Chapter 2: The Island
CHINA, LIAN YU - BEACH: 6 JUN 2012
After taking a few minutes to enjoy the solid ground, Oliver looked more closely at the island. It looks inhospitable. It is rocky and cold. The sky is overcast and the ground and surrounding forest looks damp.
Oliver suddenly felt colder in just the clothes from the boat. His shirt was thin, even if it had long sleeves. He was wearing cut-off jeans and Docker boat shoes. He didn't even have socks. He felt woefully under dressed for survival. He was totally unprepared to survive as he was.
The noise of seagulls drew his attention. He had time to briefly notice them swarming around the life raft before he realized they were trying to eat his father's body.
"Hey!" Oliver screamed at them. "Get away from him."
Oliver ran at the life raft and startled the birds into flight. He fell to the side of the life raft by his father's body. He felt so alone. How am I supposed to survive? I am alone.
The smell of his father's decomposing body overwhelmed his senses. He had grown numb to the smell while he was trapped with it on the life raft. But his few brief minutes of fresh air brought home the fact that his father was well and truly dead. He retched bile as the smell overwhelmed him a second time.
I need bury him, Oliver thought. I can't let the birds eat him. Oliver slowly stood up and struggled to pick up his father's body. Tears started to fall from his eyes. I need to keep him safe. He slowly trudged towards a high point above the beach.
Here. Oliver gently set his father down on the solid rocks. As he was arranging the body, he felt an odd lump in one of his pockets. He pulled out a blank notebook. It then occurred to him to check the rest of his father's pockets before he buried him. He didn't find much. A small pocket knife, some wire, his wallet, and some loose change. He decided to bury his father's wallet with him. But he took the pictures of his mom and sister from it. As well as the group shot of all five of the children grinning at the camera. He gently traced Laurel's face before he tucked the photos away in his cargo pocket with the notebook.
Oliver pocketed the rest of his finds and began to collect rocks to bury his father. It took the rest of the day. He was exhausted from carrying rocks up and down the small hill by the time he was finished. I still need food. I must find water.
"Goodbye, Dad," Oliver said as he squatted beside the small grave. "I will do what I promised. I'll survive. I'll keep them safe."
Oliver gave his father's grave one last sorrowful pat on the top stones and stood up. A sudden and blinding pain tore through his shoulder. He briefly looked down as he started to pass out from the pain. An arrow had sprouted from his shoulder. He could barely make out a figure in a green hood as he fell to the ground and let blackness swallow him.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
CHINA, LIAN YU - CAVE: 6 JUN 2012
Oliver reluctantly returned to consciousness. As he woke up, he suddenly remembered that he was in danger. He bolted upright.
The sudden movement caused blinding pain in his shoulder. He gasped in pain. The world spun. He would have vomited if he had anything left in his stomach. The pain slowly faded to a dull throb. He finally opened his eyes and took in the room.
Oliver found that he was in a cave. A strange Chinese man was squatting a short distance away by a small fire. He thrust some herbs into Oliver's hand and motioned him to eat. Oliver did and almost gagged at the taste, but the Chinese man held up a cup with water. Oliver grabbed the cup and gulped down the first water he had in over a day. He drained the cup.
Before Oliver could thank the man, the arrow in his shoulder was grasped and yanked out. The pain was sharp and overwhelming. He felt the edges of his vision blacken, but he struggled against falling unconscious again. The pain slowly faded to a harsh throbbing pain. He panted as he struggled to stay awake.
Oliver could only sit there listlessly in pain while the Chinese man treated his wounds and bound them. He moved in silence as he came and went from the cave. Later that same day, the man brought him a live bird in a cage. Oliver was confused. He wasn't sure what to do with it.
It was only when the man cooked his own meat on the fire and denied Oliver any meat that he started to figure out what he was supposed to do.
"Shēngcún," the man said in Chinese and gestured to the bird.
"I can't kill the bird," Oliver protested. "I don't even speak Chinese," he griped quietly to himself.
=Survive,= the man repeated in Chinese and went back to eating.
"I don't speak Chinese," Oliver complained loudly to the man. He watched as the man ate his cooked meat for some time before Oliver finally relented and killed the bird. He felt horrible. A new heartache bloomed in his chest. This was the first thing he had ever killed. I don't even like to go fishing.
The Chinese man watched him dispassionately. =Survive,= he repeated in Chinese.
"I know. It means bird," Oliver replied with his grief over the death of the bird in his voice.
"No," the man replied. "It mean survive." His English was broken, but easily understood. The man gave him a considering look. "If you want survive, bird not last thing you kill."
"You speak English?" Oliver asked the man suddenly, but the man refused to talk more to him. "My name is Oliver," Oliver finally tried a second time.
The man gave him a look. "You eat," the man told him. Then he took his bird and started to cook it.
Oliver huffed. He had been hoping to have a real conversation, but he would settle for watching how to cook the bird. He had a feeling that it would not be the last meal he had to cook over a fire. Not if he wanted to survive this place.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
CHINA, LIAN YU - CAVE: 9 JUN 2012
Oliver stayed with the Chinese man for several days. While the man would speak, he would only do so rarely. He only spoke to impart some lore or wisdom that allowed Oliver to survive, but he was a vital resource to Oliver. In those first few days, Oliver learned the most basic skills he needed to survive on the island.
Hunting and gathering food were a constant requirement. With two of them, they had to hunt and gather more food than the man had been gathering alone. They also had to range further to find enough to eat. It was during this time, these first few days, that Oliver learned more about himself.
He wanted to survive. Not just because his father wanted him. He wanted to continue living. Despite the constant cold and pain, Oliver wanted to live. He still felt guilty about being the only one to survive the yacht. That his father had killed to help him survive. He desperately missed Laurel and Tommy. He ached with missing them. It was during this time that he decided to live to keep their memories alive, if only inside his mind. He would live FOR them.
Oliver eventually adjusted to the constant pain. He had learned to ignore the pain and continue to do what was needed to survive. He was still struggling with the cold. He thought that he would sleep IN the fire if he could. Nothing he did made him warm enough. He was always hungry. He knew he wasn't eating enough to stay warm.
The most disturbing thing that Oliver learned from the Chinese man was that there were landmines on this island. He was a sheltered and protected American. He didn't know that people could come to see that kind of horror as just another threat in their life. His new life. A threat that was easy to avoid, if you paid attention... if you knew what to look for... if you knew where the mines were concentrated.
Oliver wanted to take back control of his life. Perhaps it was only a small thing, but being able to hunt your food was important. He needed to take back some control. He asked to shoot the bow.
Oliver didn't think that the bow would be much of a challenge. It was a stick and some string. He could do that easily. His first attempts were pitiful, but the Chinese man was far more patient than Oliver. He helped Oliver slow down and take his time with the shot. It was frustrating. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get the arrow to go where he thought it should.
"You do well," the man said as Oliver tried to line up his arrow with a tree. "Shoot not easy. Time. Practice, but most important, breathe," he said with a slight smile.
"I'm trying to practice," Oliver complained. Then he focused on his aim. He slowed his mind and steadied his arms.
"Breathe. Remember, breathe," the man said in a quiet voice next to him.
Oliver released the arrow and the shot was wide again. "Damn it," he swore.
"You closer. Now fetch," the man said with a smile.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm not a dog you know," Oliver complained as he handed the bow back to the man and went to retrieve the rabbit and the arrows they had been using for practice.
"No, eat dog," the man replied with a teasing smile. "You no meat."
Oliver wandered over to where he had seen the arrows go with a slight smile. He wasn't paying any attention to his surroundings as he wandered. There were no mines in this area. That was why they were practicing here. A stray shot wouldn't set off a mine. He pushed at some tall bushes when he was suddenly swarmed by men in military gear. They punched his face and his gut until he dropped to the ground; stunned.
Oliver was moaning in pain as they roughly grabbed his hands and bound them together. Once he was secured, they hauled him to his feet and started to drag him in another direction. They never said a word. They never tried to find out who he was. They just assumed he was bad.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
CHINA, LIAN YU - FYERS' MAIN CAMP: 9 JUN 2012
The military men force-marched him for several miles. Oliver couldn't tell where they were going. He stumbled blindly as they dragged him along. Oliver did everything he could to avoid the mines on the path. He saw several as they were walking. The mercenaries didn't seem to care or pay attention. Finally, they arrived at a military camp. Oliver was shoved into a tent. He rammed his wounded shoulder into a tent pole to stay standing. He was breathing heavy through the pain, but the pain allowed him to become more alert. More focused.
Oliver waited for someone to talk. He already didn't like these guys. The island is not empty after all. Why does the Chinese man stay hidden if there is a camp not far away? These guys look like they get supplies at least. Maybe they can get off the Island.
"We were scouting the perimeter when we came across this guy," his captor said. It was rough, but it was in English.
"Well, hello. Who do we have here?" a strange man asked in a proper British accent.
Oliver was relieved. He had barely been able to communicate with the Chinese man. "Oh, thank God! My name is Oliver Queen. I was shipwrecked here. You must take me home. I can pay you," Oliver said in a rush.
"Oh, I know who you are, Mr. Queen," the man replied. "While this island is remote, even I can recognize your face. My name is Edward Fyers. Now please, sit down." Fyers gestured to a folding chair across the desk from him.
"Thank you," Oliver started tiredly. He slumped into the folding chair across from Fyers. "My family will be worried."
"I'm sure they will," Fyers replied pleasantly. "But that is not why I asked you to sit. Do you know the name of this island, Mr. Queen?" he asked.
"No," Oliver replied in confusion. The Chinese man had never told him. He had never even looked at the maps for their journey. He doubted they were close to Hong Kong. He would have been found by now if he had been.
"This is Lian Yu," Fyers replied. "Mandarin for Purgatory. It was a prison for the most dangerous criminals in China." Fyers paused for effect. "Until about six years ago, the Chinese government would send criminals to this island to live out their years. Their program ended. They hired my men to clear the island." Fyers smiled. "We have been quite effective."
"You're a mercenary?" Oliver asked Fyers. His hesitation was obvious.
"I am. We do what others don't want to get their hands dirty doing themselves," Fyers replied with a smile. "There is one criminal on this island that we have not been able to catch. Have you seen this man?" Fyers asked as he placed a photo of the Chinese man in a Chinese general's uniform in front of him.
"Criminal," Oliver repeated. It's the Chinese man from the cave. He has only been kind to me… well, except for shooting me... But he kept me fed and showed me how to find water, what plants to eat, how to track. If he's a criminal, then he must not be as bad as this mercenary. I don't like this guy. "Um… no," Oliver replied. Oliver's doubt and uncertainty were clear on his face.
"You lie poorly, Mr. Queen," Fyers replied. "I will ask you again. You owe this man nothing. Tell me where he is and I will ensure you get home to your family."
Oliver hesitated. I want to get home, but… I don't like this man. He and his men have beaten and force-marched me on the path with landmines. Why would I trust him over someone who fed me? Told me how to survive? "I haven't seen him. I've been alone," he replied. Oliver just didn't trust this mercenary.
Fyers stared at him for several seconds. "Very well. Be stubborn, but it has only brought you pain," Fyers replied. Several masked men came into the tent. "String him up. We will try this again, Mr. Queen," Fyers told him with a smirk as he pulled out his tactical knife.
Oliver struggled against the men. His bound arms were pulled taught over his head until he was hanging with his arms stretched above. His back was against a tent pole. He stared at the knife.
Fyers came back over to him. He ripped open his shirt. The buttons scattered across the floor. Oliver's chest was exposed to the open air. He suddenly felt colder. The knife loomed large before him. He couldn't take his eyes off it.
"Where is Yao Fei?" Fyers asked.
"Who?" Oliver asked, thrown by the name. It was the first time he had heard a name.
Fyers replied by cutting a shallow line across his chest. "The man in the picture," he replied verbally.
Oliver screamed in pain. "I don't know," he replied in a half-scream.
Fyers cut him again. Another shallow line that bled freely. "Where is he?" he asked again.
Oliver screamed each time he was cut, but he never answered. None of the cuts were deep. But the searing pain of his skin being separated made them feel mortal. Vulnerable. It soon became just his pain and the word no. He couldn't even think anymore. He kept screaming his denial. The questions no longer registered in his mind. He was no longer even sure what he was denying.
After about an hour of slowly cutting on the young man, Fyers leaned back. "You are showing far more resolve than I gave you credit for… or perhaps, you truly don't know anything…" Fyers mused.
Oliver panted in pain as he hung in his bonds. He didn't bother talking. That would require energy. He needed all his energy to keep from screaming. The cuts across his chest and stomach were of various depths, but they all burned with white-hot pain. Fyers had taken his time with each cut. Some he cut in the same place slightly deeper, but more slowly to drag out the pain.
"Very well, kill him," Fyers told his men. "Then dispose of the body."
"Yes, Sir," a man replied before his partner slumped to the ground. He was suddenly sporting an arrow through his neck. The man jumped back and was shot by another arrow.
Fyers quickly escaped through the back of the tent, leaving only corpses in his wake.
Yao Fei quickly dashed inside the tent and cut the rope holding Oliver up on the tent pole. "Come," he whispered to Oliver as he led him out of the tent. He held his bow on guard. He was expecting more men to come inside.
Oliver followed quickly as a fresh spurt of adrenaline surged through his veins. They made their way out of the camp and back to the cave as quickly as they could navigate through the forest. Oliver had no memory of the quick flight through the forest. Only pain and determination kept him from falling over unconscious.
Oliver collapsed at the back of the cave. Home.
Yao Fei gave him the herbs and water. "Stay here. I lead away," he told Oliver.
Oliver struggled to stand and almost collapsed back. "No, I want to help," he demanded. His voice sounded as weak as his legs felt.
Yao Fei gave him a short smile. "You help. Stay here. Remember, breathe. Everything breathe," Yao Fei said as he turned and left the cave. Just after he passed the cave entrance, a huge boulder fell and blocked the entrance.
Oliver slumped in defeat. He was trapped in the cave. He was forced to admit that he wouldn't have been able to help Yao Fei anyway. His chest was a mass of burning pain from the many cuts Fyers had inflicted on him. Most of them had stopped bleeding. That's a good sign… I think. He made sure the fire was going. He ate the foul herbs and smeared the paste Yao Fei used on the cuts. He passed out before he could bandage them properly.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
CHINA, LIAN YU - CAVE: 11 JUN 2012
Oliver awoke in pain several times. He did his best to ignore the pain, but he found that he needed the light of the fire. The cave was lonely without Yao Fei. The fire didn't provide much heat, but the light was saving his sanity.
As the fire started to burn low, Oliver pulled out his father's notebook. He had wanted to keep something his father owned. It helped him to feel close to his father. Even as his father was gone.
Oliver tore out a page from the notebook and placed it into the fire to burn. As the heat and flames hit the page, words started to appear. Then the page was consumed in the small fire. He tore out a second page. This one he held up to the heat of the fire. He watched as the ink displayed more words. He gave a small grin and opened the book to expose those pages. More ink was displayed.
Oliver let the magic of his discovery wash over him. He made all the words appear in the book before the magic started to fade. He was hoping for a journal or something personal to his father, but this was just a list of names. No personal message from his father. He still had a sense of accomplishment with the discovery. That stayed with him until he fell asleep.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
CHINA, LIAN YU - CAVE: 12 JUN 2012
Oliver woke up and immediately started to reach for more kindling. When he turned back, his father was standing there. It took him a moment for him to choke out his relief.
"Dad?" Oliver asked. His voice was hesitant and filled with grief.
"Oliver," Robert gently smiled at him. "It's good to see you, son."
Oliver started to hyperventilate. "Dad, you're dead," Oliver said, more to remind himself than to tell his father this cruel fact.
"I know, son," Robert replied sadly. "I thought I would have more time with you."
"How… how are you here?" Oliver asked.
"You needed me," Robert replied softly.
"I do," Oliver agreed with tears in his eyes. "I need you so much… Why Dad?" he begged. "Why did you have to leave?"
"I did it for you, son," Robert said softly. "You are my greatest accomplishment on this Earth. I had to make sure you would survive."
"What?" Oliver asked, feeling the burden of guilt for surviving when everyone else had died.
"You must survive. I did it for you," Robert said. "I know you don't understand now, but you will. You will survive this."
"How?" Oliver asked. "How can I survive this? You ALL died. You, Laurel, Tommy. Everyone died. You all were better than me. Why me?" he asked. Fear and self-doubt assailed him.
"I can't answer that," Robert replied sadly. "But I can tell you that I love you with all my heart. I could only save you. That is WHY I saved you. I didn't choose you over Tommy and Laurel. I chose you over Dave and myself. I don't regret that choice. I have enough regrets in my life, but that is not one of them."
"I love you too, Dad," Oliver replied. "I miss you."
"I'm still with you. Watching over you," Robert replied. "You are stronger than you think. You will survive this."
Oliver suddenly woke up staring into the fire. He shook his head and put more kindling on the fire. He was suddenly melancholy with the dream of his father, but he felt better knowing that his father was watching over him… even now.
Yao Fei opened the cave several days later. Oliver was weak from lack of food and water, but he was alive.
"Good. You breathe," Yao Fei remarked.
"You told me to survive," Oliver snarked back at him. "I did."
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
CHINA, LIAN YU - CAVE: 26 JUN 2012
They spent the next few weeks getting Oliver up to strength. At first, Yao Fei wouldn't let him hunt or forage. He wanted Oliver to heal first. By the third week, they had a routine; Oliver would forage and Yao Fei would hunt. If they practiced with the bow, it was near the cave.
At the end of the third week, Yao Fei dragged in a wounded and tied Fyers into the cave.
Oliver's reaction was instantaneous. He was able to summon all his energy to punch Fyers in the face. "Why didn't you kill him?" he asked.
Yao Fei looked at Oliver. "He have plane," Yao Fei replied.
"What?" Oliver asked. "He could leave anytime?" he asked.
Yao Fei nodded. "Come. We get plane. You go home," he told Oliver.
"I like that plan," Oliver replied.
They started to hike to the airfield. They were ambushed several miles into their hike by a group of mercenaries. They looked like they had been waiting for them to show up. Fyers looked smug.
"Run," Yao Fei shouted at Oliver, even as the mercenaries swarmed over him.
Oliver didn't hesitate, he just ran. He got a few hundred yards away to watch them take down Yao Fei. They took Yao Fei alive. He consoled himself with that fact. Alive means I can get him out of the camp. I can rescue him just like he rescued me.
Oliver ran into the forest. He made his way deep into the parts of the forest that he and Yao Fei had not hunted yet, but the mercenaries were constantly looking for him. Patrolling for him. They were a constant threat.
Oliver did his best to hide from them. He had a knife that Yao Fei had entrusted to him. It was usually used on the various game that Yao Fei had brought back while hunting, but it was a weapon. I can defend myself… I hope.
Finally, Oliver luck ran out. He was spotted by a lone mercenary. The mercenary found him hiding behind a tree. He was too close for him to effectively fight against. Oliver didn't know how to properly use the knife in close-quarters combat. He wasn't willing to stab the man.
Oliver struggled and pushed back against the man. All he received for his trouble were punches in the face and gut before a wild shove threw them both off the edge of the small ravine they were fighting over.
The drop was sudden. Oliver's hands were still tangled in the vest of the mercenary when they fell. Their stop was even more sudden. The mercenary landed first on his back. Oliver landed on top of him. The air was knocked out of his lungs. He rolled over and off the mercenary. He landed in the steam. The man he was fighting didn't move. He had broken Oliver's fall.
Oliver checked the mercenary and found him dead. He fell back away from the body and was violently ill. I killed a man. I'm a murderer just like my father. What have I done?
Oliver started to huff in anguish. I felt bad when I killed a bird. Killing a man was so much worse. Even if it was an accident... Even if I didn't mean to do it. He slowly made his way back to the mercenary. I… I must save Yao Fei.
Reluctantly, Oliver moved the man to the beach of the small stream. He stripped his clothing and gear. Then he dressed in new clothes. They were warmer than his old clothes. The tactical vest had a vast amount of goods in the pockets. But best of all, it had an elevation map. With the map, Oliver could figure out where he was and where he needed to go to find Yao Fei.
Oliver was determined to rescue Yao Fei. He owed him his life twice over. He was certain that Yao Fei was his best chance to survive on this island. In a way, saving Yao Fei was his penance for killing that man.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
CHINA, LIAN YU - FOREST: 29 JUN 2012
Oliver spent the next three days learning to navigate the map. He eventually determined where he was. Then he figured out where the camp was. He was able to forage while he looked, but not hunt. The small stash of energy bars in the pockets lasted him until he found the camp.
However, the nearness of a hot kitchen made him forget his caution. He boldly walked up to the kitchen and served himself dinner without first scouting the area. It was only as he was confronted by another mercenary that he took his chance to find Yao Fei over the hot food that was waiting for him to eat. He was forced to abandon his food.
Oliver was just glad that his stomach had not decided to growl in the proximity to hot food. He did safely tuck a bread roll into the cargo pocket of his pants with his father's notebook. He was nervous enough at being discovered by the other mercenary. Then Fyers decided to join their excursion to the second camp and sit right behind Oliver.
Fyers kept testing him on his basic mercenary knowledge on the way to the second camp. Oliver was certain that he had fooled Fyers.
"This is where we keep the prisoners who are prone to escape," Fyers said in a smug tone. As he gave Oliver a tour of the second camp facility.
Oliver continued to examine each of the prisoners in each of the cages. He came to a stop in front of an empty cage. He was looking for Yao Fei. He wanted to know where he was so he could release him later. He glanced over at Fyers.
"Prisoners like you, Mr. Queen," Fyers said as Oliver was grabbed and stripped of his vest and mask. Then he was shoved into the cage and it was locked behind him.
Oliver huffed and banged on the bars of the cage.
"I knew it was you all along, Mr. Queen," Fyers said with a smirk. "Do you know why I use the balaclavas, Mr. Queen?" he asked casually.
Oliver refused to answer and just glared at Fyers.
"It's the eyes," Fyers continued. "You can tell a lot about someone by looking at their eyes. You, Mr. Queen, don't have the eyes of a killer," he continued. "You should be more careful with whom you trust, Mr. Queen."
Then Fyers lifted the mask of the other mercenary that had been with them this whole time. It was Yao Fei. "I told you he wasn't to be trusted, Mr. Queen," Fyers said. Then he strode away with a smug look.
Oliver felt a deeper level of betrayal than he had ever felt. I came back for him. I was trying to free him. Why is he working for Fyers? He was outraged at Fyers and Yao Fei, but eventually, his anger cooled and he despaired. He wanted to cry. Everything I have done has turned into failure. I don't deserve to survive. Everyone is dead.
Oliver was removed from his cell that evening by Yao Fei. He refused to talk to Oliver which just made Oliver despair worse. Yao Fei brought him to a fight ring. He watched as another prisoner was killed in hand-to-hand combat and then the body dragged away.
That is what is in store for me, Oliver thought grimly.
"I have to commend our newest recruit for bringing Mr. Queen to this contest," Fyers said with a smile. "It shows his commitment to our cause."
Yao Fei pushed Oliver into the circle and then cut his wrists free. "Fight," he told Oliver.
Oliver tried. He failed miserably, but he tried. Yao Fei beat on him a bit, then caught him in a choke-hold. This is how I die. Sorry, Dad. I tried, Oliver thought as blackness took him.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
CHINA, LIAN YU - FUSELAGE: 30 JUN 2012
Oliver woke up suddenly to a splash and drowning. He gasped and pushed his way to the surface instinctively. He looked around to see that it was daylight and he was alone in a waist-high stream.
I died, didn't I? His last thoughts were being choked to death by Yao Fei.
Oliver stumbled to the shore of the creek and sat down heavily on a rock. I am cold and alone on this damn hostile island. Yao Fei doesn't want to get rescued. He faked my death to get me out of that camp. Why would he do that? I'm going to die without him.
The sound of crinkling paper caught his ears in the quiet of the forest around him. He reached down and checked his pockets to find a torn piece of a map. It was marked with a path and an 'X' at the end.
=Survive,= Oliver said aloud in Chinese as he read the Chinese character written on the edge of the map. "Survive," he repeated in English.
It was the first word Oliver had learned in Chinese. Yao Fei had drawn it on the rock wall by the cave entrance. That was the only reason Oliver recognized the symbol in Chinese. Yao Fei wants me to survive. Olive sighed and pushed his despair away. He must have a plan. Oliver may not know what Yao Fei's plan was, but it was a plan. Any plan is better than waiting here to be killed by mercenaries.
Oliver checked the stream to get his bearings and then started to walk on the path toward the X. He arrived in the evening. The X was a downed cargo plane. I was not expecting a plane. Working or not.
Oliver picked his way into the wreckage and gently called out. "Hello?" he asked softly. He didn't want the sound to leave the plane. "Anyone here?" he asked quietly.
Oliver had barely taken three steps into the plane when he was grabbed and the cold steel of a knife was pressed up against his throat. He hesitated to breathe.
"You have three seconds to tell me why I shouldn't kill you and leave your body for the wolves," the deep voice said from behind him.
"Yao Fei sent me," Oliver blurted out quickly. He didn't want to push his time limit. There are wolves on this island too? Of course, there are wolves. Because landmines and killer mercenaries aren't enough.
The knife left his throat. Oliver was spun around to face the tall man with white hair and one eye. He was well-muscled and had a large frame. The man's stare was unnerving. He didn't say anything.
Oliver started to babble. "Yao Fei faked my death and gave me a map. It had this place marked with Shēngcún," Oliver rambled. "It means…"
"Survive," the man replied.
"I don't think he sent me here for you to kill me," Oliver said. "At least, I hope not. I have no idea what his plan is now."
"Where is he?" the man asked.
"I… think he is still in one of the mercenary camps," Oliver said. "I don't know why he didn't leave."
"Hum," the man thought loudly. "I'm Slade," the man introduced himself.
Oliver looked at him with wide eyes. He was still in slight shock from nearly dying... again. "Oliver," Oliver replied, slightly disconcerted.
Slade gave him a slight smirk. "I have a contract to retrieve Yao Fei from this God-forsaken Island. We are currently standing in my transport."
"Ah…" Oliver looked around the shattered aircraft. "It looks a bit broken."
Slade laughed at his casual remark. "I like you, Kid," Slade replied. "It is. We were shot down on approach. My crew was lost, but they were only supposed to drop me off and pick us up. I've been working out another exit plan. What can you tell me about the mercenaries?" Slade asked as he took a seat and gestured to another box.
"I don't know much," Oliver said as he sat down. He liked this man better than Fyers. Besides, Yao Fei sent me to him. "I was shipwrecked on the island… God! Was it only a month ago?" Oliver said with fatigue and despair. "This group is led by a man named Edward Fyers. He proudly claimed he was a mercenary. The man is a psychopath. He tortured me to get the location of Yao Fei," Oliver said.
"Torture is a hard thing, Kid," Slade replied with a comforting tone. "It is hard to resist even when the military trains you for it. Don't feel guilty about giving them what they wanted under torture."
Oliver felt the weight of a comforting hand on his shoulder. He looked over to Slade. "But I didn't," he told him. "I didn't tell them anything. Yao Fei came for me," Oliver said softly.
Slade looked at Oliver. "Interesting," he said. He gave Oliver a considering look.
"Yao Fei stashed me in a cave and came back a few days later. Eventually, he brought Fyers to the cave to get him to give us his plane," Oliver continued. "But Fyers had set us up and captured Yao Fei. I… tried to go and get him out, but I was caught. Yao Fei was walking around free in their camp. I don't think they trust him though," Oliver relayed. "They were all watching him. I think that is why he chose to kill me in front of them. The last time I saw Yao Fei, he was choking me to death. I woke up in a stream with a map to your plane. I'm guessing about his motivations."
"You have caught Yao Fei's attention," Slade said casually. "He seems determined to have you survive this adventure." Slade stood and started to pace the small floor space in the aircraft. "Fyers wants Yao Fei for something. He has expended plenty of resources obtaining him, but why does he need Yao Fei to cooperate?" Slade started to muse aloud.
After several minutes of pacing, Slade turned to Oliver. "Well, it looks like I need more intelligence. Mei wants her father alive. An extraction is always harder than a termination," Slade said casually. "Probably why I took the contract," he mused with humor.
"Termination?" Oliver asked. His fear rose as he realized that meant Slade was an assassin.
Slade gave him a casual smile. "I'm a mercenary, Kid. I take contracts. The harder the job, the more likely I will take it," Slade said.
"You mean you're like Fyers?" Oliver exclaimed. Fear crawled over him. He had a serious aversion to Fyers.
"I am NOTHING like Fyers," Slade replied hotly. "That idiot uses others to do his dirty work. He only accepts contracts with an easy score. He has no issue with wasting his men for any reason. I am NOT like him."
"But…" Oliver started.
"Look, Kid," Slade started. "The mercenary world is a big place. Everyone is technically a mercenary. Your mall security guard is doing mercenary work. They are paid to risk their lives to secure other people's property. Prostitutes are mercenaries. They sell a selective service. If you examine it closely, everyone in the military is a mercenary as well. They get paid for their service with the potential risk of death in combat. They CHOOSE which country with which to contract. They are as selective as I am," Slade remarked.
"Every mercenary accepts or rejects their contracts. A contract specifies what the risk is, what service you will provide, and what the reward will be. The bigger the risk, the greater the reward." Slade then slumped back onto his box on the floor. "Some contracts ask for special services. That is where I come in. I have special skills. Skills I use to complete a contract. That allows me to cherry pick my contracts. I usually take all the risks myself. My team is all support. I refuse more contracts than I take." Then he gave Oliver a wry smile. "Of course, some contracts surprise me, like this one."
Oliver looked confused. "How did this contract surprise you?" Oliver asked.
"Well, I assumed it would be a simple extraction. Chute in. Gain his confidence. Fly out," Slade said. "The risk was in the location… I thought. Fyers cost me a plane, an aircrew, and two months on this damn island so far. I plan to take it out of his hide," Slade replied angrily.
Oliver looked around the plane. "But you are only one guy. How…" Oliver started.
Slade raised his hand to stop him. "Special skills. I told you," he said with menace. "This is more about pride than money at this point. I will gladly take that SOB out free of charge." Then like a switch, Slade turned from menace to jovial. "Rest, Kid. I'll start training you to survive tomorrow. Just basic stuff, but stuff anyone can use."
"Yao Fei was teaching me to use the bow," Oliver told him.
"Good for him," Slade said casually. "I'm not so good with a bow. I'm better with a sword. I like swords."
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
USA, WA, STARLING CITY – JEAN LORING'S LEGAL OFFICE: 2 JUL 2012
In the last month, all hope of finding any survivors disappeared. Moira had paid to have the Hong Kong office orchestrate a search of every island and every hospital within 100 miles of where the wreckage was found. They were unable to locate anyone with the descriptions of Robert, Oliver, Laurel, Tommy, or any of the crew.
Everyone on the yacht was issued a death certificate; Death-in-Absentia. This allowed the families of those lost to begin to mourn the loss of their loved one. It didn't ease the pain of that loss, but it was one more step to closure for most of the families.
Moira didn't have the heart to bury empty caskets. She decided to mount three tombstones in a quiet area behind the manor. It would allow the family to grieve and visit the tombstones away from the public eye.
Quentin and Dinah decided to bury an empty casket in the public graveyard. Moira paid for everything. She still considered them family. The Lance family was still close to the Queens. Sara would often come to sit with Thea. They needed to grieve together. Sara would start her last year of High School this year. Moira had told Sara that she was always welcome at the manor, even just to study. Thea considered her an older sister.
Quentin tried to bury himself in work. When that didn't work, he would drink. Dinah just started to separate herself from her family. It was as if she could deny the problems her family was having by using space.
Moira was dreading the final part of Robert's death. The reading of his Will. Unsurprisingly, Oliver didn't have a Will. She was sad to think that she had neglected that part of raising her son, but he had just turned 20. He couldn't even have a Will until he was 18. She thought she had plenty of time. How wrong I was…
Moira arrived at the lawyer's office with Thea. It was a horrible part of Robert's death, but he had asked for Thea to be there. As horrible as it was, it would help Thea find closure. She hoped. She would honor Robert's wishes.
"Thank you for coming, Mrs. Queen," Jean Loring said sadly. "We are just waiting on a few others. Have a seat."
"Thank you, Jean," Moira replied formally.
After a few minutes, a Japanese woman with a young woman entered. "Hello, we were asked to be here," the woman told the lawyer.
Jean smiled. "You were, Ms. Adachi. Please have a seat," she said with a smile.
Adachi? Moira thought. Do I know that name? Sudden realization flooded through her. Her eyes widened. Robert had been unfaithful more than once, but one of those times was with his assistant, Kazumi Adachi. Why was she here now?
Walter Steele entered the office with Ned Foster and Jean directed them to sit.
"We are all here now," Jean announced. "First, I am sorry for your loss. Robert Queen was a good man, a great CEO, and a leader in this community. We all miss him." Then she took up the Will in front of her and started to read. "I, Robert A. Queen, being of sound mind and body do leave the following;"
"To Oliver J. Queen, my son…" Jean trailed off. She dabbed her eyes and started to read again. "To Thea D. Queen, my daughter, I leave a trust of 10 million dollars. Moira Queen will manage the trust account until you reach your majority. I have also left you a personal note," Jean looked up. "I can give that to you Mrs. Queen."
"Thank you, Jean," Moira said past the lump in her throat.
"To Emiko Adachi-Queen, my daughter, I leave a Trust of 10 million dollars. The trust account has been set up and will be managed by Kazumi Adachi until you reach your majority. Ms. Adachi, you may use any of the trust to assist Emiko in living or schooling."
Moira gasped. Robert had another daughter? He never told me about this child. Why did he not tell me? Moira stopped herself. He kept it from me because I would have reacted badly. I was always so jealous of his liaisons.
"To Thomas A. Merlyn, the son of my heart…" again Jean trailed off and cleared her throat before continuing. "To Walter J. Steele, my good friend, I leave you my collection of Beatles albums. They are all first editions. Including some from before they were famous. I also leave you a bottle of fine Irish whiskey and a personal note." Jean smiled, "I have the whiskey and the note. I'm sure you can get the albums from Queen Manor when you are ready."
Walter looked stilted as he nodded. "Thank you, Ms. Loring," he finally replied.
"To Edward C. Foster, my confidant, I leave you 5% shares of Queen Consolidated. Your advice has helped me become the leader, CEO, and the person that I was. I have always been grateful for your candid advice. Please continue to give your good advice to the next CEO after me," Jean read. "I have those shares for you now, Mr. Foster."
"Thank you, Jean," Ned replied with a choked voice.
Jean took a deep breath and continued to read. "To Moira A. Dearden Queen, my wife, I cannot express how much I loved you. I was not loyal. I am ashamed of how I acted toward you, but you have always stood by my side and accepted me for all my flaws. You have also blessed me with two wonderful children. My greatest accomplishments. Thank you. To my wife, I leave the rest of my estate and properties not previously listed. I have also left you a personal note." Jean finished reading and looked up at Moira. "I also have that note available with the rest of the paperwork that needs signatures."
Moira took a moment to clear her throat before she spoke. "Thank you, Jean. I'll let the others complete their paperwork first. I need a moment," she said woodenly.
Thea pressed into her mother, knowing she was distressed. Eventually, only Moira and Thea were left. Moira walked through the signatures robotically before she set the pen down.
"Mrs. Queen," Jean said tentatively. "If you and Thea can stay for a few minutes, I need you for the reading of Tommy Merlyn's Will.
"Tommy had a Will?" Moira asked.
Jean gave her a sad smile. "Yes. He came to me as soon as he turned 18 and asked me to put in some provisions. The provisions he wanted were easier to accomplish with a Will," Jean said quietly.
"Tommy was always such a wise and quiet boy," Moira said sadly. "I will gladly stay."
The room was quiet as Jean gathered the things she needed for the next reading. Moira and Thea sat and hugged each other while they waited.
Before long, Malcolm Merlyn stormed into the office. "Why are you doing Tommy's will?" he demanded.
"Welcome, Mr. Merlyn. Please have a seat. I was asked to file the Will. I am the attorney on record for it. We are still waiting on one more party," Jean said easily.
"Very well," Malcolm huffed. "I don't have all day."
"The reading isn't scheduled to start for five more minutes," Jean replied with unruffled feathers. Moira was glad they had her on staff at Queen Consolidated. Few people could face down Malcolm when he was full of bluff and bluster.
The Lances all came in a group. Quentin and Dinah were behind Sara. Moira gave them a sad greeting.
"Thank you all for coming," Jean began when everyone was seated. "I am sorry for your loss."
"Get on with it," Malcolm spat.
"Very well, Mr. Merlyn," Jean replied dryly. "I, Thomas A. Merlyn, being of sound mind and body do leave the following; To Oliver J. Queen, my brother of the heart…" Jean cleared her throat. "To Dinah L. Lance, the sister of my heart…" Jean had to stop and dab her eyes. "To Sara M. Lance, the sister of my heart, I leave a trust of 10 million dollars. Quentin A. Lance or Dinah T. Drake Lance will manage the trust account until you reach your majority. Mr. and Mrs. Lance, you may use any of the Trust to assist Sara in living or schooling. I have also included a personal note." Jean smiled at the Lances. "I have that note for you now."
"Thank you, Ms. Loring," Quentin said with wide eyes.
"To Thea D. Queen, the sister of my heart, I leave my remaining estate and all ownership of properties and stock not previously listed, including the 25% of Merlyn Global Group in a trust. Robert or Moira Queen will manage the trust account and all properties and stocks until you reach your majority. I have also included a personal note." Jean smiled at Thea. "I have that note for you now."
"What is the meaning of this?" Malcolm roared.
"Mr. Merlyn, Thomas left the last part of his Will for you," Jean said with a firm tone. "To Malcolm A. Merlyn, the sperm donor, I leave you nothing. You have been nothing to me for much of my life. I refuse to allow you to have one cent from the Swann Estate. For the rest of you listening to my Will. Know that it is my dearest wish that this man receives nothing. You have all displayed what it means to be family to me. From my brother to my sisters to my parents in the Queens and Lances; you mean more to me than this man. This man only bears my shame and anger," Jean finished the reading to the shocked faces surrounding her. "You can leave now Mr. Merlyn, I'm sure you are a busy man. Everyone else needs to stay. I still need your signatures."
Malcolm stood in stunned shock. "When did he complete this Will?" he asked Jean.
"Mr. Thomas Merlyn came to me days after his 18th birthday… just after he reached his majority," Jean told him. "I told him he could change it at any time. He only came back once to make a minor change."
"He hated me this much?" Malcolm asked the room.
Moira was the only one who answered. "Yes," she replied casually. "He was a young boy who needed his father, but you left for Heaven knows where… You abandoned him. It took Oliver and Laurel a year to get him to start to come out of his shell," Moira said with a fond smile at the Lances. "I know that Sara helped quite a bit in that area as well." She turned back to Malcolm. "He needed his family. He found one in us. Robert and I became his parents. Oliver was his brother. Laurel, Sara, and Thea were his sisters. Family of the heart, not of the blood," Moira said in a chiding tone.
"Blood is the only thing that matters," Malcolm spat before he turned and left.
"Wow," Quentin said into the silence. "What a dick!"
"Quentin!" Dinah chided him for swearing in front of the children.
Quentin looked properly ashamed and mouthed a sorry at Moira. Then everyone lined up and completed signing the paperwork as needed.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~