Disclaimer: I do not own Arrow.
Warehouse by the docks
Morning
Roy and the Canary were sparring; Roy actually seemed to be doing well against her. Then she grabbed him by his arm and swung him over her shoulder. She brought him down roughly on the ground and he groaned in pain.
"You're improving," she said as she stepped back, "that's four times as long as last week's sparring session."
"When do I get to meet The Arrow?" Roy asked as he sat up.
"When I believe you're ready for the next step of your training and not a moment sooner. And we're done for today." Canary said as she walked passed him as he stood up.
"What? But we usually train for another hour at least!" Roy said angrily.
"I have a prior engagement. And so do you." The Canary reminded him.
Lian Yu, five years ago
Day
"Please, you don't have to do this." Oliver pleaded as Ivo's men dragged him towards the fuselage.
"Be quite." The leader snarled.
"Sara, Slade, Shado, run!" Oliver shouted only to get punched, which sent him down to the ground.
Ivo's men opened fire on the fuselage as Oliver looked on in horror. After a few seconds, they held their fire. The leader approached the damaged ship and looked inside.
"There's no one here." He said as he pulled back.
"They must have moved on from their position," Ivo said as he pulled out a small, black box and handed it to the lead soldier, "charges are set, make sure they have no place to return to. And you," he turned to Oliver, "you're gonna take us to the graves. Let's go, get him up!"
They grabbed Oliver and forced him to his feet and they walked away. Inside the fuselage, Sara pulled herself out of her hiding place to see Shado and Slade already out, Shado disarming the detonators.
"We were lucky." Shado said as she disarmed the detonators with barely seconds to spare.
"We were lucky," lade said as he gestured to Sara and himself, "you were good."
"They have Ollie, I'm going after them." Sara said as she grabbed her baton and some other weapons.
"You can't go alone." Shado said as she stood up and started gathering her quiver and bow.
"I agree, let's go." Slade said and they both looked at him as though he were insane.
"Slade, you can barely walk." Sara pointed out.
"All the more reason not to stay here," Slade said as he got to his feet, "won't give them another chance at blowing me up."
Court house
Morning
"Are you okay?" Diggle asked Oliver as he led him, Thea, and Sara up the stairs amidst the swarming reporters.
"I should be asking you that question. You look like you have the flu Diggle." Oliver noted.
"If that's true, I shouldn't have wasted my time getting vaccinated." Diggle waved it off.
"Dig, whatever it is go home," Sara told him as she stopped him, we'll be fine, go home and get some rest. Don't make me call my dad."
Reluctantly, Diggle stepped back as the Queens entered the court room.
Later, Sara, Oliver, Thea, and Roy sat in the front row as Moira was led into the room, in handcuffs. After she was released from her signs of imprisonment, Moira flashed her family a reassuring smile before facing the judge as she sat down.
Donner stood and walked up next to a flat screen TV before he picked up the remote. Pressing the button, Moira's face flashed up on the screen and by her words, everyone realized that this was from her broadcast confession.
"…Have been complicate in an Undertaking with one horrible purpose: to destroy the Glades and everyone in it." Donner paused the recording before he turned to the jury.
"And it worked. The Glades were destroyed, lives lost and homes destroyed. All because of her actions," Donner said as he pointed at Moira, "it's true, she had remorse for her actions. But on behalf of the five-hundred and three lives that were extinguished that day, your remorse comes too late."
After Donner sat down, Moira's lawyer stood up and also picked up the remote and picked out a scene from the recording.
"For the last five years, under the threat of my life and the lives of my family-"
"Why wouldn't those threats silence her? Why wouldn't Moira Queen be terrified? Malcolm Merlyn killed her first husband, abducted her second, why wouldn't Moira be afraid for the lives of her children? What would you do if it were your children in the crosshairs of a madman's rage?" Moira's lawyer asked the jury.
Queen Consolidated
Same time
"So this Undertaking seems like it was a big deal." John mentioned as he and Felicity watched the news.
"Hundreds of people died." Diggle said as he walked into the room.
"Dig, don't take this the wrong way but you look awful." Felicity said as she looked at him.
"I feel awful but I have to get a replacement bodyguard." Diggle said as he picked up some forms.
"Mr. Diggle, I didn't get the chance to say thank you," John said and Diggle turned his head to him, "if it weren't for you, I'd probably still be trapped in the Gulag."
"It was no problem." Diggle said before he started to collapse.
His reflexes honed by his years as an Argus agent, John reached out and caught him before lowering him to the floor. Felicity ran towards them before father and daughter exchanged a horrified look.
"I don't think this is the flu." Felicity said unnecessarily.
Arrow Lair
Afternoon
Diggle was on the examination table, covered in a blanket as John sat at the computer when Sara walked in.
"What are you doing here?" Diggle demanded.
"Ollie and I heard you passed out. We wanted to be sure you were alright. And it's less hurtful to Moira's image if I leave than if Ollie leaves." Sara explained.
"I told you not to call them." Diggle said as he glared at Felicity.
"She was right to, you need medical attention." Sara told him firmly.
"I think he might need more than that," John said as he stood up worth a sheet of paper in his hand, "do you guys know what something called Vertigo is?"
"It's drug, a narcotic, very addictive, very dangerous. Why?" Sara asked in a low voice.
"I ran Mr. Diggle's blood work. It came back with trace amounts of Vertigo." John explained and Team Arrow was filled with dread.
"I never took Vertigo in my life!" Diggle said vehemently.
"Well you were exposed to it somehow." Felicity told him.
"Vertigo's in play again?" Sara asked in shock.
"When The Count recovered from his OD, he was sent to Iron Heights." Felicity explained.
"Which was hit in the quake." Sara finished.
"And like with the Doll Maker, officials worked overtime to cover it up," Felicity said darkly.
"I'm guessing The Count is the dealer for Vertigo," John said and both blondes nodded, "you have a history with him Sara?"
"You could say that." Sara said lowly as she walked over to the weapons cabinet and pulled out an arrow.
"Sara, I know what you're thing." Felicity called out.
"No you don't Felicity. I made a choice to spare his life, again, and it was the wrong choice, again," Sara growled as she handed Felicity the arrow, "Ollie and I worked this up to counter act the effects of Vertigo, give it to Dig. You two, work up whatever you can and figure out how Dig got Vertigo in his system. I've got to get back."
Courthouse
Later in the afternoon
"When was the first time you hard about this so called Undertaking?" Donner asked Thea as Oliver and Sara watched from the audience.
"The same time everyone else did, during the press conference." Thea admitted.
"Doesn't seem like you took it too well." Donner noted.
"I was surprised. Who wouldn't be?" Thea asked rhetorically.
It was at that point Oliver and Sara noticed that Donner didn't look well. Donner cleared his throat before continuing.
"Uh, your mother was immediately taken into custody but I assume you went down to the precinct to see her." Donner said and even Thea began to see something was off about him.
"Um, actually I didn't see her until she was moved." Thea admitted as she squirmed.
"To the prison?" Donner asked for clarification and Thea nodded, "do you remember when?"
"Uh, I don't remember the exact date." Thea said hesitantly.
"It's okay, I have the visitor log right here," Donner said as he pulled it out, "October ninth, five months later. Why so long?"
"I-I-I- are you okay?" Thea asked as Donner leaned on the table for support.
"An answer please. Why did you wait so long to visit your mother?" Donner demanded.
"Your honor!" Moira's lawyer interjected.
"I want to hear this." The judge said.
"I wasn't ready, I needed time. I was-"
"Angry. So angry that it took you five months to forgive her?" Donner challenged.
"It was complicated." Thea said defensively.
"No, it's actually quite simple. You blamed your mother for what she had done. So why shouldn't the jury?" Donner challenged and Thea looked over at the jury uncertainly, "your honor, we have no more questions for this witness…"
Donner suddenly leaned against the table once more and Laurel stood up in concern as everyone watched in alarm and confusion. Laurel cried out as Donner went down and started to convulse.
Lian Yu, five years ago
Day
Ivo knelt down next to the skeletons and frantically began to search them.
"Where is it? Where is it?!" Ivo shout up and rounded on Oliver, "where is the Hosen?"
"What?" Oliver asked not knowing what he was talking about.
"The arrowhead. Every report said that it was with the bodies, you said you and your friends were here, now where is it?" Ivo demanded and Oliver didn't answer, "Take him outside, make him show you where his friends are hiding."
Ivo's men grabbed Oliver and led him outside. Oliver tossed to the ground and the leader approached him as he took out his gun.
"Tell me where they are." He demanded.
"I don't know!" Oliver said honestly.
"Tell us or you lose your hands." The man said as he kneeled down and put the gun to Oliver's hands.
"May I suggest another option?"
They looked up to see Shado with her bow, Slade with an assault rifle, and Sara with a pistol, all aimed at Ivo's men.
"Let the kid go and we won't blow your heads off." Slade growled.
Ivo came out and Sara turned her gun on him.
Arrow Lair
Night
"How you feeling Dig?" Sara asked as she and Oliver walked in.
"Fine." Diggle said vaguely.
"You have a lousy poker Face Diggle. Did he take the antidote?" Oliver aske as he turned to John and Felicity.
"Didn't take." John said.
"The Count must have a new brand of Vertigo." Felicity explained.
"So aside from what happened with the prosecutor and your sister, how'd it go today? John asked.
"Fine." Oliver said blankly.
"Your poker face is worse than mine." Diggle told him.
Suddenly, The Count's face appeared on the computer screens. Oliver, Sara, and Diggle looked at it in horror as John and Felicity followed their gaze.
"Hello Starling City." The Count said in a sing-song voice.
"Felicity!" Oliver barked and she started typing.
"Miss me? Many of you may have noticed that you aren't feeling like yourselves." The Count said gleefully.
"He's taken over all the local network feeds." Felicity said.
"Track his signal, now! Sara ordered.
"Like our good assistant district attorney here, "the camera panned over to Donner, tied to a chair, "you may recognize him from his work in the Moira Queen trial. Say hello."
"What do you want?" Donner demanded.
"I want what you want: for you to feel better." The Count said crazily.
"Go to hell." Donner sneered.
"You want your pain to end and I can do that," The Count turned the camera around and knelt next to Donner so the audience could see him, "with Vertigo. It's what your body craves, fortunately the power of relief is right here," he pulled out a syringe, "and you have to do is go to your friendly neighborhood Vertigo dealer and request the cure. Simple supply and demand at work. Now, say you want this and it's yours. All that pain will just disappear. Say it."
"I…I want it." Donner said.
The Count smiled before injecting Donner and his body stilled. The Count brought the camera back on him and smiled crazily at the camera.
"You see a simple solution. I'm Count Vertigo and I approve this high." The Count said before turning of the camera.
"Where'd he broadcast from Felicity?" Sara demanded.
"He bounced the signal off the Star Labs satellite; he could have done it from anywhere." Felicity said.
"He'd stat local. Study the footage, frame by frame if you have to. There is something on there that will give us The Count's location." Sara ordered.
"If The Count dosed the entire city, then why are only a few people show symptoms?" Diggle inquired.
"It's possible that the exposure was selective, used something that only few people would be affected. I've encountered a few similar things in my years at Argus." John proposed and Oliver nodded in agreement.
"John, take Diggle home," Oliver ordered and Diggle looked at him stunned, "you're no good like this. Get some rest."
Grumbling, Diggle allowed John to lead him out of the lair. The next hour consisted of Felicity and Sara going over the footage while Oliver waited. Finally, something happened.
"I think we've got something." Sara called over and Oliver walked up behind them.
"I don't see anything." Oliver said.
"You have to pay close attention to Donner. More specifically, his eyes," Sara said as she enlarged the image, "look at the reflection in his eyes."
"What is that?" Oliver asked as Felicity enhanced the image.
"Our city seal. Starling City Municipal Records Department, that buildings been abandoned since our city went digital," Felicity looked over at Oliver, Dollars to donuts, that's where The Count is operating from."
"Not anymore." Sara growled as she stood up.
The Count's hideout
Slightly later
The Count was ranting to his workers and Donner when the vigilantes dropped down. The Canary cut Donner loose and Donner didn't need to be told to get lost more than once. One of Count's minions ran up but The Arrow punched him, sending him over the edge. As they ran down the steps, The Count held two more minions in front of him as human shields as two more flipped over a table and used it for cover.
"Let them go." The Arrow ordered.
"I heard you'd developed an allergy to killing." The Count mocked.
"We have not; we simply don't kill people who don't deserve it." The Canary sneered.
"Do it!" The Arrow barked.
"Make me." The Count challenged.
Hearing something behind them, the two turned to see Donner struggling with one of The Count's goons. Snarling, The Hood fired at a gas tank, which exploded. The explosion and flames temporarily blinded everyone. The Canary threw a knife at the goon attacking Donner, forcing him to release the lawyer. While The Canary went after the goon, The Hood notched an Arrow and fired. The Count ducked and pushed one of his minions in front of him, using him as a human shield. Knowing he couldn't kill him just to get to The Count, The Arrow turned around and helped The Canary get Donner out of there.
The Courthouse, next day
Afternoon
"Hey, what's going on?" Sara asked Oliver as he and Sara jointed her and Roy, seeing the looks on their faces.
"You'll find out." Oliver said lowly.
Moira took the stand and Laurel walked up to her. Sara could tell that her sister didn't enjoy what was about to happen but she had to do this.
"Ms. Queen," Laurel said in her best lawyer voice, "you claim that you were afraid of Malcolm but I have proof that says otherwise. Is it true that you once had an affair with Malcolm Merlyn?"
"I wouldn't call it an affair," Moira said as murmurs broke out amongst the crowd, "it was very brief, no more than one night."
"But you did cheat on your husband with him?" Laurel asked for the benefit of the jury.
"It was a moment of weakness from a woman trapped in a loveless marriage. So yes, I did cheat on Robert Queen with Malcolm Merlyn." Moira admitted.
"And you continued to see him for many years. In fact, Malcolm Merlyn was a guest in quite a few of your parties." Laurel pointed out.
"He was Robert's best friend until Malcolm had him murdered." Moira pointed out.
"And this was the reason you claim to be in fear of your life and the life of your children?" Laurel challenged.
"Well I think it's a fairly compelling reason." Moira said defensively.
"Last year, your second husband, Walter Steele, was abducted by Mr. Merlyn, is that correct?" Laurel asked.
"Yes, so you see-"
"Why didn't Merlyn kill Walter the same as your first husband?" Laurel challenged.
"Because I convinced him not to." Moira reluctantly admitted.
"And Malcolm Merlyn listened to you. Your friend spared Walter's life and yet you'd have this jury believe that you and your family were in danger." Laurel said.
"We were. I was afraid-"
"Afraid of getting caught." Laurel caught him off.
"Despite my youthful mistakes, Malcolm Merlyn was a dangerous man." Moira said.
"To other people. But the only person who posed a danger to Moira Queen and her family was Moira Queen. No further questions your honor." Laurel said as she stepped down.
Lian Yu, five years ago
Day
"So you four took the hosen. Get him up," Ivo ordered and the leader picked up Oliver, "so I know he doesn't have it, which means one of you does. Give it to me and we'll discuss an exchange."
"We don't know what you're talking about. Give us Oliver and we'll leave you alone to look for it." Shado offered.
One of the soldiers moved forward, barely an inch, but it was enough for Slade. Slade fired, hitting the soldier in the feet. He went down, groaning in pain.
"Anyone else want to be stupid?" Slade challenged.
"I wouldn't, he's trigger happy and low on patience. Not a good combination for him on a good day." Sara warned them.
"Okay, fine. Take him, cut him loose." Ivo ordered and the leader cut Oliver's binds.
Oliver immediately sucker punched the man before rushing over to his friends. Slade covered him by shooting at Ivo's men before the four of them were off. As they ran, Oliver looked back.
"They're following us!" Oliver warned.
"Not for long." Shado said as she dropped something behind her.
A few seconds later, from a safe distance, the four of them heard an explosion.
Downtown
Night
John, after being sent by his daughter to check out a lead on Vertigo, walked towards a vaccine truck. He reached out and pulled the handle of the door and it opened for him. Not at all reassured, John walked inside and started to look around. Seeing syringes in small fridge unit, John slid open the glass door and saw it was Vertigo. Sensing someone behind him, John turned around before he was struck across the head and it all went black.
Courthouse
Shortly after
Oliver, Sara, And Thea were talking with Moira's lawyer when Sara's phone rang. Pulling it out and seeing an unfamiliar number flash across the screen, she frowned before walking away as she muttered an excuse.
"Hello?" Sara answered.
"Hello Sara," a voice called out and Sara's blood ran called, "may I call you Sara? Surprised? Not as surprised when I saw this older gentleman who looks like he could be your father getting all up in my business. And I find out his name is Jonathan Smoak, who has a daughter who works for Oliver Queen. And I remember that Oliver Queen tried to buy off me just before The Canary put me in a padded cell. And he has a wife named Sara, a blonde around the right age and height to be The Canary."
The call ended and Sara took off, which didn't go unnoticed by either of the Queens.
"Sara?" Oliver called out and she stopped.
"Uh, Walter just called about Shado. He needs me to come home." Sara said and Oliver recognized the code.
"I'll go with you." Oliver said and she shook her head.
"Your mom needs you, I got this." Sara sad before she took off.
Queen Consolidated
A little later
The Canary walked around and ended up in the board room, where John was tied to a chair and The Count was standing behind him.
"Your husband has a pretty swanky office; he can see all the destruction his mom caused up here." The Count said as he turned around.
"What do you want?" The Canary growled.
"World peace and personal satisfaction. Not necessarily in that order," The Count said as he snarled, "you poisoned me and put me in a home, you have no idea how much I hated you for that. Turns out someone else hates you to."
"Who?" she demanded.
"Oh, you're going to be surprised when you find out. He's a man of means; he set me up with my operations so I could draw you out." The Count explained.
"To do what?' The Canary snarled.
"This!" The count pulled out a gun and started firing.
The Canary ran, dodging the bullets as they shattered the glass walls. Jumping behind Oliver's desk, she waited until the bullets stopped.
"You're gonna have to try harder!" The Canary snarled.
"Done!" The Count sneered as he took out a second gun.
Dragging John up, he aimed the second gun at John's head and walked through the office. Finding Sara not behind the desk, he turned around and The Canary was there, whirling her baton. Knocking the guns on out of his hand, she forced him away from John before she pinned him to the floor and took out a knife.
"Twice now, I've spared your life and both times it's been bad for the city," The Canary snarled, "this time I won't make that mistake."
The Canary stabbed him in the chest and twisted the knife. The Count gasped as he took his final breath.
The Courthouse
Later
"Hey, any news?" Sara asked as she came back up to Thea and Oliver.
"No, is Shado okay?" Oliver inquired, although they both knew he wasn't asking about Shado.
"She's fine, it was a false alarm." Sara said and Oliver relaxed.
"Hey, jury's back." Moira's lawyer said as she walked up behind them.
Later, the three Queens sat in the audience as the Judge asked for the verdict. After getting it, he handed it to the bailiff. Everyone in the room tensed as they waited for the verdict to be read.
"In the superior court of Star County versus Moira Queen Verdict. On one count of conspiracy in the first degree, the defendant is found not guilty," murmurs broke out as Oliver and Sara looked at each other surprised, "on the five-hundred and three counts of murder in the first degree, the defendant is found not guilty."
Moira hugged her lawyer and chaos descended around them. As the shock wore off, Oliver stood up and he and Thea hugged their mother.
Arrow Lair
Later
"Congratulations." John called as Oliver and Sara walked in.
"Verdict doesn't make sense, she should have lost." Oliver said.
"You wanted her to be?" Diggle asked.
"We expected her to be," Sara clarified. Before looking over at John, "how's your head?"
"I've had worse. Your companies applied science division managed to produce a none-addictive treatment for Vertigo." John explained and Oliver and Sara sighed in relief.
"Well, I better head home." Diggle said as she walked up the stairs.
"Dad, you coming?" Felicity asked as she noticed that John wasn't following her.
"In a minute, I need to talk to Oliver and Sara for a moment." John said and she nodded hesitantly before she walked up the stairs.
"What is it John?" Sara asked as soon as Felicity was out the door.
"I'm impressed by what you two have built here and I'm proud of you, both of you," John began and the Queens began to see where this was going, "but I spent the last two decades living this life…and I don't want to spend the rest of my life continuing to live it. As proud as I am of you two, I don't want to be a part of this anymore."
"We understand John, Amanda Waller took that choice from you. We understand how that feels, if you want to walk away from this, that's perfectly fine." Oliver said with Sara nodding.
"Thank, thank you both." John said with relief.
"What will you do now?" Sara asked curiously.
"Stay in Starling City, so we'll still see each other. But I'm gonna try and rebuild the shattered remains of my life while I try and build a relationship with my daughter." John said and Oliver nodded.
"If you ever need a job, just call me." Oliver said and John smiled.
"I might just take you up on that. I'll see you around." John promised before he followed after Felicity.
Lian Yu, five years ago
Day
Once they were far enough away the soldiers, they stopped and Sara all but threw herself into Oliver's arms. Oliver breathed in her scent as he buried his face in her hair. As he looked over his overheard, he frowned as he saw the state of Slade while Shado walked over to them.
"He doesn't look so good." Oliver noted as Shado reached them.
"He's not." Shado agreed as Sara let go of him but still kept a hand on his waist.
"The hosen thing they're looking for is still on the plane." Oliver told them.
"No, I've got it," Shado said as she pulled it out, "it has a Buddhist inscription on one side; it reminded me of my father."
"I'm pretty sure they're not interested in Buddhism." Slade said between little gasps of pain as he walked over.
"What's on the other side?" Oliver asked and Shado turned it over.
"30-30-147-12." Shado read off.
"Coordinates but to what?" Sara wondered.
"While I was on his ship, Ivo told me about this miracle serum, the Mirakuru. Supposedly, it regenerates cells, heals." Oliver said and the two women exchanged glanced.
"You think these are leading us to the Mirakuru." Shado said.
"I don't see why else Ivo is so obsessed over that hosen." Oliver said and Shado nodded.
"Do you think…it could save him?" Sara asked as she looked over at Slade.
"…only one way to find out." Oliver said after a moment.
Okay, something you guys need to know: after some debate with myself, I've decided that Malcolm died at the end of my last story. This is simply because he really didn't contribute that much to the season two plot and since season two is far as I'm going, it seemed like a good move. You will find out how Moira got off later on.
So, what do you guys think? Please leave any thoughts or comments in a review, feedback is greatly appreciated.