4: PROTOCOL
Felicity continued to track The Martyr via his communications network (the same one they used to find Oliver) over the next few days while Oliver rested. Oliver came to the Foundry carrying a small box at one in the morning, hoping to enjoy the peace and quiet as he couldn't sleep. However, to his surprise Felicity was still there.
"Felicity, go home and get some sleep." Oliver said. Felicity spun in her chair to face him.
"I couldn't even if I wanted to." Felicity said.
"Felicity, your concern for me is touching, but don't lose sleep over me." Oliver said.
"Actually, I just meant that I've had about fifteen cups of coffee in an hour." Felicity smiled and Oliver laughed. Felicity noticed the box Oliver was holding.
"What's in there?" Felicity asked. Oliver walked over to Felicity and gave the box to her.
"It was gonna wait until later, but since you're here already..." Oliver began as Felicity opened the box and saw a brand new pair of shoes, identical to the ones Oliver had ruined only days ago, and Felicity was happy to see they were indeed the correct size.
"Thank you. You didn't have to." Felicity laughed.
"Yes I did."
"Well, replacement shoes aside, it seems The Martyr is still active in the city. He's certainly sticking around." Felicity said.
"Of course he is."
"And he hasn't blocked his communications so I can track his whereabouts. Is that on purpose to?" Felicity asked.
"Yes. He wants me to find him. I knew it wasn't over." Oliver said sternly.
"He must have one hell of a grudge against you. What went down between you?" Felicity asked. Oliver looked down as he remembered his actions on that fateful day. The day Joseph Sterven became The Martyr.
...
Oliver woke up with a start as a cup of water was pulled over his head. He found himself back in Sterven's office in Amanecer. He was sat on an uncomfortable wooden chair with his hand tied to the back of it with rope. It was pretty easy to get out of, but luckily Sterven and his men didn't know that/ Yet.
Sterven sat behind his desk, glaring at Oliver with evil intent, skimming through the folder that Oliver had taken earlier that day. Sterven's armed men were stood in front of the door, leaving Oliver with no easy escape route.
"Wakey, wakey." Sterven said calmly as Oliver adjusted to his surroundings and shook himself awake.
"Why did you kill the maid? She did NOTHING." Oliver asked angrily. Sterven smiled and sat back in his chair.
"She WAS nothing. One of the tiny, insignificant people. Her death didn't matter, Oliver. Just like yours won't." Sterven said.
"Why did you kill her?" Oliver demanded again. Sterven chuckled.
"Oh, I don't know. I was in a bad mood? She'd seen too much? It was funny? Take your pick."
Sterven sat back forward, returning his attention to the file before him.
"I take it you know who all these people are?" Sterven asked.
"Yes." Oliver responded.
"Clever boy. And you know what they have in common?"
"Yes."
"And that knowledge is why I'm going to have to kill you, Oliver. Sorry." Sterven said gleefully and stood up, sitting on the edge of his desk in front of Oliver.
"Do your employees know what you're really doing here, whatever that is?" Oliver asked.
"Of course not. Only these fine gentlemen here! Hired mercenaries. Once their job is done and their services paid for, they won't say a word." Sterven explained.
"What is Amanecer really for? What is its true purpose? What are you planning?" Oliver asked. Sterven grinned, exposing some yellowed teeth.
"Finally, you're asking the right questions. Now, you know I'll tell you the truth because...I don't lie. As you know." Sterven said and began wondering around the room. Oliver followed him with his eyes as he moved.
"Amanecer is Spanish for 'dawn', Oliver. And that is what this place is. I bought this land and quickly built this place upon it for one purpose. It is the dawn of a safer world. A world without nuclear weapons. This is a good thing, Oliver. I'm playing the hero." Sterven said.
"You're playing with fire." Oliver interrupted.
"SHUT UP! Now, may I continue? Good. All of my guests here have the potential to create new nuclear weapons or even cause nuclear strikes. So, I take in all these people and let them stay here. But then, they all die in a horrific accident as Amanecer burns down, or maybe it gets robbed by mercenaries with guns? Or maybe there's a tragic gas leak? Either way, they all die in an accident of some kind. Then, we move somewhere else and build a new Amanecer, bring in another group of the same disgusting human beings, and they too die in a tragic accident. Then we move somewhere else, build a new Amanecer and carry on until everyone single one of those cruel beings burn and die. That's all I'm doing here, Oliver. I'm saving the world. And you know I'm only telling you this because you'll be dead in approximately five minutes." Sterven explained.
"And why Hong Kong?" Oliver asked.
"Why not? It was the perfect place to start. A place where no one knew about my involvement with Armtry so they wouldn't be suspicious. But in time, I'll make people assume I've changed my mind about nuclear weaponry and gain their trust to carry out the scheme across the globe." Sterven said.
"This is wrong." Oliver snapped.
"Oh, is it? Why is that?" Sterven questioned.
"You can't kill people for something they haven't done yet, or something they may not even do!" Oliver answered.
"I CAN'T TAKE THAT CHANCE! The scum deserve to die for following such a murderous career path. And I can't take the chance of keeping you alive. Especially when I got my boys to search the whole complex and they found these..." Sterven said as he pulled out Oliver's hoodie, bow and arrows from behind his desk that Oliver had hidden earlier.
"You didn't think about the CCTV, did you Oliver? What were you going to do with these, hmm? Do you think yourself a hero?" Sterven taunted.
"Do you?" Oliver returned.
"In a way, yes. I'm simply a man with a cause; a direction. Anyway, enough of this." Sterven stated. He pulled his gun out from his jacket and pushed it against Oliver's forehead.
"Don't worry. It'll be quick; I won't make you beg. Poor Oliver Queen. You come back from the dead just to die again. Your poor family. Moira. Thea. What about your guard, John Diggle? And Felicity Smoak, a girl you seem to contact a lot on your mobile. I got my boys to dig the dirt on you; there's not much I don't know. Will any of them miss you? I doubt it. Maybe I'll pay them all a visit. Put a bullet through Thea's head? A sword through Moira's chest? The possibilities are endless." Sterven taunted vigorously. Oliver couldn't contain his rage.
"Shouldn't have said that." Oliver said, ripping the rope that held his hands and head butting Sterven, causing him to fall and hit his head on his desk. Oliver kicked Sterven's gun to the corner of the room and threw the chair at one of the mercenaries, knocking him to the floor. He kicked the other mercenary into the wall, causing him to hit his head on the concrete surface and falling to the ground. He took the mercenaries' weapons and crushed them with his feet before heading out the door. In truth, he didn't know what he was going to do next, but his thoughts were distracted by Sterven's voice.
"This is Sterven."
Oliver faced Sterven, who was still on the floor holding his bleeding head and talking into his walkie-talkie.
"Activate Protocol One." Sterven said.
"WHAT'S THAT?" Oliver demanded.
"The other mercenary; the one acting as a witness at your motel, he has a manual trigger to Protocol One. The countdown has begun." Sterven said.
"What countdown?"
"I needed a Plan B, just in case. When we built this place, we installed a series of bombs under the surface of all the buildings. In eight minutes they'll blow and everyone in it will burn. Even if I die, at least I've taken some of those murderers up in smoke with me." Sterven said. Oliver, angrier than ever, thumped Sterven, knocking him to the floor. He smashed the walkie-talkie and stormed out. His eye immediately caught a fire alarm trigger on the wall and he smiled.
"Healthy and Safety does have benefits after all." Oliver said, smashing the glass and setting off the fire alarms across the whole site. Oliver looked out of a nearby window and saw people flooding out of each building to an exit, including several staff. Luckily, everyone who would try and stop them leaving were unconscious. He slid open the window and shouted to the people below.
"EVERYONE! GET OUT AS FAST AS YOU CAN! THERE ARE BOMBS! YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME!"
The screams of the terrified people grew louder and Oliver jumped out of the window and guided people out as quickly as he could. He told people to call the police and the fire brigade. Even if everyone did get out in time, Oliver had no way of stopping the bombs from going off.
There was something else Oliver knew. Despite everything, he couldn't just leave Sterven and the mercenaries to die. He just couldn't, not after what happened in Starling City. Not after what happened to Tommy. All the killing he used to do, that would have to change.
Oliver ran as fast as he could back to Sterven's office. He opened the door and was shocked to see the two mercenaries had gone, probably to join the third and escape from their failed mission. In the corner of the room, Sterven was in a heap, sobbing uncontrollably as he curled himself up into a ball. However, he knew Oliver has come in.
"Why did you do this to me, Oliver? What are you? You are the murderer of dreams!" Sterven cried. Oliver was bewildered by Sterven's behaviour. Oliver held out his hand.
"Come on, Joseph. Come with me. You're sick, Joseph. You're not right in the head right now, but come with me and I promise I'll get you help! Come on, Joseph, take this chance. You don't have to do this." Oliver said calmly. Sterven slowly stood up and threw his desk over, sending the contents all over the room, including the bow, arrows and hoodie of Oliver's.
"Joseph, please. Come with me; there isn't much time." Oliver pleaded.
Sterven stared at Oliver the whole time as he reached into his jacket and slowly pulled out another device. He treated it delicately. It was a small stick-like item with a button on top. A trigger.
"Automatic detonation." Sterven whispered, all hope faded from his expression. Oliver couldn't take his eyes off of the trigger.
...
The next morning, Oliver became The Arrow for the first time in days. Felicity, Diggle and Roy all watched as he approached them.
"Feeling better?" Roy asked. Oliver nodded.
"I am. Thank you, all of you. You risked your lives to dispose of the bomb. It means a lot." Oliver said.
"And now you're going to find him?" Diggle asked.
"Yep."
"And do what?" Roy puzzled.
"...I have no idea." Oliver answered.
"He's somewhere in a now unused apartment block right at the other end of the city." Felicity said, handing Oliver the address on a slip of paper. He took it and smiled at her. He could see the concern on her face.
"I'll be fine." Oliver said.
"Well, considering you're going after the man who made you into a walking, talking explosion waiting to happen, forgive me for being nervous." Felicity said.
"Are you sure you don't want us to come with you?" Diggle asked.
"No. This is between him and me." Oliver stated firmly.
"Good luck." Roy said. Oliver shook Diggle and Roy's hands and hugged Felicity before walking out. He turned back to face the others.
"Digg…Protocol Three." Oliver said and Diggle nodded respectfully. Oliver frowned and walked away.
"What's Protocol Three?" Felicity asked as soon as Oliver had left.
"If he's not back in three hours, assume the worst and go looking for his body." Diggle said sadly.
Everyone took a moment to themselves to think through their situation.
"This must be serious for him to go out during daylight." Diggle said. Roy nodded.
"He will be okay, right?" Roy asked worriedly.
"He's Oliver." Diggle replied.
"That's why I'm worried." Felicity said.
Oliver stayed in alleys and behind buildings as he made his way to The Martyr's location, not knowing what to expect. Oliver realised The Martyr must've assumed Oliver would get rid of the bomb inside of him, so left his communications open so he could track him down. There was more to The Martyr's revenge than violence and pain.
And ready or not, Oliver was on his way to find out what it was.