ahead, let them know you're coming. Just try not to be seen."

"Don't worry, I won't," she said. "And thanks."

Schorr stood up and pulled a file from a filing cabinet. "Now if you don't mind I'm busy. You can see yourselves out."

Gateway City

United States

16:21 – Western Daylight Time

June 06, 2004

Arrowette moved in towards the house alone. She went around the back and jumped over the fence where she found herself looking down the barrels of two pistols.

The cops, a man and a woman, lowered their guns and the woman spoke, "We were told you were coming. We're supposed to let you talk to your mom, so go ahead."

Cissie nodded and moved past them and stepped through the back door into the house to see her mother sat at the kitchen table.

"Cissie, it's good to see you," she said, standing up and giving her daughter a hug.

"Mom, stop," Cissie said, pushing her away. "I came because I need to know."

Bonnie frowned. "Know what?"

"About dad."

Bonnie turned away, her whole posture sagging.

"I need to know how he died."

"He died a hero, that's all you need to know," Bonnie said as she stared at the door, still facing away from her daughter.

"I need to know, mom. How did he die?"

Bonnie turned to face her. "It's best that we leave his memory to rest."

"No, I'm not excepting that, not this time. You're gonna tell me, I need this."

"It's best left alone. It happened so long ago. Let the memory rest."

Cissie shook her head. "I've let it rest for my whole life up till now. I never knew him and I think I deserve to know how he died, mom. I think I deserve to know who or what took my dad from me before I got to know him. Every single time I've asked you've not answered or changed the subject. It's time I knew, mom. How did dad die?"

Without saying anything, Bonnie sat back down a the table, indicating she wasn't going to say anything.

"Mom, I just want to know. You've never told me and I think I deserve to know."

Still, she didn't answer. She kept her focus on the table, her fingers webbed together.

It didn't matter, the silence spoke volumes. "It was your fault, wasn't it."

Her mother began to fiddle with her fingers, not uttering a word. Cissie couldn't take it anymore. She slammed her hand down hard on the table top, making her mother jump.

"What happened?" the daughter demanded through gritted teeth. "Why have you never told me how he died?"

Her mother said nothing. She continued to fiddle with her fingers as though her daughter wasn't even there in the room with her.

"Tell me!" Cissie yelled.

"Because it was my fault!" Bonnie shouted loudly. "It was never meant for him."

"What wasn't meant for him?" Cissie questioned, beginning to fear what her mother was going to tell her.

Bonnie shook her head, her eyes closed shut tightly. "Heroes wear masks for a reason. I didn't. It's why he took him. He knew who I was and so he took him to get at me."

"Did he kill him?" Cissie questioned. "Who was he, what was his name?"

"It was meant for the monster, not for him," Bonnie said.

"Who?" Bonnie asked. "You're not making sense. Who killed dad?"

"I did."

It took several seconds for Cissie to realise what she had just said. "W-what?"

"The arrow. It was meant for the monster who took him, who hurt him. But I-" she stopped as she held her head in her hands. "I missed."

She broke down into tears while Cissie just stared at her in disbelief. All these years she had wondered what had happened, how he had died and why she couldn't find out how. She had looked online and the most she could discern was that he had died, but not how he had.

"You shot him?" Cissie demanded. "How could you?"

Her mother didn't answer. She just continued to sob into her hands.

Cissie didn't know how she should be feeling. She didn't upset, sad or anything else. She just felt hollow, empty. This was not anything like she had expected. For him to be killed by her mother in an accident while trying to save him? It was tragic.

Knowing that she wasn't going to get anything more out of it, Cissie turned away. "Goodbye, mom," she said, her eyes closed.

After a few moments, she opened them again to see the two police officers stood by the door.

"Everything alright?" the woman asked.

Cissie shook her head and moved past them out into the backyard and continued on, jumping over the rear fence into the alley behind it.

Perhaps it would have been better if she had never known. It was too late now and she would have to live with the knowledge that her dad was dead because of her mother.

The sooner she could get away from this city, the better.

Somewhere Above The Eastern United States

23:42 – Eastern Daylight Time

June 06, 2004

The journey so far had been in silence. While Speedy piloted the Arrow Jet, Cissie sat in the seat behind, her mind stuck on what her mother had said.

The thing she couldn't figure out was how it was possible that her mother had shot her father, even if it was an accident. Cissie herself would never take a shot if there was any doubt in her mind that she would not only miss the target but hit someone else.

The truth was she could dwell on it for hours, but without any context of the circumstances, she would never know if it was her mother's own vanity and ego in her own skill that had ended up killing her father, or if it was a genuine accident.

She looked up at the back of Speedy's head. "How long?" she asked.

"I'd say only a few minutes now," he answered. "You doing okay? You haven't said a word since you came back from seeing your mom."

"I will be once I start my new life," she answered.

"Don't get your hopes set too high. There's a chance Bumblebee won't want you."

Cissie felt her heart miss a beat. That had never even crossed her mind. "But she won't do that, will she?"

"It's unlikely she'll just turn you away. But apparently, the last one she took on butted heads with her."

"Who was that?"

"Robin Junior," Speedy answered.

"Robin Junior?" Cissie questioned.

"The second Robin," he explained. "The first is Nightwing now."

"Oh, right, okay," she said. "Why didn't they get along?"

"I don't know," he said with a slight shrug. "I guess no one can compare to Batman. When we spoke, she told me that on missions he was always second guessing her, telling her that he had a better way of doing things. Eventually, she had enough and sent him packing back to Batman."

"Maybe he did know of a better way," Cissie said.

"Probably, but it doesn't matter. Bumblebee's the leader and what she says goes."

"Are you telling me that you never second guess Green Arrow?"

He chuckled. "All the time," he said. "But it works. Bumblebee feels she has to prove herself, still, after all of this time. The Titans don't get the name recognition they deserve and it eats her up inside."

"So, how did the Titan start?" she asked.

"That's a long tale," he answered. "With me it starts with Ollie kicking me out."

"Why did he do that?"

Speedy adjusted his seating position, an indication that he wasn't comfortable with the answer. "I had some personal issues," he said. "But we've patched things up."

"It's not my business," she said quickly.

"No. Anyway, I headed as far away from him as I could, which was the east coast. That's where I met Robin for the second time."

"Second?"

"I've met him before and this is the first Robin we're talking about. He'd had an argument with Batman and had left Gotham. He wasn't really Robin anymore at that point, but he wasn't Nightwing yet either."

"And you two formed a team?" she asked.

"Not at all. While we were sorta friends, we weren't really, if you know what I mean. Anyway, it wasn't until we met Lilith Clay when things started to get interesting."

"How so?"

"I'll tell you later, we're coming up on our destination."

Cissie fell silent as Speedy brought the jet into land. The canopy then slid open and he climbed out, followed closely by her.

She looked around to find that they were on a small island surrounded by water. In the darkness, she could see the lights from buildings all around her and the bay.

"Where are we?" she asked him.

"New York," Speedy answered.

Cissie rolled her eyes. "No, where in New York."

"Lower bay," he told her. "Now are you ready?"

Cissie stood up straight. "Yes, I'm ready."

"Then follow me."

Speedy led the way as they descended down between two rocks towards a steel door. He then input a code and the it slid open.

"Hey, it still works," he said. "Oh and they are expecting us," he said with a smile.

The two of them stepped inside and from that moment on, Cissie's life was changed.

Updated January 2018