Disclaimer: I do not own Arrow.
Lian Yu, five years ago
day
"We're never gonna make it," Sara told Oliver and Slade as she looked out at the Amazo through a pair of binoculars, "Ivo has too many men on deck. The moment they spot us, we're dead."
"Assuming we can get past Ivo's defenses, how can we get close enough to board?" Slade asked.
"Maybe we can build a raft." Oliver suggested.
"It would take us weeks to find the timber and we don't have weeks." Sara dismissed.
"I have been on this island for two-hundred and sixty-four days, all I have is weeks." Slade snapped.
"Shut up." Oliver said as he heard something in the distance.
"You don't need to stand up for me Ollie." Sara snapped.
"What? Shut up, both you. You hear that?" Oliver asked.
The stopped talking and listened. Sure enough, they could hear it: The sound of a plane approaching the island. Looking up, the saw a small plane flying over the island. The trio stood up and started running after it, trying to get the attention of the pilot. However, they saw something white head towards the plane and it exploded. The trio rushed out of the way as the wreckage of the plane came down.
Oliver and Sara's loft
night
"Time for presents birthday girl." Sara cooed as she held her daughter's hans.
"Yay!" Shado smiled brightly.
Roy, Thea, Walter, Laurel, and Quentin all laughed as a someone knocked on the door. Oliver walked over and opened it before is good mood all but vanished. Moira stood behind the door, holding a wrapped present.
"What are you doing here?" Oliver asked rudely.
"I know, you don't me around Shado, but I bought this for her months ago." Moira held out the present.
"I'll make sure she gets it," Oliver said as he took it, "now stay away from my family."
Oliver ignored the crushed look on her face as he slammed the door. As he walked back over to Shado opening presents, Walter shot him a look and sat down next to him.
"So even you've given up on her now?" Walter asked and Oliver nodded, "You know, she was trying to protect you and Thea."
"I believe that's the same logic she used to justify helping Malcolm kidnap you. What was your response again?" Oliver asked and Walter winced, "Please, let's not talk about this here."
As he set down the present, Quentin's phone went off. After a brief conversation, Quentin kissed Shado on the forehead before walking out, saying something about work. Oliver's phone rang and he walked away from the group, feeling Sara and Roy's eyes on his back.
"I'm on my way." Oliver told her as he answered.
"How'd you know why I was calling?" Felicity asked confused.
"Because Quentin just got the same call," Oliver hung up before walking back over, "That was work, the board needs to see me."
Starling City
later
"CSU just pulled this out of a skel I know named Eddie Walczac." Quentin said as he handed The Arrow the evidence bag.
"Strange knife." The Arrow noted.
"It's not a knife, it's a minute hand. From a clock," Quentin said as he held up his phone, which had a picture of the victim, "I popped Walczac for B&E a few years back. This morning, he and an accomplice were involved with in a robbery and homicide."
"What'd they steal?" The Arrow asked.
"Some high-tech gizmo. Kord called it, uh, skeleton key," Quentin said and the archer sighed, "What, you know what it is?"
"It was intended as a military tool to aid in code-breaking on foreign intelligence targets. Queen Consolidated was working on something similar 'til I shut it down once I realized what it could be used for."
"What?" Quentin asked.
"It can be modified to open a bank vault. Any bank fault." The Arrow explained.
"Listen, Walczac is small time on a good day. I doubt he's even know how to use this thing, let alone break into Kord and steal it on his own." Quentin explained.
"Walczac was just the muscle," The Arrow agreed, "we need to find the brain."
Arrow lair
later
"Felicity, are you okay?" Sara asked the younger blonde as she sat at her computer.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Felicity asked far too causally.
"Felicity...with what happened with John-" Sara began.
"Sara, I don't want to talk about it." Felicity said firmly.
"Okay," Sara said after a moment, "but if you decide that you do, I'm here."
"Where are we with the Skeleton key?" Oliver asked as he and Diggle walked into the room.
"I'm cross referencing Walczac's known associates with decryption experts on the NSA watch list but it's taking some time." Felicity explained.
"Time we don't have. In the wrong hands, the key is a weapon." Oliver pointed out.
"Whoever killed Walzcac, in addition to finding creepy uses for clock parts, is very good at covering their tracks." Felicity explained.
"Lucky for us, uncovering tracks is what you're good at." Oliver said as he turned and started walking away.
"Right." Felicity said uncertainly as Sara looked at her concerned.
Lian Yu, five years ago
day
The trio rushed over to the plane and Slade ripped the door off. The pilot was unconscious and Slade picked up the radio receiver. Slade clicked it but nothing happened. Slade pulled the radio out and saw it was broken.
"Of course." Slade whined as he threw it to the ground.
Sara looked in at the pilot and was startled when he opened his eyes. Oliver peaked in and they looked at the pilot.
"He's barely alive. We need to get our supplies from the fuselage," Sara said and Oliver hesitated, "go, I'll be fine."
Reluctantly, Oliver and Slade took off, leaving her with the pilot.
Verdant
night
"The club is closed tonight." Sara said as she spotted her sister.
"You know I'm not here for the club." Laurel said and Sara sighed.
"I'm not training you Laurel. I love you but this life...you don't want it, even though you think you do. I will do anything for you sis but not this." Sara said firmly.
"If you won't train me, then I'll just find someone who will!" Laurel snapped before storming out.
"She's right you know." Oliver said as he walked up behind her.
"I thought you were staying out of this." Sara sighed.
"I was and I know I'm probably walking onto a landmine here, but she's just like you in some ways. She's gonna go out there whether you want her to or not. I didn't want Roy going out there either but he was gonna do what he wanted, regardless of what we said. At least if you train her, she'll be better prepared." Oliver told her.
"Hey," the two turned to see Diggle walking up to them, Detective Lance called, our bank robber has struck again."
Starling City bank
later
The Arrow and Canary entered the bank vault, finding it empty.
"they're already gone Felicity." The Arrow said over the comms.
"I think I may have an idea where. The skeleton key operates on an OFDM wireless signal. I'm picking up a transmission signal in the alley next to the bank." Felicity told them.
"But you won't be heading there." A male voice spoke up.
"What was that?" The Arrow demanded.
"He's hacking our transmission." Felicity said distressed.
"My associates may be headed to the alley, but the nine-ten bus from Crescent Circle is about to collide with the Starlight Freight Express." the voice spoke up.
"Oh my god, he's right. the nine-ten is headed for the track at Amhest." Felicity said frantically.
"I'll take the bus." The Arrow told The Canary before they both took off in different directions.
The Canary ran out of the back of the building to see the criminals loading up into a truck. The man she presumed to be the guy in charge turned a gun on her and fired. She easily dodged them and separated her baton before throwing it. It hit him in the forehead and the others turned their guns on her, forcing her to take cover.
"He's keeping me out, I can't stop him!" Felicity told The Arrow over the comms as he pursued the bus on his motorcycle.
"The bus has radios, can you break in, wave them off?" The Arrow asked.
"No." Felicity said distressed
The Arrow rode his motorcycle in front of the bus, pulling to a stop in front of them. The bus skidded to a stop and The Arrow held it back as best as he could as the rain zoomed by.
The truck drove off and The Canary could do nothing but watch.
Arrow Lair
later
"What do we know?" Oliver asked.
"He somehow was able to hack our frequency and gain remote access but I upgraded our firewall. Now he won't be able to hack in with a bazooka. Computer wise." Felicity said at Oliver's look.
"Good." Oliver nodded.
"I think I might have something that might help us track him down." Sara called over and they saw her at a microscope.
"I can run it over at the lab." Felicity offered and Sara shook her head.
"Don't need to, I recognize this. It's Macgreger's syndrome. It's a genetic defect that creates fluid build up in the lungs, which leads to oxygen deprivation and mass organ failure. It's terminal." Sara explained as she stepped back.
"How do you know this?" Diggle asked surprised.
"Our fifth year away, we traveled. Met some interesting people, picked up some useful skills." Oliver explained as Felicity walked over to the computer.
"This might give us a way to ID him. People with Macgreger's are rare and people with Macgreger's and a degree in computer science are even more rare," Felicity typed furiously and a picture came up, "William Tockman, former encryption engineer at, wait for it, Kord Enterprises."
"What's the point? He'll be dead before he can spend all that money." Diggle pointed out.
"He's not stealing it for himself. He's stealing it for his sister. She's got cystic fibrois and needs a lung transplant." Felicity said as she got the information.
"You have an address?" Oliver asked.
"fifty-two Nelson Way." Felicity said and Oliver and Sara turned and walked out.
Starling City
later
"This area doesn't look very residential." The Arrow noted as he and The Canary got off their motorcycles.
"There, that's Tockman's ride." The Canary pointed out the van.
The two vigilantes cautiously approached the van, noting the lock. After dismantling it, weapons drawn, they opened it. It was empty, save a router at the back of the van.
"Tockman's not here, just some device." The Arrow said over the comms.
"I'm on it. Tockman's device is giving off the same OFDM signal Tockman used at the bank." Felicity explained.
"Can you trace it?" The Canary asked.
"As we speak. It's leading...back to our network. Tockman's piggybacking off my hack, it's a trap. He's trying to break into our network." Felicity said distressed.
"Felicity," The Arrow said before there was a boom and a lot of static,"Felicity? Felicity?"
Arrow Lair
later
"How bad?" Oliver asked as he and Sara returned to the darkened liar.
"Tockman used the Skeleton Key to hack into our network and re-code our system. Basically, he told our system to commit suicide." Felicity said bitterly.
"I stopped Tockman's men before they could get away with the cash, so Tockman will be looking for another score." Sara pointed out.
"SO let's give him one," Oliver said and they turned to him, "I'll call Walter, have him liquidate five-hundred thousand shares of Q.C. stock tonight."
"If Tockman wants to make another score-" Diggle started.
"Who better than Oliver Queen." Sara finished.
"What of it doesn't take?" Diggle asked.
"That's a good point. Better make it eight-hundred." Oliver said as he pulled out his phone and walked away.
If you'll excuse me, I have a date I have to meet." Sara said as she walked out.
"You know, it's not your fault Felicity." Diggle said as he sat down next to her.
"No? Which one of us put in the security safe guards?" Felicity asked sarcastically.
"You know, I know you haven't wanted to talk about it, but it must be difficult...what happened with your father." Diggle said carefully.
"Why would in be difficult?" Felicity asked harshly as she yanked out a wire, "because he was forced to leave me and my mom when I was five? Because, just when I was starting to build a relationship with him, he goes psycho robot and now he's drain-damaged? And it's not like we can do anything considering the woman responsible is already dead."
"Felicity-" Diggle started.
"I have to get back to work." Felicity said crossly.
Diggle sighed as he stood up and walked away.
Laurel's apartment
later
"I just want to understand. Why do you want to do this?" Sara asked as she and Laurel sat across from each other.
"It's something I've been thinking about since you and Ollie left after Tommy's funeral. The city was going down hill, and I just felt so...helpless. I felt anger and I felt sad and I felt everything in between. I just wanted to do something to help the city. Being a lawyer, it's not making a difference because I keep running into road blocks. I have always wanted to help this city and I will do this Sara, with or without your help." Laurel said firmly and Sara sighed.
"And you'll get yourself killed," Sara sighed in begrudging acceptance as she looked at her sister, "If you do this...there will be times you want to quit, times you just want to give up. I didn't have that luxury, because when I was trained, it was kill or be killed. Meet me at the lair later tonight, we'll talk more then."
Lian Yu, five years ago
night
Sara had the pilot up against the side of the plane, trying to make him comfortable.
"My wallet." He moaned as he tried to get it from his pocket.
Sara pulled it out and gave it to him. He opened it and pulled something out. A picture.
"She's my daughter. She's twelve. I need to talk to her?" He told Sara.
"Your radio's broken." Sara told him gently and he made a dismayed sound.
"Her mother died just after she got out of diapers. And without me...she's not gonna have anyone to look after her," he said as he looked up at Sara, "I know I don't know you, but please," he said as he put the picture in her hand, "make sure my daughter's okay. Please."
Tears in her eyes, Sara nodded.
Arrow Lair
later
"You two seen Felicity?" Diggle asked as Oliver and Sara walked back down into the liar.
"No, why?" Oliver asked as they turned to him.
"Went to Big Belly to get some take-out, when I came back she was gone. I haven't seen her for hours." Diggle explained as Oliver's phone went off.
"Yeah?" Oliver answered.
"Tockman took the bait, the money you had Walter Deposit.I'm reading his signal at Starling National." Felicity told him.
"Wait, how do you know that?" Oliver questioned.
"'cause I'm here." Felicity told him.
"What?" Oliver demanded.
Starling National Bank
later
The Arrow, Canary, and Diggle walked down the steps, looking around for Felicity. Seeing her set up, Diggle walked up behind it and pulled her up as she yelped.
"What are you doing here?" The Arrow demanded.
"Tracking Tockman." Felicity said simply.
"What you're doing is putting yourself in danger." The Canary snapped.
"He fried our computers, so I'm using to trace the Skeleton Key's signature." Felicity explained.
"Diggle, get her out of here." The Arrow ordered.
Diggle began to lead Felicity out when the alarms began blaring.
"Tockman disabled the bank's security system, I re-enabled it." Felicity explained as she rushed back to the computer.
"They're blocking our way out." Diggle nodded as he looked over her shoulder at the video feed.
"I'll deal with them." The Arrow growled as he walked up the stairs.
"Tockman's signal is strong. He's here, he's close." Felicity said.
"Find him." The Canary ordered.
"No need," Tockman's voice said as Felicity's screen scrambled, "I'm impressed. I'm everywhere. At the moment, I'm focused on the sub-level. The gas mains specifically."
"Oh my god," Felicity said as she checked her tablet for a diagnostic, "he's blocked the gas main release."
"If this place blows, it'll cause an explosion big enough to take out three blocks." Diggle growled.
"Dig, this is your area. Go." The Canary ordered and Diggle rushed off.
As Tockman's men were leaving, The Arrow jumped down and fired. The Arrow exploded into cables which captured one of the robbers and knocked him off his feet. The Arrow then stood up and rushed over and punched the next one repeatedly, knocking him down the stairs. The First one got his gun and opened fire at the archer but The Arrow jumped out of the way before firing, knocking the gun out of his assailant's hand.
Diggle found the gas main and started pulling it closed.
"Wait, Tockman over played his hand," Felicity told The Canary, "the gas main's in the city network, where I live."
"He gave us a way to track him down." The Canary realized.
As the criminal freed himself, he stood up and tried to fight off The Arrow. He never stood a chance and The Arrow easily subdued him.
Diggle grunted in frustration as he used a metal bar to close the main. Once it wa closed, Diggle threw the bar down and wiped some of the sweat off his forehead.
The Canary walked into her room, her baton out. Sensing Tockman's approach, she was about to make her move when Felicity cried out and shoved her out of the way. Tockman fired and hit Felicity in the shoulder. Sara growled, this was why she didn't come into the field. In the field, felicity was nothing but a liability.
You don't even know why I'm doing this," Tockman said as The Canary stood up, "the money's not for me, I'm doing this all for her."
"That doesn't make it right." The Canary said regretfully.
"Tockman raised his gun at The Canary was about to fire when there was a bright explosion. Tockman went down and The Canary looked back at Felicity, stunned.
"What was that?" She asked.
"His cell phone. I uploaded the same virus he used on our system. Did I...?" Felicity trailed off as The Canary checked on him.
"No." The Canary said relieved.
"We did it." Felicity smile, unaware of The Canary's frown.
Arrow lair
later
"All stitched up." Sara said as she finished with Felicity.
"thanks." Felicity nodded.
"Felicity, you were incredibly reckless," Sara said and Felicity looked up at her, "you put yourself in needless danger and nearly killed a man."
"I saved your life." Felicity defended but Sara shook her head.
"I knew he was there, I could have dodged the bullet. And do you really think lack of a weapon would have stopped me from taking him out?" Sara asked and Felicity was silent, "I know you're dealing with what happened to your dad, I am to, but this is not the way to do it. It turned out okay this time, next time it may not. If you ever do this again, we will have a problem. Do you understand me?"
"Yeah." Felicity said softly.
"Good." Sara said as she turned and walked off.
Lian Yu, five years ago
night
Sara was staring at the photo when Oliver and Slade walked back up.
"You're too late," Sara said and Oliver lowered his head as Slade threw his hands up into the air, "we're all gonna die here...just like him."
"No we're not," Oliver said as he came out of the cockpit holding something, "I think I found our way onto the freighter."
"A parachute." Slade breathed.
Queen Mansion
later
"Thea!" Oliver called out as he walked into the room.
"Oliver, "Moira walked up behind him, "What's wrong, is everything alright?"
"Thea texted me that their was an emergency at the house." Oliver said as he faced his mother.
"Well there isn't. I'm in a meeting and Thea's not even here." Moira explained.
"then why would she...I can't believe she would do this." Oliver put it together.
"Do what?" Moira asked.
"Try to force us to talk because she's sensing the tension between us." Oliver explained.
"and what did you tell her?" Moira asked.
"Nothing. To protect her...not you." Oliver said coolly.
"Mrs. Queen, is everything okay?" A voice called out.
"Yes, my son just dropped by," Moira said as she led Oliver into the sitting room, "Oliver, I'd like you to meet Slade Wilson."
Oliver's blood ran cold. Slade stood up and faced Oliver and Oliver could see the eye patch on his former brother in arms as he walked over to him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Slade dropped the smile once Moira could no longer see his face, "Mr. Queen."
So, what do you guys think? Please leave any thoughts or comments in a review, feedback is greatly appreciated.