The Rise of the Green Hood and the Red Shadow Pt. 4
Queen Manor
February 10, 2031 (3 Years Later)
16:34 UTD
"Tori ga michi o midaseru yō ni." Lian was reading a Japanese literature for her lessons under Connor's tutelege. The ginger-haired girl is now 13. They are in the Quiver lair for not only to train in martial arts and weaponry, but also knowledge. Connor sits in front of her to oversee her progress.
"Very good, Lian. You're getting better than I imagined." Connor said. Checking his copy of the mythology of the Phoenix while following Lian's practice to speak Japanese. Lian then closes the book and sighs heavily. "Argh! My brain feel so exhausted. When can we go on patrol and kick butt?" Lian yawned.
"Lian, unless there are reports in this radio. We cannot risk any Sentry Bots coming after us." Connor reprimands her, only for her to pout.
"Đây là hạt dẻ. (This is nuts)." Lian sighs in Vietnamese, as her way of expressing herself without anyone understanding what she is saying. But Connor, otherwise, also spoke her language.
"Bạn nhận ra tôi có thể hiểu bạn đúng. (You do realize I can understand you.)" Connor replied. Lian facepalm for forgetting that. She then turned to Libby. "Hey, Libby. How's the new gadget going?"
"Can you be a bit more patient, Li? I need to concentrate. Trust me, you'll get your chance to try out the gauntlet-whip." Libby said, tinkering with the new gear she was going to equip the new dynamic duo. "Never thought I see the day Green Arrow and Speedy return. It's becoming big on tbe news. Though I wish they hadn't put you guys on the wanted list."
"Well, it's back to the old ages where superheroes are no longer wanted. But that's the world we now live in." Connor said, accepting reality as it was. But Lian wasn't taking this well. "All the more reason the law can never be trusted." Lian sighed taking a bite of her chips.
Later at the rooftop of Queen Manor, Lian was taking a moment to breathe in the breeze of the wind. She then takes out the necklace resenbling the phoenix. A gift from her father as good luck.
This is the Phoenix. When life goes, a new one can began. That's what Dad always say. But what was my purpose since the day I was born?
Lian carries this after his disappearance. All she just wanted was to get stronger to get her father back. Never again will the weak suffer at the hands of evil, even if it means to cross lines.
Out there, it was always crime without punishment. But with vigilance, there was always a price.
"I miss you, Daddy." Lian said, holding onto the necklace.
Brazil
January 6, 2028 (3 years ago)
8:45 ETD
Connor stowed away in a cargo truck while the trailers were being picked up to where the kids are being held. Hoping Lian would listen to him cause to him, she's only a child with an impulsive nature.
Then he got a calm from Night Sparrow. "GA, I caught another ride to one of White's ships. It might take time." Night Sparrow informed.
"How long?" Green Arrow asked while remaining in stealth. "I'd say for 3 hours left before the arrival. Where are you heading now?"
"I'm heading to the Amazon Jungle. It might be the secret base of China's gang." Green Arrow replied.
"I'm on my way." Night Sparrow said before Green Arrow cuts her off. "No, there's something you must do. Remember that kid that stowed away with me in the cargo ship? She's still there, hiding. I'm gonna need you to stick with her till I get back and get her. Can you do that?"
"Thank, god. I think Lian trusts you very much. But meeting her, I got to warn you, she has a temper whenever it comes to her love for fighting. Okay, I'll keep an eye on her when I get here. Over and..."
Night Sparrow's contact was interrupted when tbe signal becomes off range. "Hello? Hello?" Green Arrow repeated before turning off his communicator. And remained out of sight before any of White's henchmen finds him.
He then stood still when there wa someone coming. Green Arrow gets ready to make a sneak attack as one of the henchmen opens the covere on the truck in the back, and there was the moment. Green Arrow forcibly pulled the henchman in and knocks him unconscious.
Then he hurridly leaps out of the cargo and sneakily went on the side of the jungle to remain hidden. Unbeknownst to him, Lian was on the other side of the warehouse, hiding in the shadows, she also stowed away in another cargo ship and sees a lot of White's henchmen around, the numbers of it overwhelm her in an exciting way. "Finally. An all-you-can-beat buffet." Lian said, quietly with a smirk, spinning her sai. It had akways been her dream to beat up bad guys.
She then climbed to the trees and observes China's gang lining up the prisoners. One of them hit a young teen with a gun.
China stood to oversee the process. Then speaks to one of her men.
"Trazê-los para suas células. (Bring them into their cells.)" China ordered in Brazilian-Portuguese language. Each of her men nodded at their boss. Lian sees through her binoculars. On each side of her waist was dual knives attached to her belt. "Dual knives, huh? Clever for a crime-lord like her, wonder what it was like to fight her."
Green Arrow then uses his quick movement like a ninja. Doing his best to keep his footsteps as quiet as he could. But then he sensed two more personas coming his way and hang onto the pipes on the ceiling.
A little girl with brown hair and grey eyes was ordered to hide in her room while she heard her ginger-haired mother arguing with someone. It was more than just a heated argument.
"I love you and I just want to see you." The man in front of the doorstep reasoned with her, but to no avail.
"I told you before and I will tell you again! We can never be together anymore and you knew." The woman argued. The girl peeked through the door and the man noticed her, she closed the door. The man could see that the child has a resemblance to her mother, but she has his eyes. "Is she my daughter?" He asked.
But the mother kicked him away from the door and held her Sai to his throat. "Get out of my sight. You're not allowed to see us. Come near me and my daughter again, and I will put you down permanently." She warned.
"Mommy?" The girl called stepping out of the door, wanting to know what was going on. But doesn't understand what object her mother was holding.
"Thea, go back to your room and lock the door." Her mother said before going back inside, leaving the man, supposedly the girl's father, was left dumbfounded and taken aback.
Later, Thea, the little girl, was seated in her mother's car. Her mother gets inside the driver's seat and turned the keys, leaving her daughter confused. "Mommy, is the man my daddy?"
When Thea asked the question, the woman just brushed it off to not scare her. "No, sweetheart. He's a stranger and we don't trust strangers, okay?" The girl yawned, too tired to ask more. "Okay." She replied and went to sleep. Her mother had planned to get out of Star City as soon as possible and drove away.
One thing is for sure, she will not leave her daughter, like her mother had left her before. And she will make sure she will be mold into a weapon. Never will she ever let the father of her child take her away from her and be like him.
"Everything will be okay, Thea. I won't let anyone hurt you." She said to her sleeping daughter while focusing on the road in front of her. Protecting her only offspring, even if it means to take a person's life should they come after them.
Present
Green Arrow shoots two arrows at the guards with tranquilizers. He observes every cell the children were kept in. He notices one of the guards using their key cards to open and close the cells.
All Green Arrow has to do was steal one from any guard before him. He waited patiently as one of the guards left the side of one of the cells. Then uses the original Green Arrow's boxing glove arrow to knock him out. Then he steals his uniform and locked him in the closet.
Covering his eyes with the cap the guard wore. He found out security cameras were still active. Green Arrow thought he might have to deactivate the cameras first before he realizes that someone had gotten to the security office first and deactivated them.
The guard nearby notices this and was about to call his boss before he noticed someone behind him. "Ma'am, we got a situation. Ma'am? Oof!" He was smacked behind his head by Lian in a black mask, and a red jumpsuit.
"One down, many to go." Lian stated. Connor was shocked that she had sneaked out, again. Then takes off his cap.
"Did I not told you to-?!" Lian cuts him off.
"Blah, blah blah! I get it, I'm supposed to be staying on the boat till you get back. But you're welcome! And it's Speedy now." Then the red alarms are blaring. Lian now goes by the name: Speedy.
The two looked on both ways to see guards coming their way. Pointing their guns at them. Both get into their stances. "Get behind me." Green Arrow ordered. Getting his dual katanas ready. But Speedy also gets her dual sais. "Who says I needed protection?"
"Um, I'm older than you." Green Arrow retorted
"You're not my brother." Speedy remarked.
"Open fire!" One of the guards shouted as they fire their bullets at them. Speedy only summersaults to get in a far range. Green Arrow then charges at the henchmen and takes out their guns.
"What now, G.A.?!" Speedy asked. She takes out her bow and shoots arrow at the rest of the firearms before performing a split kick at the approaching guards. "Hi-yah!" Seeing how much of a stubborn, but skillful fighter Speedy is, Green Arrow had no choice but to give in.
"We take down the guards and get the kids out!" Green Arrow ordered. Then he makws the uppercut on the guard and then a hook on another behind him. Then he throws the keycard he stole from the guard earlier to Speedy.
"Use this to open their cells!" Green Arrow calls to Speedy. "Got it!" She replied having the keycard in her hand. She reached one of the cells, Speedy took out the key card before it was shot with a hole. "Seriously?" Speedy rolled her eyes, then took an alternative solution. "Maybe this will do." Taking out her sai and thrust it onto the panel system and short circuited.
The cells opened and freed three of the kids inside. "Get out, quick!" Green Arrow noticed this and just shrugged. "Okay, that will do too." Seeing Speedy using her Sai to open the cells of the other kids. Then two of the gunmen aimed their laser beam at him, only to be saved when Night Sparrow swiftly swings her spear saber and cuts down the guns they held.
"Took you long enough." Green Arrow stated.
"Sorry, I'm late. The kid got away fast. And..." Then Night Sparrow spotted Lian in her mask and spandex. And battling the gunmen. "Is that...?" Then Speedy notices Night Sparrow.
"Night Sparrow, Speedy! Speedy, Night Sparrow! Let's get to this later!" Green Arrow makes sure the introductions are short considering the circumstances in the battlefield. "I already cleared the ship you guys are on!" Night Sparrow said whacking the gunmen with her staff.
"Good, we'll need a ride for the kids to get back to Star City! You help Speedy get them back home!" Green Arrow ordered while deflecting bullets with his katanas. "What about you?!" Night Sparrow asked.
"I'll deal with White!" Said Green Arrow.
Green Arrow continues dicing the guns from the other gunmen and makes his way to the elevator. While also firing his arrows at the other things following him. Speedy notices and wants to catch up with him. Hoping China might have information about the whereabouts of her father.
"Hey, wait for me!" Speedy tries to go after Green Arrow, only to be stopped by Night Sparrow. "We'll deal with China after we get the kids out. There's still room to kick butt." Night Sparrow said.
"But she might have something I need to know!" Speedy protested.
Speedy yanked her arm, but then it went in vain when the elevator was closed and locked. She tired to press the buttons, but it was useless. She then goes back to where she left off and aided Night Sparrow, who was handling the bad guys.
"Back already?" Asked Night Sparrow, spinning her staff against a gunman's back. Speedy then makes an air kick on the face of another gunman. "Very, this time." She nods.
Green Arrow follows the stairway to where White and the rest of her men could be.
He notices one of the hostages was a young boy with blonde hair and green eyes was ordered to get in the helicopter. "Hold it right there!" Green Arrow aims his arrow at China when she turned to him.
"You're not Green Arrow. But you are already a nuisance." China scorned. "Too bad." He shot an arrow at China, only for her to use one of her dual knives to throw at the arrow to render it useless.
"You two, take the boy!" She orders her henchmen to drag the boy around Speedy's age to the helicopter. China then aims her dagger at Green Arrow. He wasted no time to wait for China to attack first. One of his greatest strategies was to let the enemy take the first hit. China sped towards him with an air lean kick, but Green Arrow spun around and tried to hit her on the back.
But to no avail as she rolled down and sweeps his feet under. Causing him to fall back. But he uses his hand stand to get back on his feet.
China's eyes glow silver-white, as she predicted Green Arrow's next move to shoot out smoke arrows to confuse her. But she was already one step ahead.
Just as predicted, Green Arrow fires his smoke arrows and China deflected three of them. And threw the last one at him. It explodes and Green Arrow coughs. Green Arrow sees China performing a hook, but instead pulls back and makes the uppercut.
"I was injected with the Exo-gene. It replicates the cells of the metagene and gave me the power to predict your every move." Green Arrow swipes his swords upward. White hates to admit that the newcomer is formidable.
Green Arrow then blocks her deadly swipes that were thrown downward. "You may be fast. But what comes next will not make a great result." He tried to sweep his swords under, but she cartwheeled over.
"Hmm. Interesting. Anyone as young as you were dumb enough to challenge me." China taunted.
"Says the lady who trained in the ways of the assassin at the age of 5." Green Arrow retorted.
Green Arrow then throws his fists upward at China, but then she performs multiple punches on his abdomen. Then she grabs his arm and flips him over her shoulder and slam him to the ground. Stomping her feet on Green Arrow.
She steals one of his swords and held it down to his throat. "I'll admit. You're a worthy little vigilante. But too bad the Green Arrow line ends here tonight." She was about to stab him by his stomach. But Speedy intervenes when she attacks from behind White.
"Too bad you can't predict who's backing him up!" Speedy taunted. "Nyah!" The red vigilante-to-be sticks her tongue out. China predicted Speedy's next move to throw her right jab. But then she was interrupted when Night Sparrow sweeps White's feet under with her bo staff.
"What do you know, we'd make the terrific trio!" Speedy adds.
"And the kids?" Green Arrow asked.
"Found a safe passageway underground, they should get to the docks back in Rio de Janeiro." Night Sparrow replied, then she shifts her staff into a rifle, which only shoots electric bullet shocks of energy to knock the snipers unconscious. "Yes, all those lessons paid off." She pumped her fists in joy.
Green Arrow then sees the young boy getting dragged into the helicopter and was about to take off. Then turns to Speedy, she turned to him and noticed what was happening.
"I got this!" Speedy sped away in a swift. She rushed towards the chopper and hangs onto the blade of the bottom. Green Arrow and Night Sparrow were left to deal with White. But this got the green archer worried for her safety.
"Hey, don't worry. The kids' tough. You got to give her that." Night Sparrow assured her. China used a whip to tied to her knife and swings it across. The more she whiplashes, both Green Arrow and Night Sparrow shifted back. Missing her every hit.
"Come and get us, you rogue old lady!" Night Sparrow taunted.
"Huh, rogue for sure. But old?!" China then uses her shuriken, Green Arrow blocks them with his swords. "The League of Shadows, of course." He deduced judging by the weapons used by her. But China wrapped her knife whip around Green Arrow's leg and tried to pull him, but it failed when Night Sparrow made an air kick.
"Not on my watch!" China summersaults back and gets ready to predict what they will do next.
"Night Sparrow, you got it figured out!" Green Arrow said.
"How so?"
"She can't predict more than one attack at once. You and me, we go two-on-one till Speedy gets back."
"I wouldn't care about the numbers if I were the two of you." China retorted.
Meanwhile, Speedy was still holding onto the helicopter when she climbs up, one of the gunmen opened the hatch next to her and aims at her. "Uh-oh." She then drops back down to grab one of the henchmen's ankles and pulled him down, causing him to fall on the water. Which is near the shore.
Speedy then climbs back up and cracked her knuckles. "Do you guys know how to swim?" She asked. They did not replied as they point their guns at her. The boy covered his head. Speedy then pushes the gun of one of the men upwards while the pilot tried to steer to make her fall.
Then the second one had his shock gun out to stun her, only for Speedy to perform a slam downward and break the firearm. The pilot failed to notice he threw his fellow men to the ocean.
Speedy wasted no time to grab the boy's hand and grabbed a parachute. "What are you doing?!" Asked the boy.
"Trust me, this is gonna be a free-falling ride! Hold on!" Speedy said strapping the parachute on herself and the boy and they both fell as the pilot tried to shoot the both of them. But Speedy succeeded in escaping the situation before it gets worst. As they fell, Speedy releases the latch of the parachute and it opens, slowing their fall.
The boy was shocked that a girl his age was doing something crazy. "That's incredibly, crazy." He said, shaken by the events. But Speedy smiled in response. "Dude, I'm all about crazy. Where's the fun in that?" They floated down to the ocean and landed on the water. They managed to get a hold on a piece of ship wreckage that was 49 years old.
"How do we get back?" Asked the boy. Speedy then takes out a flare gun she stole from one of the gunmen. After noticing spotlights from a boat bonging to a coastguard. "Already on it." She replied shooting a light in the air, exploding like a firework. The coastguard spotted the two.
"So, what's your name?" Asked Speedy. Though a risk taker his age, the boy notices something bright about the girl. "Joseph."
"Speedy." She said her name, but not her real one. She smiled at Joseph. "Um, thanks for saving my life. I don't know what these guys want from us, but it can't be any good."
"Well, whatever it is, their plans will be burned before they know it." Speedy joked. Her humor is dark, but Joseph blushes at the sight of her smile. She held his hand to make sure he doesn't get drifted. "But hey, you're welcome." Speedy said. Then the coastguard managed to get close as they threw one of their life preservers at them. "Hey, you kids okay?! Hold on!"
Back at the warehouse, Green Arrow was avoiding knife throws from China while flipping in the aor from one containment to another on top. Then Green Arrow shoots his arrows ay China, but she cartwheels away from them. Just ad she was about to get hit by Night Sparrow's spear, by the shoulder, China claspsed her hand together, pressed on the spearr on both sides and then grabs it and threw her over.
But Night Sparrow lands to her feet and distracted China making 4 thrusts at her, enough for Green Arrow to make a swift kick under her feet. Then Night Sparrow finished off with a punch in the abdomen. Making China too woozy to predict what was coming next.
China stumbles a bit until she fell. Green Arrow checks her impulse of her heart rate, it was still beating. "Just unconscious. We should be able to keave her to the authorities. Speedy should be..."
Suddenly, a helicopter arrived with searchlights above them. Green Arrow and Night Sparrow covered their eyes.
"This is the police, we got you surrounded!" The two uncovered their eyes and had no choice but to escape. "Should we go?" Night Sparrow asked.
"Let's move." Green Arrow then shoots an arrow on a nearby ledge with a cable attached. Night Sparrow held onto his shoulder and the two swung away.
Star City
Janurary 9, 2028
8:41 ETD
Lian got back home without any notice from her uncle. As he was just busy to notice. She was then called for breakfast. "Morning, streaker." Streaker was Lian's nickname due to her fierce personality. "Hey, Uncle Jim. What's for breakfast?"
"Toast with avacado and bacon on top, your favorite." Jim passed the plate of toasy to Lian. Much to her joy. "Cool, thanks."
Then Jim turned on the news for any updates. Lian didn't seem to mind as a means to get some clues. Or the next time she runs into Connor.
"Authorities are still sesrching for Will Harper, whom they say was kidnapped by mysterious group of assailants for unknown reasons in South Korea after police took statements from an anonymous tipster who witnessed the scenerio. Back to you Lois."
"Thank you, Cat. In other news, ther ehave been reports of metahuman trafficking in Brazil as the children ages 10-13 were said to have been held by a druglord, known as one of Star City's politicians, China White. Who had been establishing the mysterious subtances behind the scenes. But she was caught by a young vigilante who appears to wear green and knows archery. Could it be the return of Green Arrow? After many years of the disbandment of the Justice League?"
Jim turned off the TV. Then turns to his niece. He was concerned for her well-being due to the trauma. He felt bad he cannot spend time with Lian like how Will used to. He was aware that his brother and niece were left without a wife and mother. For who knows why. He wanted to make sure that the girl will never be brought up by the wrong people.
"Hey, Lian. I know I had been busy trying to maintain your dad's company for awhile. I'm sorry you felt like I was gone for too long. Look, it will take awhile for your dad to return. But I promise I will try to make the most of it for you. Why don't we head to Chinatown and have some ramen. Like the way you like it?" Jim asked.
He's not her father, but Lian loves her uncle. So she didn't want to oush him away, but had to keep her secret from being found. She hugged her uncle, grateful that she still has family that is with her until her father can be found again. But wasn't sure what to do if her mother was found. But that will have to be up to time itself.
Later at night, Lian was at her bay window. She was happy to get some action, and rescuing people who cannot defend themselves. But thinking those days might be over since Connor didn't accept her as his protege. But it was nice while it lasted.
The stars were still vague as day. Lian hoped that one day her father would show up at her bedroom door and she can hug her like the times before now.
As she was about to get started on her homework, she heard a knock on the door. It was Connor. "Connor?" Lian questioned, opening tbe window for him to enter.
"What are you doing here?" Lian asked.
Connor took a deep breath and spoke. "I came to see how you were doing?"
"Fine I guees. After everything in Brazil, it was cool to fight bad guys. But I get it, it was no olace for me in this kind of action. But I'm glad I get to do something for once."
"You did well. But you still need a lot of work."
"I thought you said I can't do it anymore." Said Lian having a piece of cheesecake cupcake her uncle had baked for her. But Connor had hisind changed. "My master believed that you had what it takes to be samurai."
Lian turned to him, "What?"
Connor then took something off his back. It was an archery bow. "Here. This is the bow of one of the original Green Arrow's proteges. Now, this is yours." Lian gasped, surprised to see a weapon. "You're giving me this?" She asked.
"Yes, I know there is no point of keeping you away from it all. But there os still a lot of damgers we both have to face head on."
"Why is that? Why me too?"
"Because, as much as I didn't want to involve you in this, but my master suspects that you are a candidate to join tbe League of the Phoenix. I detected your aura back in South Korea."
"Really?"
"Yes, for some reason your aura is stronger than you can imagine."
"My aura? Stronger?" Lian was astonished and amazed for that kind of reason. "Cool."
"From now on while we investigate your parents'whereabouts. I will train you as my protege in the meantime. But you got to promise me thay you will follow my lead." Connor offered but made sure that he had to be rational of her at all times. "If you want to."
Lian got excited that fate had brought them closer together. To become a warrior she desired to be. Like the 47 Ronin in the books, or the tale of Tomoe Gozen. She then takes the bow as an acceptance.
"Okay, when do we start?" Lian asked.
Iron Heights Prison
January 9, 2028
17:54 UTD
China was sitting in her cell after being caught in Brazil. Then one of the guards called her. "Ms. White, an associate ia here to see you."
"Make it quick." White said. Then to her shock when the giard lets a visitor in, it was Tommy. Her boss' son. "M-Master Thomas!" Despite being in tbe League of Shadows, China owes her loyalty to Malcolm Merlyn. Since he was the one who trained her at a young age.
"China White, you have failed my father, for the first time."
Merlyn Industries
January 10, 2028
4:45 ETD
Malcom was watching the news about the Return of Green Arrow.To think his old enemy would be long gone, he never thought that there were any descendants of his that would take the suit.
"Could it be the return of Green Arrow?"
"It would seem that Oliver Queen had another one of those remnants in his blood. That can be arranged." Merlyn stood from his desk.
"I knew he has a daughter, yet she didn't take the mantle. For now, it be better to lay down to not blow any cover." He then turned to his son, who had just return from his visit to Iron Heights.
"Father, perhaps you should have given your apprentice better training on how to not predict your enemies. But the Exo-gene was working fine. But it's a prototype, so it didn't last long." Tommy informed.
"Excellent work, Thomas. The sooner we get the Exo-gene ready, we will rid of the metahuman from this world. The 100 will be ours before Tobias even knows."
"Father, are you sure about it? Those captives were just kids? Meta or no, don't you think it's a bit too far to end defenseless lives?" Asked Tommy, hesitant about his father's wayvof taking out his enemies.
"Tommy, I can understand you are hesitant about the way things were. But do not forget those metas were the reason your mother was gone. As much as I hated the metas, the 100 will be the key to our success."
"Why join the 100 if you hated the metas?" Asked Tommy.
"From my younger days, Thomas. If there's one thing I learned, you want something, better to cooperate with the people you despised until they were no longer of use to you." Merlyn advised his son.
"Very well, Father. I'll take over the load from here to oversee the emails, you get some rest." Tommy offered his father.
"Thank you, son." Malcolm said, but didn't stand up and just sat on his desk. "But I think you've done enough work for today, why don't you go out and take your guards with you. Anywhere you want."
"You sure, Father?"
"I'll be fine. You deserve a break." Merlyn insisted to his son. Thomas bowed and left.
Author's note:
Jim Harper - Jim is Lian's uncle and brother of Will Harper. After Will was abducted, Jim is enlisted as Lian's legal guardian should anything happened to him. He never knew Lian is Speedy due to his qork load at Bow Hunter Security company, which hw tried to maintain. Though he cares for Lian, and felt the need to protect her from the superhero world. But he doesn't go for the extremes, and lets her have a life of a normal teenager.