I promise there will be some big WTF's coming up soon. I hope you like the teasers I placed in this chapter.

The Foundry 17:55 PM PST

Like magic the ARGUS mainframe was replicated onto the Foundry screens, only Felicity, a phone call from the IT tech followed with instructions.

"Ok thanks Felicity—" John rolled his eyes as she prattled on warning him what not to touch, "yes I won't disturb anything else, I'm not entirely incompetent when it comes to computers y'know". Since Smoak was preoccupied with Palmer's re-branding ceremony, he volunteered to search the mainframe while his colleagues were off on their own errands. Palmer had finally decided to drop the Queen Consolidated name and make the company his own. The move didn't do much for Oliver's family legacy-or his pride-but everyone had to move forward didn't they?

Dig leaned to the keyboard and opened the navigation page. "Let's see, CADMUS", he typed it out, and mused "What are you hiding Amanda?"

Several files popped onto the screen, most were statistics, but some were disturbing images of animal-testing and morphed computer generated models of what he assumed were viruses or highly advanced bacterial colonies. The depraved research projects of CADMUS I assume? Ever since the Siege however, it wasn't difficult to imagine what unethical experiments were being conducted somewhere in the world by 'well-meaning' scientific organizations or a secret government research facility. If he could believe in the crusade of a man who wore a costume and carried a bow and arrow; then he could believe that the sci-fi mumbo jumbo in the movies were things of reality now. I have yet to see what beats a superhuman-soldier though.

He scrolled down a statistical analysis to the end of the page and read out loud; "'proceedings approved by Dr Neimsov Karkaroff, project funded by the Hierar—'"

BOOM!

Diggle dived into the space between the desk and Roy's glass case as the Foundry was engulfed in smoke, his ears ringing. Projecting out of the grey clouds were red lasers fixed on the barrels of military grade assault rifles waving around in arches, searching for signs of life. He repressed a moan and stood unsteadily, feeling like he was standing on water, he looked for his glock. John cursed when he remembered he had left it on the table. That was when a uniformed man emerged from the coverage, John zoned in on the insignia on their breast.

"What the—?"

A dart punctured his neck, the Foundry's ceiling turned upside down.

District Attorney's Office 17:57 PM PST

Call it a sixth sense, or a habitual instinct, but deep in his bones he could feel a war brewing in Starling City. It could be Oliver's imagination running wild but with Roy coming back with rumours of gangs gaining control again, Vertigo redistribution, and this Red Hood character, each factor threatened to unravel the calm he had worked tirelessly for five months to establish. If the Red Hood was as big a threat as he posed then they had to take him out first, maybe pit him against Werner Zyrtle? Whatever Red Hood was, newcomers were not welcome in his city to exploit what peace it had left and he would see an end to them permanently. I cannot let anything get in my way. Him and Felicity weren't talking much and she had her job, Diggle was only an associate member of the team because of Rose, at least I have Roy to count on, he's on my side, maybe before he was not but things are different now, we have the same goals, and he won't let me down.

He observed the pedestrians around him, a man walking his dog, an elderly couple enjoying a late lunch at the bistro, school children leaving a visit from the natural history museum. His celebrity status had become diminutive and the quiet was welcome, these are the people I'm protecting. He reached the curb that would take him directly to the District Attorney's office, the reason being to check on Laurel and see how they could put an end to Vertigo.

Something black moved in the corner.

The curb behind him was what set his attention on full. Oliver halted and doubled back, paranoid? He doubted it, if anything he should be warier of his surroundings these days. Even being Oliver Queen wasn't safe.

A giant black SUV skidded in the middle of the road, blocking his path entirely. He didn't need to turn around to know another had pulled up behind him, reminiscent of his days in Hong Kong.

A dozen agents barraged out of the van with Beretta's aimed at him as if he would disappear in thin air if they weren't; he raised his arms over his head.

2009

Hong Kong

He paced the length of the room, shooting out ideas that could possibly provide an alternate explanation to rectify the falsity that Malcolm Merlyn had a link to the Triad.

"We have gone through satellite footage of the market and searched the runner's body" said Maseo, packing the sniper rifle into its matte black case. In the end they killed him. Obviously.

"We also have confirmation that Malcolm Merlyn landed in Hong Kong this morning. He has a room at the Sheraton, we will set up position north-east of his suite."

"No we won't, Merlyn Global has a branch in Shanghai; he could be here on business that has nothing to do with the Triad. We still have time."

"It's been two hours Oliver, whatever brilliant revelation you need to have to prove Merlyn's innocence has got to be within the next three or he's dead by your hand."

He pulled his eyes away from the rifle, it was unnerving. "Stop pressuring me, help me out here Maseo, you're the super-secret spy here remember?"

"I am certainly not a spy who needs to use double adjectives to describe myself" he said dryly. "Whatever it is we cannot allow the meeting to happen, the point of killing him was to take out a traitor of the United States".

He snapped his fingers when an idea popped in his head. "I got it. I know how to get Malcolm to confess to the reason he's in Hong Kong."

"What is that?"

"I'll just ask him."

"You will do no such thing!"

"Not as Oliver Queen!"

"You intend to torture your best friend's father? That's a stone's throw away from murdering him isn't it? Asking him won't be any use since he would only lie to you and then we would release him, only for him to reschedule the meet with the Triad and we'll be back to zero!"

"Okay, okay, but I have an idea, and it's a little harebrained but I think it could work."

"Fine, what is your brilliant plan?"

"When I was on the island I was given a truth serum, you have access to that spy-crap don't you? If we capture Malcolm and give it to him he will tell me everything, and I won't have to cut him to bits", a task he would avoid at all costs if possible. "There won't be a secret I won't be able to get out of him."

"It is not a technique that Amanda approves of."

"Amanda thinks that dealing with your enemies means you must incite indiscernible agony on them to get them to cooperate. But he doesn't deserve that, especially if he's innocent. I don't care what she likes or doesn't like, but since you haven't totally shot this idea down, does that mean it could work?"

"It is insane", here he sighed tiredly because he had no other choice but to entertain this folly, perhaps there could a be a friendship here, "but doable. Beforehand we must take precautions, none of Merlyn's security or any Triad spies must be alerted that he is being questioned by ARGUS. He disappears and we ask him what we need too, if he is guilty then you must be prepared to execute him on the spot, understood?"

Really? Do you have to talk to me like I'm a child who needs everything explained to him? "Yeah, yeah, understood" he said with chaste insincerity.

Maseo, ever the thorough-spy said, "even if he is innocent, who is the real Triad sponsor? They are the enemy of the State that we must find and assassinate."

He shrugged, the fact that he was going to see someone from his old life as Oliver Queen the billionaire playboy finally dawning on him, it was so perverse for both worlds to crash like this. "One step at a time Maseo."

The Mercedes Benz waited for him in the car park, discreet and hidden from the public eye. With Tommy's latest irresponsible reckless debaucheries he had been dodging paparazzi left and right since Starling airport. It took an immense amount of willpower to stop himself from stabbing a pudgy photographer in the neck with an arrow just so he would get out of his way. He never needed security since he trained with the League but he kept his driver for appearances. To the world he was sitll Malcolm Meryn, CEO of Merlyn Global, nothing else.

Merlyn opened the car door and rested his briefcase on the seat.

The doors immediately locked, he frowned at the driver who turned his head an inch, he did not recognize him and Malcolm didn't need to be told twice what was going on.

Mist flooded the compartment before he could wrap his hands around the kidnapper's neck and he blacked out.

For a man who had been drugged and kidnapped Malcolm Merlyn wasn't nervous, or afraid or even shocked that he had been taken against his will, instead he looked…bored. It made Oliver wonder if he had ever gone through this before, maybe he is hiding more than I know. Merlyn said, "If you want money there's a Platinum credit card in my wallet, my watch would do finely on the pawn market if you could even figure out how much it's worth to begin with." He even had the composure to mock them snobbishly.

"We don't want your money or your watch", Oliver replied using a voice modulator.

"Who sent you?" He demanded, clearly this was more than a rudimentary thievery or ransom. That he could handle with flying colours; but this could only mean that his Starling allies were getting jittery to point of absolute idiocy and had decided to take him down, and with such poor planning too. Such ignorance. They obviously don't know who they're messing with.

"I only need to ask you one question Mr. Merlyn." Tommy's father was doubtful of that; little did they know he was slowly slipping his wrists out of the restraints. It was moments such as these where he was thankful of the harrowing League training he had forced himself through; it changed him for the better, for Rebecca. The question stopped him in his efforts though, they had caught his curiosity, and not many could achieve that with Malcolm Merlyn, whom had so many secrets and mysteries of his own to hide.

"Why are you in Hong Kong?"

His face had more surprise than fear in it. And then it felt as though they had sliced open his skull and were probing his brain. Merlyn instantly knew what they had injected him with. Whoever sent them had no intention of doing him any harm but if he did not battle the chemicals in his blood inducing him to spew his secrets, he might ruin his plans for the Undertaking all on his own. But pain was the essence of a warrior and after a minute of struggling until sweat dripped down his collar he felt he had a hold on the serum enough to answer their question vaguely and with a dash of theatrical acting. Play them like instruments to my advantage.

"The more you resist the more pain you will suffer. You must speak truly."

"I'm here to—top-" He resisted the urge to finish the sentence.

This concerned Oliver, he felt the weight of his sidearm grow heavier and he did not want to have to use it, he hastily whispered to Maseo. "It's not working".

"Point the gun at his head". Oliver gulped nervously and did as he was instructed, clocking the trigger, Merlyn flinched, I'm not hurting him, it's fine, he just needs a push and a reminder.

The ARGUS agent bent over their captive, "Mr. Merlyn, let me explain this situation to you, your life is on the line here if you are guilty; this is a trial we have given you and you must answer our question; are you here to meet the Chinese Triad? Chien Na Wei? Tell me."

"I don't know anyone from the Triad", he burst out, insulted by the accusation, but he stopped resisting which was a good sign, it meant he was telling the whole truth, "and I don't know a Chien Na Wei. I'm here to obtain f-funding for-for a project in—Starling." That last part appeared stressful for him to say without breaking the words up, as if he were choosing them carefully.

Oliver kept his loud sigh of relief to himself behind his balaclava; this nightmare could be over now, until Merlyn said something that lodged a lump of worry in his throat.

"But—but I know who is meeting with them."

Oliver nudged Maseo aside and stared at the businessman, careful to keep his features obscured in the shadows. "Who? How do you know this?"

"A—an old business contact, E—Elise Nefario, she tried to convince me to throw in with her and the Triad but I—I declined. I am not a man to associate myself with criminals."

He backed off, he wasn't pleased by this discovery, but it was progress, they had hit two birds with one stone. Feeling the need to thank him for his cooperation he said, "Mr. Merlyn you have done us a—"

The ARGUS agent punched the side of his head, knocking Merlyn unconscious.

"Maseo!"

Maseo scowled at him and went to untie Merlyn's restraints. "We have no time to spare chatting with him, we need to find Elise and ready our sniper positions."

"So it wasn't Malcolm", he said out loud to the agent who was busy accessing the ARGUS mainframe which required his paramount focus as it was a complex hack in itself. They had deposited Merlyn and his driver back in the Mercedes, and returned to their usual workplace.

"As you've proven…" Maseo trailed off.

"As I proved it was not. C'mon let me have it."

Maseo frowned as if he had suggested they and jump into the river for fun. "Excuse me?"

"A 'you were right Oliver'?"

He rolled his eyes unamused, but complied, "you were right Oliver. Satisfied?"

"Marginally."

A flurry of incomprehensible data that looked like the Matrix crossed the screen; he didn't know the agent was done decrypting until he announced it. "Got it. Just have to cross reference it with the ARGUS database."

When that was complete, Oliver read out the name, "Elise Nefario". A picture accompanied the file; she was a handsome woman with pale blue eyes and dark hair, for him, seeing what she looked like had not been a wise idea. Looks can be deceiving though.

"It could be an alias, any CEO of the fortune 500 companies with ties to the criminal underground would definitely not want to use their real name" Maseo pointed out."Anyway ARGUS already has a classified file on her. She's the owner of an Italian conglomerate, with strong ties to the Australian shipping industry. They list her to have military experience. She is also a widow. And like Malcolm Merlyn she has one son."

The picture was outdated, taken when the boy was 7, sandy hair, tanned skin, warm smile. He looked like Oliver did when he was that age, though with brown eyes instead of blue. His heart tightened a little to see it; he had to look somewhere else, hoping Maseo didn't notice his reaction.

But he had. "It seems that either way you were making someone an orphan tonight".

Oliver Queen stood and picked up the sniper rifle case, he liked to think he was a man of his word and that he stuck to it. "I said I would prove Malcolm was innocent and I have. This is who I have to kill."

Present Day

Queen Consolidated, 18:30 PM PST

Would a celebratory dance be inappropriate now? She mused to herself as she stood in front of two dozen photographers, journalists, news correspondents and the entire staff of—well she honestly did not know yet, Ray had not disclosed the name to her to keep it a surprise. Felicity Smoak only wanted to jump up and down at her successful super-star infiltration of ARGUS, in your face Amanda Waller!

"Palmlux", she whispered her guess to Ray Palmer standing beside her while the CFO gave his opening remarks to the press from the podium. Cameras flashing everywhere, Felicity and Ray had their faux smiles on until their faces hurt.

"Sounds like a brand of wax strips", he replied, still smiling wide with big white teeth, she snorted as she stopped herself from bursting out in laughter.

"Damn I was hoping the first choice would be the best one, okay, okay how about Palmdexon?"

"Sounds like a drug used to treat osteoarthritis", he glanced down at her, "and why do you assume I'm going to lump my name into it Ms. Smoak?"

She kept looking forward, never meeting his gaze. "Oh I know you will, rich geniuses like you enjoy putting their names on stuff—and eighty story buildings."

He gasped in mock hurt, "I am offended that you would think that of me", Ray leaned closer to her ear, "but you are also a hundred percent correct".

Felicity smiled genuinely then. She was happy at work, Ray had promoted her and now she was working out of Oliver's old office, not to mention he added an extra zero to her pay check, in addition she enjoyed her new title. Recently, he had asked her to recover data from a fried Applied Science hard drive. She was not concerned he was going to start manufacturing bio-weapons or mirakuru soldiers but Oliver's expressed doubts sometimes bothered her. "Ray, can I ask you a question? And be completely honest with your answer".

"When have I not been Ms. Smoak? Go for it."

"Why did you buy Queen Consolidated?"

"So you're done with guessing the possessive arrogant name I'm about to give our new company?"

Flattered by the fact that he referred to the company as 'our', she smiled but also gave him a look which meant serious business. He sighed, "why did I buy QC huh?" And glanced off into the crowd, thinking hard, his eyes were distant and nostalgic when they met hers again. "Because I love my city."

That was not the long-winded technical answer she was expecting, it wasn't even cocky. Garrett Newman urged for a round of applause for Ray Palmer and it was time for him to make his speech at the podium, which she wrote for him, some things about working at Queen Consolidated will never change.

"It is the beginning of a new era, a Star City…"

She glanced out into the spectators and recognized a very famous entrepreneur worth five times what Queen Consolidated could ever be worth. At that moment Ray gestured his hand proudly behind him as a blue 'PALMER TECH' projected onto every screen in the room, including the attendants cell phones, a nifty little scramble she had concocted for him for the purpose of special effect. They applauded and Ray was swarmed with reporters when he descended to the floor from the stage.

"'Palmer Tech'. Classic is timeless, don't you think?" Someone behind her said, it took a moment for Felicity to register the voice was speaking to her. She turned around and the very famous-she forgot to mention handsome-entrepreneur was addressing her.

"Mr. Wayne", she said brightly and shook his hand, "thank you for coming. I wasn't sure if you were going to make it."

"Ray is a mutual friend and Queen Consolidated was once a very promising partner for Wayne Industries. I'm glad he's taken it's reigns, giving it the new start it deserves".

"Yes, I expect great things in the future", she was absolutely flabbergasted at what to say to the Bruce Wayne, an dark enigma of a man, he never made public appearances anymore, and at one point he was equally as scandalous a playboy as Oliver had been. Let's not forget his troubling childhood. But he seemed warm and well-spoken now, astute. Clearly the boy had grown into a man. She had a gazillion questions to ask him from Wayne Tech's latest armoured security system to Gotham's Dark Knight that had been around longer than Oliver had been a vigilante.

Yet Wayne seemed to take over the conversation. "I presume you have been working here for quite some time am I correct? Before Ray Palmer swooped in?"

"A little over five years, yes, um, yes, I was previously a um-", she hated this question as much as she hated the job title, "-executive assistant for Oliver Queen". Felicity admitted hesitantly, groaning inwardly at herself, but it intrigued Bruce, which she took as him being polite and not judgmental. They had to cut their conversation short when an intern informed Felicity that Ray was looking for her.

"It was nice meeting you Mr. Wayne; I hope this is not our last encounter".

"I doubt it will be Ms. Smoak, I doubt it will be, goodnight", he offered her a parting handshake and then she made her way to Ray, her brain puzzled because she did not remember ever telling Mr. Bruce Wayne what her name was.

When she found Ray Palmer he was talking to someone else, a bald man with a broad build. He was young yet he had a lined, resigned face that must have come from years of frowning and deep concentration, he was taller than Ray was which meant he towered over Felicity like a skyscraper.

"Lex, I didn't know you were dropping by", Ray said, with the way he shook his hand Felicity knew they were old acquaintances.

"You know I like to catch a hardworking man off-guard in his natural habitat. Besides I wanted to see what you'd done with the place after you acquired it. I'm surprised you did. You've definitely made several much needed improvements."

How…pretentious. It was as if he regarded the place as a rundown apartment in the Glades, a stain on the city, rather than what it was; a multi-national conglomerate that had lasted generations, endured hardships and had helped the city more than he could ever understand, despite the Undertaking too. I already don't like him. She was dying to know if Diggle had found anything useful on the ARGUS mainframe too.

Even though she found his demeanor unnerving and assertive, Ray was not bothered by it. "You got me. Lex this is Felicity Smoak, Felicity, Lex Luthor, he—"

"I know who he is", she extended her hand for a handshake, she prioritized knowing the name of every CEO Palmer Tech had relationships with. "Out of the fortune 500 he's in the top 100 bracket, philanthropist, inventor, businessman. You both got your PhD's from Ivy University."

Luthor was impressed. "She does her homework, I've heard about you too Ms. Smoak, you co-designed the interface currently used in the Wayne Tech Industries server correct? You should join us for a celebratory dinner I would love to hear more about it. Perhaps I could convince you to design software for me; we are currently expanding into the field of—"

"Whoa there Lex", Ray laughed, but she could tell it wasn't candid; it was like Lex was the school alpha male Ray had to pretend to be friends with in order to be popular; "she's working for me."

Lex clapped him teasingly on the shoulder. "Alright Ray, I get it, I get it, I swear this guy could be about as subtle as a gun. I'm serious though, join us".

She didn't know if he was being inviting or pushy, luckily her phone blared with a message, and she scolded herself for making it obnoxiously loud. She scanned the text from Roy; Foundry trashed, Diggle missing, Oliver MIA. HELP.

She looked apologetically at them. "I would have to pass. I'm sorry I have another appointment. But Enjoy".

With eerie eyes she did not trust, Lex acknowledged that she had to go, and they parted ways.

2009

Hong Kong

The meet was being conducted on the penthouse room of the Four Seasons. He wasn't sure if Maseo was setting up the rifle too quickly or too slowly, but all of sudden he was done. He imagined the high-velocity bullet piercing through bone, capillaries, and flesh, ending a life.

He was having second thoughts. Gripes his conscience was making. Elise has never done anything to me, she could be financially unstable that's why she is working with the Triad, maybe she was coerced, maybe, maybe…

Full of maybes, when he never had a choice to begin with, his life seemed to weigh on him then. What have I accomplished thus far? Did I ever care about anyone? Have I ever loved anyone? If I had a son of my own would I feel differently? More guilty or less? Because somehow I made the world marginally safer for him? What have I done since being shipwrecked on the island that has truly benefited anyone? Even preventing Waller from shooting down that flight had ended terribly when Chien Na Wei arrived safely in Hong Kong scot-free to continue with her illegal Triad operations.

He stood with legs that did not feel like his own, to kill a woman who had never wronged him, who wouldn't even get a chance to fight for her life or look him in the eye before she died, she deserves that at least.

But that was another thing he had no choice in.

He stared down the scope and focused. On cue Mrs. Nefario strode onto the balcony, she was followed by a Chinese man, the Triad envoy Chien Na Wei had sent in her place. His hands found the trigger and moved the scope between her head and heart, I am not Oliver Queen. The wind on the balcony became stagnant; all sound was drowned out even his heartbeat.

Present Day

Corto Maltese, 14: 40 PM PST

In the charming, quintessentially colourful little Caribbean café she sat at beside the beach walk, Taer-Al-Asfar wore dark sunglasses and an inconspicuous outfit; faded shorts and grey tree. The ice melted in the drink on the plank table in front of her forming dew drops on the sides of glass.

Six years ago Sara Lance would've complained about the hot weather, whined about it to anyone who would listen. She liked people listening to her problems, and Laurel had called her out as a drama-queen for it. She hated the heat up until spring break rolled around and she would be anywhere but Starling City causing gasp-worthy trouble with her college friends beneath the hot sun of a beach somewhere. Things have changed now.

Malcolm Merlyn had been a snake in the grass, difficult to see, hidden in the foliage, slithering out of her grasp, taking long expensive flights to multiple destinations to confuse the League, but not her. Despite her known talents as a tracker she had been in Corto Maltese for over a week now, because she had hit a road block. The island was small but it was still an island and she was here on her own. If he's here, where is he hiding?

"I'm sorry sir, but we're out of strawberries" a waitress serving the table behind her said in Spanish. Sara didn't make anything of it, just her typical sharp-eyed attitude ingrained from League training, they had taught her the difference between between seeing and observing. She was about to pull out a map of Corto Maltese form her bag when the customer made a joke and the waitress laughed.

Sara widened her eyes; I recognize that laugh anywhere, and peeked over her shoulder. Could it be?

In the flesh was Thea Queen, hair cut several inches shorter to skirt across her chin and frame the high cheek bones she'd inherited from her mother; slender and tanned, looking pleasant and at ease, she balanced a tray of drinks gracefully on the flat of her palm. Sara bit her lip and whipped her head around, trying to keep her cool, the last thing she wanted was to cause suspicion. She fumbled for her wallet and paid for the untouched drink on the table. She got up quickly and made a beeline for the sandy beach, meanwhile reaching into her pockets for her phone.

There were two options here; call Oliver and tell him where his sister was… or call Nyssa and finally tell her that Thea Queen was Malcolm Merlyn's daughter and she was in Corto Maltese, where Sara had also just happened to track the traitor Leaguer. Was it a coincidence? She highly doubted it. Thea knows who her father is, and she is here…with him. This was bad, very bad. Not only that, this mission was given to her by Talia Al Ghul not her beloved Nyssa… and Talia would rather cut her own hand off than show mercy to the bastard child of Malcolm Merlyn.

2009

Hong Kong

Four Seasons Hotel

The ripping sound of a bullet striking through glass, Elise Nefario and the knee cap of Chien Na Wei's envoy rung through the penthouse room. And then it was pandemonium.

"Take cover!" The other two Chinese in the room ducked behind furniture should the sniper take another hit, already on their walkies reporting to their leader, their counterpart screaming in high-pitched agony clutching his leg where the bullet had turned his patella into splinters.

"Move her!" One of Elise's guard detail slid on the floor littered with broken glass and grabbed his boss' collar and jacket, pulling her inside, there was a chance she could still be alive. Her other guard was within the penthouse suite calling security and back-up on his comm. "Falcon has been hit, I repeat Falcon has been hit, sniper within range, south west of the Four Seasons. Kyle how is she?!"

His colleague was clutching Elise's bloody chest, he nodded at him. "She's alive!"

"Requesting medical personnel ASAP!"