Disclaimer: I do not own Arrow.
Queen Consolidated Applied Science division
Morning
Oliver, Diggle, and Felicity walked into the building and paused upon seeing the destruction. Quentin, one of the officers working the case, approached them as Oliver and Diggle went to get a look at the damage.
"This door was made of expanded reinforced titanium, what did they use to do this?" Diggle asked.
"Not sure yet. No sign of any explosives maybe a forklift or a crane or a forklift. I'm guessing there were three or four other guys. And given how quickly they were in and out of here…they were fast." Quentin assessed the situation.
"I'll say." Oliver agreed as he stood up.
"Any idea what these guys were so eager to break in here for? You didn't happen to leave a spare earthquake machine lying around, did you?" Quentin quipped and Oliver shot him a look, "sorry."
"Here's what we got off the security cameras." A SCPD technician said as he walked over with a tablet.
Team Arrow looked on as the video started to play. A man in a mask stood over two guards, obviously dead, before he picked up a box and chucked it at the direction of the security camera before the video showed static.
"That's the only guy we got on video. The rest of them must have come in after him." The technician explained.
"Actually, it was only one guy."
In disbelief, Oliver turned with the others to see Barry, dripping wet, standing across from them.
"Sorry I'm late. Actually, my train was late. Well the second one actually, my first one I did miss but that was my cab driver's fault. I have this great traffic app but he thought he was right. But I'm here now…so." Barry trailed off awkwardly.
"Great, who the hell are you?" Quentin demanded.
"Barry," Oliver said and they turned to him, "everyone, this is Barry Allen, a friend from Central City. Though I don't know why he's here."
"Hey Oliver. Anyway, I'm with the Crime Scene Investigation Unit," Barry said as he pulled out his badge, "were working on a case with some similar unexplained elements in Central City, so when the report came in, my captain sent me up here."
Oliver discreetly shot Barry a look. Last he had heard, Barry did the science while Joe handled the investigations. So did Barry get promoted? Before he could ask, Quentin interrupted.
"And you think that one guy ripped through this like it was tin foil." Quentin said sarcastically.
"One very strong guy," Barry said as he pulled something out of his jacket, "it takes about one-thousand and two hundred twenty pounds of torque to break someone's neck."
Barry showed them his tablet and pulled up a picture. It was of one of the dead guards, who had some large bruises on his neck.
"You see the bruising pattern around his neck? It suggests that the killer was using only one hand. I'm guessing none of you know how hard it is to break someone's neck." Barry asked as he surveyed the group.
"No, none of us do." Oliver said quickly.
"We're gonna need a list of the entire inventory to figure out what was stolen." The technician told Oliver.
"Actually I think I know what was stolen," Barry said bringing attention back to him, "a centrifuge, an industrial centrifuge. Probably the Kord Enterprise 2BX 900, maybe the six series. Both have a three column base," Barry led them into another part of the building, which showed that something had been removed, "you see the three sets of broken bolts thief just, pff, ripped it out of the ground."
"And what exactly is a centrifuge?" Quentin asked curiously.
"It separates liquid," Oliver said and they turned to him, "Barry and I had lunch a few months back, conversation got a little boring."
"Yeah, anyway, you can see the cracks heading towards the door, footsteps," Barry pointed it out and they followed his finger, "one guy."
"There has to be another explanation." Quentin said stubbornly but Oliver didn't look so convince.
"I don't know, if Barry thinks it was one guy, I'm inclined to believe him," Oliver said and his father-in-law looked at him like he was crazy, "but just in case, keep looking. Get Barry anything he needs."
Lian Yu, five years ago
Day
The group of four continued on, Shado in front, Sara in back, and Oliver helping Slade down the path. Shado had the Hosen and a compass, which was spinning wildly.
"We need to change direction." Shado announced.
"We need to rest." Oliver argued.
"If Ivo and any of his men survived that blast, they'll be tracking us. We keep moving." Slade said firmly.
Slade almost tripped over a branch but Oliver stopped him. Even so, Slade cried out in pain as Oliver and Sara steadied him.
"Five minutes." Slade allowed in a gasp.
Slade and Sara gently sat Slade down on a tree stump large enough for Slade to sit on. After sitting him down, Oliver walked overdo Shado, leaving Sara and Slade alone.
"Do you believe that, that this hosen will lead us to the wrecked Japanese sub?" Shado asked him once he reached her.
"Ivo seems to think so, I just hope whatever miracle is on there will help Slade." Oliver said as looked over at Slade and Sara.
After a few moments, Slade got to his feet, despite Sara's protests. He staggered over to Shado and Oliver with Sara following.
"I feel like taking a work, anyone care to join me?" Slade asked with forced optimism as he threw on arm around Shado's shoulder.
Queen Consolidated
Afternoon
"Oliver, your friend Allen was right," Diggle walked up to Oliver in his office and handed him a sheet of paper, "the only thing missing is a centrifuge."
"You guys have to see this," Felicity said as she walked into Oliver's office with her tablet, "I pulled up Cc traffic cam footage across the street of Applied Sciences. Here's three minutes after the alarm went off.
Felicity started the video and Oliver watched, slack-jawed, as the video ran. The masked from the earlier footage walked out, lugging the centrifuge over his shoulder like it was a rake. A squeal broke his attention from the video and Oliver rushed pasted Diggle and Felicity out of the room. Upon seeing what had caused the noise, Oliver relaxed and tried not to laugh.
Shado was clinging to Barry's leg tightly, which had caused Barry to drop his travel-bag of equipment. Barry was trying to gently pry Shado off his leg with minimal success as Sara watched amused. Diggle and Felicity stepped outside and, seeing the situation, also tried to stifle their laughter.
"Shado honey, maybe you should let Uncle Barry go so he can pick up his equipment." Sara said in a tone that was both motherly and stern.
Knowing she was being told to do something, Shado let go of Barry's leg but still kept one hand on his pants leg as Barry picked his equipment bag up.
"So, where should I put my equipment?" Barry said, trying to save some dignity.
"Felicity will show you." Oliver said as he nodded at Felicity.
"Right this way." Felicity said as she started to lead Barry away.
"Daddy, can I stay with Uncle Barry?" Shado said as she looked over at her father with puppy dog eyes.
"I don't think so, you have an appointment with your Aunt Laurel, remember." Oliver reminded her and she nodded.
"Felicity, why don't you go get Shado something to drink," Sara said and Felicity led Shado and Barry out of the room, "So someone ripped out a Centrifuge from the ground?"
In response, Oliver showed her the video of the masked man. Sara stared at it in shock and horror before she looked up at Oliver.
"You don't think it could be…" Sara trailed off but she didn't have to finish.
"I don't know." Oliver admitted as Diggle looked back and forth between them.
"Why do I have a feeling you two know more about this then your friend Allen?" Diggle inquired.
"Just pray we're wrong Dig." Oliver told him grimly.
Laurel's apartment
Later in the afternoon
"Thanks for watching her for the week." Sara told Laurel as Sara dragged her tiny suitcase to her room at Laurel's apartment.
"It's my pleasure, I love spending time with her," Laurel smiled before noticing the look on her sister's face, "are you alright?"
"Let's just say that something's happening…and it bears a lot of similarities to something that happened to me and Ollie on the island." Sara explained and Laurel frowned.
"Is it that bad?" Laurel asked in concern.
"If we're right…we never should have brought Shado back to this city." Sara said grimly.
Queen Consolidated Applied Science building
Night
"You found something?" Oliver asked as he and Diggle walked up to Barry and Felicity.
"There were trace amounts of Sucrose and a spec of dirt the killer dragged in her on his boot." Barry explained.
"Which got me thinking, there's a sugar refinery two miles from here," Felicity picked up where Barry left off, "the land around there is suffused in waste sugar, so I check. There was a delivery truck stolen a few days ago."
"The truck mates the make and mode of the truck the killer used to steal the centrifuge." Barry explained.
"Can you track the vehicle?" Oliver inquired.
"We've been trying." Felicity explained just as something went off.
"What was that?" Oliver asked as they looked at Felicity's tablet, which showed a map of the city.
"You're not gonna believe this, the truck was just used to rob a blood bank." Felicity said shocked.
"Are you sure?" Oliver asked quickly, heart pulsing.
"Yeah, our guy just made off with thirty-thousand CCs of O-negatives." Felicity explained.
"So he has super strength, likes blood, please don't tell me we suddenly believe in Vampires." Diggle scoffed.
"We need to give this information to the local police." Barry suggested.
"I'll take care of that. You said you were working a similar case back in central City?" Oliver asked Barry.
"Yeah, it's s-similar. Has similar elements, a lot of similarities." Barry stammered and Oliver made a mental note to call Joe.
"Right." Oliver said as he turned to go.
Starling City
Night
The Arrow and Canary rode their motorcycles up behind the truck. The tried to ride passed him but the driver kept swerving, cutting them off. After the third time, The Arrow growled before taking out his bow and notching two arrows. Firing twice, both the side view mirrors were shattered. The Arrow rode his motorcycle up to the driver's side and jumped onto the side of the truck. Meanwhile, The Canary drove up to the other side and jumped through the gaping hole, as the passenger's door was missing. The Arrow clung to the driver's door and the two double teamed the masked man. The Arrow punched him three times in the face in quick succession but it seemed to have no effect.
The masked man punched The Arrow, sending him flying. The Canary lost her focus and watched as her partner was forced to cling to the hood. The masked man then turned around and punched her, sending her flying of the truck. He then reached through the windshield and grabbed the archer before dragging through it and into the passenger's seat, shattering the windshield in the process. The Arrow stabbed the masked man in the leg with an arrow but he simply punched the arrow in retaliation. The Arrow went flying, landing painfully in some garbage bags, which cushioned his fall. As the truck drove off, The Arrow stood up as The Canary walked over to him shakily, injured but not seriously harmed. They both stared down at the bloodied, ruined arrow in the archer's hand.
Arrow Lair
Later
Sara winced but made no further reaction as Oliver patched her up. Diggle and Felicity stood back for a minute before Oliver finished.
"Thanks honey." Sara quipped as she put her shirt back on.
"You were right when you asked if we knew more than what we were letting on," Oliver told Diggle as they faced him and Felicity, "we've seen men with these abilities before."
"What, where?" Felicity demanded shocked.
"The island," Sara began, "our second year there, we came across the remains of a
Japanese world war two military project. It was a serum designed to create human weapons."
"Human weapons, what's next aliens?" Diggle asked in disbelief.
"This is real Diggle," Oliver snapped, "those five years we were away; we came across things that just…defy explanation."
"There was a doctor; he came to the island to test the serum on people. The ones that survived, their endurance, reflexes, and strength were all enhanced."
"And you think this doctor is here in Starling City?" Diggle inquired.
"He's dead," Oliver said firmly, "and so is anyone he injected with the serum."
"The last of which we burned." Sara said firmly.
"You two think someone found the recipe." Diggle said knowingly and they nodded.
"A centrifuge and a large supply of blood. Someone wants to make more of it, a lot more." Oliver told them.
"There's a third component: a strong sedative." Sara explained.
"Felicity, I need you to analyze the blood on the arrowhead," Oliver said as he handed Felicity the ruined arrow, "See if you can find out what sedative they're using."
"It might help us figure out where the next robbery will be." Sara added
"Barry and I will get right on it." Felicity said as she turned and walked away.
"Which reminds me, I need to make a call to Central City." Oliver said as he pulled out a phone.
Lian Yu, five years ago
Day
Sara and Shado lead the party forward while Oliver and Slade lagged behind as Oliver supported Slade. After a moment, Shado looked back at them.
"How are you holding up?" Shado inquired.
"I could do with a better looking crutch." Slade joked and Oliver rolled his eyes.
They party reached their destination. A steep cliff overlooking a lagoon with a Japanese submarine near two giant rocks.
"There must be a fissure below the waterline for it to come that far inland." Slade assessed.
"Unbelievable." Oliver grumbled.
Queen Consolidated, next day
Morning
"Felicity," Oliver interrupted Barry and Felicity laughing as he walked into the room, "could you give us the room? Barry and I need to talk."
"Okay." Felicity looked back and forth between them before walking out.
Oliver closed the door behind her before turning to Barry with a glare.
"Busted huh?" Barry asked glumly.
"Big time. I talked to Joe, you're still an assistant and Joe had no idea you were here. And there is no similar case back in Central City. What's going on Barry and I want the truth." Oliver growled and Barry sighed.
"You know that my mom was murdered when I was eleven but that's not the whole story," Barry began and Oliver looked at him imploringly, "the night she died, something came into our house. A blur. Somewhere inside the blur, I saw a person. My dad went to fight it, I tried to get him when suddenly," Barry let out a frustrated sigh before continuing, "I was twenty blocks away from our house. Nobody believed me; they thought I was trying to cover for my father. But what I saw that night was real, as real as the man that ripped down the metal door with his bare hands. That's why I look into cases like this; the ones nobody believes are possible. Maybe if I can just make sense of some, I can find out what happened and free my dad."
"I understand Barry, I do, but you lied to the police. You could be charged with interfering with a police investigation if someone finds out." Oliver told him.
"So you gonna turn me in?" Barry asked hesitantly.
"No. but it's conditional." Oliver told him.
Queen Mansion
Night
Oliver watched with a slight smile on his face as Barry and Felicity danced. Sara walked over with two drinks and handed one to him, which Oliver accepted gratefully.
"Great turnout huh?" Oliver asked sarcastically.
"It could be worse, they could have trashed the house," Sara pointed out and Oliver chuckled in spite of himself, "but it doesn't seem like it was a total waste. Your mom and John Smoak seem to be hitting it off."
Following Sara's gaze, Oliver saw his mother and John Smoak chatting animatedly. Oliver smiled slightly, which disappeared as Isabel walked up to them.
"Something we can help you with?" Sara asked the other woman icily.
"Just admiring the turnout." Isobel said just as icily.
"If you'll excuse us," Oliver said as he led Sara away before they could start pulling each other's hair, "honey, you can't kill her. Too many witnesses."
His words had the desired effect and Sara laughed.
Submarine, five years ago
Night
Shado and Oliver help Slade down the latter. As Oliver helped Slade stand, Shado takes a flashlight and walks deeper into the sub. Oliver and Sara follow her, Oliver gently lowering Slade to the floor, propping him up against the wall as Slade groaned. Oliver and the two woman walk deeper into the sub, looking around.
"He doesn't have long." Shado pointed out.
"Then if the drug is on board, we need to find it and find it now." Oliver ordered and they moved out.
They walk into the a room and find something. It's a box and Shado opens it to find a sheet of paper on top several needles. Shado picks up the paper as Oliver reaches in and pulls out a needle.
"The Mirakuru." Oliver said softly.
"According to this, Slade needs a sedative in his bloodstream first." Shado said as she put the note down.
"Then let's look!" Oliver barked and they started to look around.
"Found something," Sara said as she pulled out a broken glass bottle, "but it's empty."
"If we give it to him without a sedative, what will happen?" Shado asked as she turned to the note.
"He'll probably die but he'll die if we don't give it to him." Oliver said frustrated.
There was suddenly a loud clang. The trio looked above them, knowing what-or rather who-it was.
"Ivo and his men. They've found us." Shado said grimly.
Arrow Lair
Later
"Felicity texted me, she and Barry found Ketamine in our masked man's system," Sara told Oliver and Diggle as she typed at the computers, "Ketamine is a common surgical anesthesia that comes from hydrochloric salt."
"Can we use that to track him?" Oliver inquired.
"With the amount in the blood sample, and with the amount of blood stolen, there's only one possible location," Sara pulled up the sight on screen, "it's an old Argus bunker, right on the edge of The Glades. It's for worst case scenario disasters. They store food, clothing, and medicine." Sara explained.
"Let's go." Oliver ordered.
Submarine, five years ago
Moments after
"This can either save you…or kill you." Oliver told Slade as he held the Mirakuru out.
"From the looks on your faces, I'm going to die anyway." Slade said weakly.
Shado reached forward and grasped Slade's hand in hers. Oliver stood back as he prepared to do it.
"I'm sorry." Slade told Shado, who cocked her head to the side in confusion.
"For what?" She asked confused.
"For not telling you how I really feel," Slade said as he curled a strand of her hair around his finger before looking up at Oliver, "do it."
Oliver kneeled down next to him and put it in Slade's leg, injecting it. Slade began to shutter violently, twisting his head side to side. Slade suddenly screamed in agony.
Starling City
Later
The Arrow and Canary ware walking through the building when, suddenly, a large wooden crate goes flying through the air and hits the shelf above them. Items begin to fall and the pair are forced to run out of the way. The Arrow notches an arrow as The Canary takes out a baton. Spotting the masked men, The Arrow firs off two arrows, forcing the masked men to flee. He jumps down and rushes at them. The Arrow fires off two more arrows but he dodges them as he gets in close. The Canary throws a knife at him which he easily deflects before rushing her. She jumps out of the way as The Arrow fires at him. The arrow explodes into tires cables which wrap around his neck and ties him to a pole behind him.
"Who are you?" The Arrow demands.
"Merely a follower." The masked man said vaguely.
"Of who?!" The Canary snarled.
"My brother." The masked man continued being vague.
"Did he give you the Mirakuru, did he inject you with it?!" The Arrow demanded.
"No, he saved me with it." The masked man said before he breaks the pole behind him and lunged for them.
He punches the Canary, sending her flying. She hits one of the shelves and is rendered unconscious as The Arrow and masked man begin to fight. The Arrow shoots two arrows, one in each of his feet, pinning him to that spot. The Arrow punches him but they seem to have no effect. The man rips the arrows out of his feet before punching The Arrow, sending him flying. The Arrow slides on his back and gets up just as the masked man reaches him. The masked man punches the archer into the air, sending him into an air conditioning vent which sent him falling back down. The masked man punched him, sending him into medical supplies. The Arrow spotted two needles, both empty, before it all went black.
Submarine
Night
Slade continued to scream as tears of blood poured from his eyes down his face. Then he stopped and Shado felt for his pulse. Shado drew back, grief on her face. Sara looked away, covering face with her hand as tears weld in her eyes.
"No. Please. Please!" Oliver shouted but there was no response from Slade.
Sara pulled him away and Oliver buried his face in her hair as they both mourned. Then, they door burst open as Ivo and his men stormed inside.
Starling City
Later
Sara came to as Diggle and Felicity ran inside, calling for her and Oliver. She stood up and met them, looking relieved to see her.
"What happened?" Diggle demanded.
"He knocked me out, Ollie was still fighting him." Sara said before they found Oliver.
He was unconscious, lying in a pile of medical supplies. Two needles were sticking out of his leg. Sara rushed two him, checking his pulse which was miraculously still there. Taking out the needles from his leg, Sara looked at them and saw they were in medical code. Growling, Sara looked up and saw Diggle had his phone out.
"What are you doing?" Sara demanded.
"I know you value your secrets but it won't matter if Oliver is dead." Diggle said as he put the phone to his ear.
"We can't help him Sara." Felicity told her.
"We don't need to, I know someone who can." Sara said confidently.
Arrow Lair
Later
Barry woke up, looking around, stunned to see where he was. As he looked around, he froze at what he saw before him. His friend Oliver, dressed as The Arrow, was lying on a table, unconscious. Sara, dressed as The Canary, stood next to him with Felicity and a man Barry recognized as Oliver's bodyguard.
"Barry, Oliver needs your help." Sara told him.
So, what do you guys think? Please leave any thoughts or comments in a review, feedback is greatly appreciated.