Chapter 5: The League

CHINA, LIAN YU - FOREST: 9 DEC 2012

"This way," Nyssa directed them down a path.

"Yeah," Oliver said following Nyssa. He turned to his two friends. "Stay off the path itself. Some of the landmines are still active."

"Landmines?" Laurel said as she scooted further into the scrub beside the path.

"Why is the island mined?" Thomas asked with his eyes wide. His eyes wildly scanned the ground in paranoia.

"They were left over from World War II," Oliver said casually. "I just learned to avoid them. It's not like they would chase me."

"Well," Thomas said with angst in his voice. "Thanks for passing that bit of knowledge on to us. You were chased?" he added.

"Often," Oliver quipped back at Thomas. "I got better at not being captured after the second or third time." He was in a good mood for the first time in forever. He moved up to walk beside Nyssa.

"Third time?" Laurel asked.

"Yeah," Oliver continued. "I got careless. That is why there was a fifth time."

"FIFTH TIME?" Thomas asked in shocked amazement.

"Those pirate guys," Oliver said in an offhanded way. "Out of curiosity, how did you get on the ship?" he asked Nyssa.

Nyssa smiled. She could feel how the Nexus at Lian Yu welcomed this man. This Oliver was special. Special enough to catch the interest of one of Talia's students. Special enough to be welcomed by a Major Nexus. Special indeed. "We just climbed on," she replied. "They were not very observant. Most appeared to be asleep or in a trance. I believe that Lian Yu sanctioned our mission."

Oliver scoffed. "How does an island sanction a mission?" he quipped.

Nyssa turned to look closely at him. She opened her Inner Eye. He had a light aura. Lilac shot with pale green and light red. Interesting. Purple, not orange. Ruya, not magic. I see two spirits walking with us. I wonder if they are attached to him or one of the others. Even as a Ruya, how did he gain the notice of a Nexus? Especially this Nexus. "How long were you on Lian Yu?" she asked him as they walked.

Oliver sighed. "Since a few days after our yacht sank," he replied. "Months."

"Six months," Laurel replied mechanically. She had to keep track on the Amazo. Each month was marked by the deaths it would bring.

"Ah," Nyssa said. "Then Lian Yu bonded to you in that time. The island did not want those men to have you."

"What?" Oliver exclaimed. "How can an island have a personality? Feelings? It's an island. Besides, I'm sure the island hates me."

Nyssa chuckled. "It does not hate you. Lian Yu is a Nexus. A mystical convergence. Most places like Lian Yu gain a form of sentience," she said with a smile. "It is a prison. The outside world turned it into a human prison as well. Most human societies have short memories. But you… Ghosts surround you… spirits. I can see them walking with you. On Lian Yu, those spirits can contact you. What THEY want is a part of what Lian Yu wants for you."

"Ghosts are real?" Oliver asked with some hesitation.

"You see ghosts?" Laurel asked Nyssa.

"I do. They are the minds and souls of those who have departed life," Nyssa remarked in a teaching tone.

"I saw a ghost," Oliver said slowly. "I saw Dad. I… I thought it was because I was alone. I needed him so much… I knew he was dead, but…I still needed him."

Then this Oliver is a Ruya like I was. "The ghosts are real," Nyssa said quietly. "The veil to the other world is thin over a Nexus, like Lian Yu. Anyone with sensitivity can see a spirit on a Nexus like this. But only those gifted with sight can see them outside of the Nexus."

"Then I did hear Yao Fei when I killed Fyers," Oliver said uneasily.

"You… killed someone?" Thomas asked. He wasn't trying to judge. He just didn't think that Ollie could kill.

"Yeah, bad merc," Oliver replied. He was surprised that it hurt less with this retelling. "He was threatening Mei after we destroyed his plan and blew up his camp."

"Now, I am curious," Nyssa said. "What was his plan and how did you stop it?" she asked.

Oliver let out a frustrated huff. "Can I just give you the final summary? I don't think this island is long enough for me to cover all that I learned as I learned it."

Nyssa nodded. "A summary should be fine," she replied. It is likely a painful story as well. "We can go over it on the boat as we go to civilized shores."

Oliver gave a grateful sigh and followed Nyssa as she broke through the trees onto the shore. A sleek yacht was anchored a short distance away.

"That is more civilization than I have seen in six months," Oliver said in admiration.

"Wow," Thomas said softly in amazement. "I hope it has a shower. I have only had sponge baths for the last six months."

"Were they warm sponge baths?" Oliver quipped. Thinking of all the times he had to wash in the freezing stream water.

"More tepid than warm," Thomas replied casually.

"Boys," Laurel interrupted. "Say thank you," she demanded. Laurel was using the tone again.

"Thank you," they chorused to Nyssa.

Nyssa chuckled. "Come. It appears that your separation did no damage to your bonds of friendship," she said easily.

Everyone was shuttled over to the yacht with a small craft. Laurel, Oliver, and Thomas were given tight cramped quarters that only had space for bunks. They were shown a place to bathe.

~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~

PACIFIC OCEAN – LEAGUE YACHT: 9 DEC 2012

After all, three of them had a chance to bathe. They all gathered in the galley. The galley was the only space they could collect to talk. The only other space was used for weapons practice. No sooner had they gathered than Nyssa joined them with food.

"Good," Nyssa greeted them. "We are now underway. You are clean. Now eat," she told them. "Oliver now would be the best time to relay your summary to me."

"Okay," Oliver said while picking at the food. "Fyers was the main mercenary in charge of the camp. He said that he had spent the last two years planning this mission. The first part of his mission was hunting Yao Fei on Lian Yu. He finally captured Yao Fei about five months ago. Fyers was holding Yao Fei's daughter, Mei, hostage to ensure Yao Fei's compliance. He needed him to do something willingly."

"On our last day, I was captured again. I watched as Yao Fei made a statement claiming credit for destroying a commercial airliner bound for China. After Yao Fei made the statement, Fyers killed him in front of us. Mei and I. I asked him why he did it. Fyers said that someone was paying him lots of money to do it," Oliver huffed. "I mean what kind of evil could conceive of shooting down a commercial airliner and blaming it on Yao Fei, a condemned prisoner."

"That is a good question, Oliver," Nyssa replied. She then motioned him to continue.

"Mei and I escaped when Slade started his distraction," Oliver continued.

"What was his distraction?" Nyssa asked. She already knew about Slade Wilson and many of his special skills. The League left him alone because he frequently replaced evil with death. He had become more selective in his contracts now that he had a reputation. He seldom worked with evil or for evil.

"Large explosion, sniper, and killing by the sword. He really likes his swords," Oliver said casually. "Anyway, Mei and I destroyed the missile guidance system for the missile launcher they planned to use. It fired just after we destroyed the guidance control," Oliver recounted. "We ran. We didn't know what the missile would target without guidance."

"It would have returned to the point of origin," Nyssa remarked. "Your instincts served you well."

"That was the explosion we saw from the Amazo," Laurel remarked.

"The camp exploded," Oliver nodded in agreement with Nyssa's assessment. "It looked like all the mercs were down, but Fyers was still alive. He grabbed Mei to use as a shield and held a gun to her head. I had my bow drawn, but Slade only had his swords."

Oliver paused. "As I was aiming, I could hear Yao Fei. He was speaking just like he would when he was teaching me to shoot," he said with a tight voice. Knowing now that it was Yao Fei's ghost that helped him when he needed him the most. "I released and hit Fyers in the throat. Mei finished him off. I… I've been practicing with the bow. Hunting. I miss more than I hit," Oliver said softly. "That was the first time I intentionally killed a man."

"You did well," Nyssa replied. "You replaced evil with death."

"I know," Oliver said quietly. "Slade said something similar, but it still feels wrong."

"It should never feel right," Nyssa replied. "Some men and women are too evil to live. They spawn evil with their actions and words. In this, Oliver, my people owe you a debt as well."

"What?" Oliver asked. "No. You didn't have anything to do with this. You or your people."

"In that sense, you are correct," Nyssa replied. "But it is our job… our purpose… to find evil like this and stop it. You discovered a branch of this evil and ended it without our awareness or assistance. Further, you have discovered that this Fyers was not the source of this evil, merely a branch of it."

"All I did was survive," Oliver said quietly.

"I believe that you did much more," Nyssa replied. "You secured Lian Yu as an ally. That is not easily done. You are surrounded by spirits that protect and help you. That is a special skill that you can develop if you desire." Nyssa rose gracefully from her seat. "You all have been through many trials. It is time for you to rest."

~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~

USA, WA, STARLING CITY – QUEEN CONSOLIDATED, CEO OFFICE: 9 DEC 2012

Moira was putting together another presentation for the Queen Consolidated Board of Directors. Since Robert's death six months ago, Moira had taken his place as CEO of Queen Consolidated. She did it to honor her husband and to ensure a legacy for Thea, but her heart was not in business.

Moira could manage the business. It was just another problem that needed to be controlled, but her heart had been with Rebecca. Her best friend in her college years. While Rebecca had gone on to become a physician with specialties in emergency and trauma, Moira had studied the bacteria and viruses that caused the disease.

Moira had eventually met Robert and been swept away by his charm. She had left her dream of being a Laboratory Pathologist behind and became a wife and mother. She never regretted her decision. Even as Rebecca continued her education and completed her dream of becoming a physician.

Now, I must do this alone, Moira thought sullenly. First Rebecca was taken from me. Then Robert, Oliver, and Tommy. Even my future grandchildren. I would have spoiled the little ones as only a grandmother can…

"Mrs. Queen," the intercom announced. It was her assistant, Todd. "I have a Mr. Merlyn here to see you."

Moira glared at the intercom and debated sending Malcolm away. The gall of that man. No, I will do it myself. "Send him in, Todd," Moira replied through the intercom.

The doors to her office opened and Malcolm strode into the space. Moira made a point of not standing for him. He was not welcome. He deserved no courtesy.

"Moira," Malcolm greeted her in a neutral tone. "You seem to be doing well."

"Skip the pleasantries, Malcolm," Moira replied with venom. "Say what you are here for and get out."

Malcolm nodded, accepting her spite. "Very well," he replied and took a seat on the other side of her desk. "I have been thinking since you told me about Tommy's loss," he started.

"You mean when you murdered him," Moira interjected.

Again, Malcolm nodded and accepted her spite. "I was initially going to bring you into Tempest in Robert's place. I can see how that would not be feasible now," Malcolm told her coolly. "Tommy was very bitter towards me. I deserved it. I was a poor father to him. I think that my greatest mistake with Tommy was involving myself in his life," Malcolm told her.

"You are wrong, Malcolm," Moira said. "Your greatest mistake was abandoning your son. You left him to deal with the loss of his mother AND his father. Alone. THAT was your greatest mistake."

"I see it differently, Moira," Malcolm replied. "I was grieving as well."

"You had a son," Moira pointed out. "You could have grieved together. Instead, you left. Robert and I had to pick up the pieces of that boy's life."

"You both did a fine job with him, Moira," Malcolm replied. "That is why I have decided to exclude you and Queen Consolidated from Tempest and the Undertaking. For Thea."

"It's a little late for you to care about my children now, Malcolm," Moira spat.

"I'm not doing it for you," Malcolm replied. "I know that Thea is my daughter."

Moira gasped in fear. She had hoped to never reveal that information to anyone, especially not Malcolm. Robert had suspected, but he had never treated Thea any different than he had Oliver. He had even named Thea as his daughter in his Will.

"Because she is my blood… my only remaining blood child… I will stay as far away from her as possible. Again, I believe that involving myself with Tommy was a mistake. I will not repeat this mistake with Thea," Malcolm continued. "As I said, you did a fine job with Tommy. I know you will do a fine job with Thea. I have removed all my people from Queen Consolidated. I will not inform you of my plans with Tempest, except to tell you and Thea to stay out of the Glades."

Moira was stunned. Robert had told her that Malcolm had planned to destroy the Glades for their role in Rebecca's death.

Rebecca would be ashamed. She only wanted to help people. That was why she had become an Emergency and Trauma physician. She had the money and resources to do anything. Or nothing if she chose. But she wanted to help. She especially wanted to help the poor in the Glades. Angel's Rest Free Clinic was her brainchild. It was her way of ensuring the poor could receive medical services that were often too expensive for them.

"I don't believe you," Moira stated.

"I am giving you my word," Malcolm said coolly.

"Your word is worthless to me," Moira replied. "I want tangible proof."

"What sort of proof would you like? I can't very well cut off my arm for you," Malcolm joked.

"While that would help, it is ineffective," Moira replied. "I want you to sign full ownership of the Angel's Rest Free Clinic over to Thea. I want the papers on Jean's desk by close of business."

"Moira…" Malcolm hesitated. "That's Rebecca's clinic."

"Exactly! It offends me that you have any ownership in the facility," Moira stated. "You MURDERED Rebecca's son."

"I…" Malcolm started to protest before he stopped himself. "I will have to think about this."

"Think fast," Moira replied. "Close of business or I know you are a lying bastard."

"Very well, Moira," Malcolm said as he rose. He gave her a nod. "Good day."

"Goodbye, Malcolm," Moira said as Malcolm left the office. Moira sank into the chair and took the time to compose herself. Talking to Malcolm always seemed to drain her. She finally pulled up the phone and called Jean.

"Ms. Loring's office," a cool voice answered.

"Mrs. Queen for Ms. Loring," Moira replied.

"Right away, Mrs. Queen," the voice replied. A short click was her only signal that the phone had been transferred.

"Mrs. Queen," Jean greeted her.

"Jean," Moira replied warmly. "Mr. Merlyn is going to send over some ownership transfer papers today. I need to know that you received them before you leave for the day."

"Of course, Mrs. Queen," Jean replied. "What business is being acquired?" she asked.

"Angel's Rest Free Clinic," Moira answered. "The transfer is for ownership to go to Thea, not QC."

"Oh, alright then," Jean replied. "I can handle that for you."

"Thank you, Jean," Moira replied. "I appreciate everything you have done for my family these last few months."

"It has been my honor, Mrs. Queen," Jean replied. "Your family… You have been great to me. I'm glad I can support you during this time. I know how hard it has been for you both."

"Thank you again, Jean," Moira replied. "It has been hard, but you have made it less hard. I truly appreciate that alone."

"My pleasure," Jean replied. "Have a good day, Mrs. Queen."

"Goodbye, Jean," Moira replied as she hung up the phone. She turned her attention back to the presentation. Walter and Ned would be here soon to review it before the meeting. She needed to finish it first.

~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~

PACIFIC OCEAN – LEAGUE YACHT: 9 DEC 2012

Laurel woke with a scream on her lips and her body in a cold sweat. She could still feel Ivo's hand as he beat her while he raped her.

"Laurel?" Oliver asked from one side of her bunk.

"Ollie?" Laurel asked as she cleared away the fog of the dream. The nightmare.

"It's me," Oliver said with some hesitation.

Laurel reached out to him, but he was hesitant to come near her. She opened her eyes and reached out for him again. She was stunned when Oliver flinched away from her before gently coming in to hug her.

"Are you okay now?" Oliver asked.

"What?" Laurel asked. "I'm fine," she said as she turned to examine him. I need his warmth right now. She was shocked to see Oliver sporting a bruised face, a split lip, and a slowly blackening eye.

"Ollie, what happened?" Laurel asked

"Nothing," Oliver deferred.

"It's not nothing to me," Laurel said. "Who beat you up?" she asked pointedly.

Oliver sighed and refused to say anything.

Laurel looked over to Thomas for help, but Thomas looked like he was holding a wet washcloth on his lip. "Thomas? You too?" she asked.

Thomas sighed, just like Oliver had. "Laurel, I'm just going to say it. It is NOT your fault. You can't be held responsible for what you do while you're asleep."

Laurel felt dread. Oliver refused to meet her eyes. "I did this," she said softly.

"You were asleep," Oliver excused. "It was a nightmare. Frankly, I'm glad you want to kick this monster's ass."

"I did this," Laurel repeated. I can't keep doing this to them. Laurel turned to them both. "I think we need some rules about sleeping."

"Okay," Thomas said in agreement.

"Alright," Oliver said with some apprehension.

"I get nightmares when I sleep alone in bed," Laurel started. She wanted to smile at how Oliver already wanted to protest sleeping with her. "Sleep," she reinforced with a slight smile.

"Okay, I can do that," Oliver relented.

"When I have a nightmare, have you tried to touch me?" Laurel asked them.

"Yeah," Oliver said with a resigned sigh. Thomas just nodded.

"Okay," Laurel started, "Don't touch. Talk, yell, sing. Don't touch."

"We can do that," Thomas replied happily.

Laurel settled back on the bed and made room for Oliver to cuddle beside her. She latched onto his warmth and sought comfort. "I think I need to talk about it," she told them. "About everything. I learned a lot from Ivo, but I want to be able to use some of it without his taint."

"I think I need to talk to someone too," Thomas replied with a huff of air. "I mean, learning Russian and French was cool, but I was alone and lonely most of the time."

"Then we probably all need to talk," Oliver said. "We were apart more these last six months than anything. We all changed. We need to figure out how we changed. We need to keep our bonds strong. You two are too important to me. You both make me stronger. I feel like I can take on the world again with you two by my side."

Laurel smiled. "I feel the same. I need you both," Laurel replied. "Let's get up. I am feeling hungry."

"Huh," Oliver frowned, stunned. "I've ignored hunger for so long that I forgot we have food."

"Same," Thomas added as he slowly rose from his bunk.

The three of them headed to the galley. They noted that Nyssa was at another table on one side of the room. She seemed to be writing a report on a computer.

"Nyssa," Laurel started, "Where can we get some food?" she asked. "We're not picky."

Nyssa looked up and nodded at them. "Those cabinets over there. Only take what you will eat," she told them.

"Thank you," Oliver said as he got up and retrieved the meals. They seemed to be packaged and prepared meals that would last for an extended time. The meals didn't require a heat source. He brought them back to the second table where Laurel and Thomas had taken seats.

They all started in on their meals before Laurel started to speak. "I will go first. We have already heard some of Ollie's story. Thomas, please feel free to add where you feel you need to," she said with some hesitation.

"Sure, Laurel," Thomas replied.

"Thomas and I surfaced in the ocean. We couldn't see anything but the yacht sinking in the distance. We finally climbed onto some debris. We weren't injured or anything, but we had no food or water. The Amazo found us the next day," Laurel started to recite her story.

"They locked us in different cells and then shot Thomas," Laurel continued. "Anatoly told him to remove the bullet."

"Anatoly was your neighbor too?" Oliver asked Thomas.

"Yeah," Thomas replied, trying not to interrupt Laurel.

Laurel smiled. "They put you in Thomas' cell," Laurel told Oliver.

"Why did they do that?" Oliver asked.

"Ivo did it. He was being a controlling ass," she spat out with venom.

"Well, now he is a dead ass," Oliver reassured her. He patted her hand in reassurance.

"Yes, he is," Laurel smiled. "The crew came and took me to Ivo." Laurel took a deep breath. "I found out that he was brilliant and insane. He told me what he was doing and why. Then he told me that I wasn't useful to him, but Thomas was."

"But…" Oliver started.

"No, Ollie," Laurel stopped him. "There were no women on that ship. None. They didn't last."

"No," Oliver tried to deny the horror of it. "Oh, God!" he swore.

"I offered to make myself useful. I offered to be his Assistant Lab Technician. Learn as I go. I told him how I could organize his patient notes. Anything… anything…" Laurel trailed off.

"Damn," Oliver swore again.

"It worked," Laurel said as she rallied. "He even offered to leave Thomas alone. He didn't want me to lose my objectivity over a subject."

"He really did leave me alone," Thomas reassured her. "Anatoly and Peter were a part of his experiments, but I was left alone. You did good, Laurel. We survived," he finished.

Laurel nodded in thanks to Thomas. "Ivo showed me how to use the equipment. Eventually, he showed me how to repair it. I organized and transcribed all his horrible experiment notes. He even started to teach me some of his robotics and microrobotics techniques. He trusted me that much, but he kept the nanorobotics to himself," Laurel revealed.

"I got good with computers, programming, and various things on the internet... when we were in port. I could reach the wireless on the docks from the ship," Laurel looked over at them both. "I liked doing that kind of work."

"Each day, he would let me spend some time with Thomas," Laurel said with tears starting to form. "Those few minutes would get me through the whole day."

"It was the same for me," Thomas said.

"Is that why you were so dazed when you came to my cell that night?" Oliver asked.

"Yes," Laurel replied. "I was trying to figure out how to tell Thomas that you were alive. That I had seen you."

"...and you found me in the cell making an ass of myself instead," Oliver replied in shame.

"No," Laurel protested. "Nyssa told us about Lian Yu and ghosts. It was after that conversation that it occurred to me. When we first met... I didn't say anything. Ivo drugged you with the Truth Serum to make you suggestible." Then she snorted at past self. "Not that you gave Ivo anything... but it was nice to think about home. I had avoided thinking about home."

"Ha!" Thomas laughed. "You resisted Truth Serum. That is awesome."

"I still didn't think you were real," Oliver said with regret.

"Until I made you believe," Laurel replied.

"I believe now," Oliver said with surety.

"But there is more," Laurel said softly. She wasn't quite up to talking about being raped yet.

"I can guess," Oliver said. "I will listen when you are ready to talk about that, but I want you to take this away from this conversation," he said with seriousness. "Slade explained mercenaries to me. He said we were all mercenaries. In this, YOU were a mercenary. You had a special skill set. Ivo wanted your skill set. Your reward... your price was survival for you and Tommy. You survived. Tommy survived. Your risk paid off. I love you MORE because of what you were able to survive. You held on to your sanity while you did it." Oliver gently took her face in his hands. He made her look him in the eye. "Please don't doubt that I love you for surviving in the face of this."

Laurel let out a deep sob. She hadn't even realized how badly she had needed to hear him say he still loved her. Even with this knowledge. "Mercenary," Laurel repeated. A mercenary wasn't as dirty as a prostitute.

"Yeah," Oliver replied. "I was trying to understand Slade. It was just after we met. I thought he was the same as Fyers. Slade was a merc too, but he was offended that I thought he was like Fyers."

Oliver cast back to the memory. "He broke it down. Any person who does any service for a reward is a mercenary. A mall security guard provides a risk-based service to guard other people's things for a monetary reward. A soldier provides a higher level of security with a higher risk, for the reward of money, patriotism, and medical care. An escort provides a specific service at high risk to health, reputation, and law, for a monetary reward," Oliver listed out how everyone was a mercenary.

"The same can be said for just about everyone," Oliver continued. "Businessmen, Accountants, Police, Judges, Lawyers, Congressmen, and the President."

"Service, risk, reward," Laurel repeated. That was a much simpler view of the world. More realistic.

"Exactly!" Oliver exclaimed. "In this case, your reward is smiling on the other side of the table." He gestured to Thomas.

Thomas wiggled his fingers at her with a quirky grin.

Laurel laughed at them acting so silly for her. "Thank you, guys," she said sincerely.

"Our pleasure," Thomas replied. "I guess it's my turn now," he said in seriousness. He huffed and then started. "We were separated into our cells. I was shot. I don't recommend it."

"Too late," Oliver replied. "Already had the pleasure… If you want to call it that."

"That followed with minor self-surgery without anesthetic or antibiotics," Thomas continued. "I must have done it correctly because I healed well. They took Laurel and brought her back. They took me and I got to chat with Ivo."

"I got the insane vibe from him," Thomas said. "But mostly he seemed to want to confirm Laurel's story. I was sent back to my cell and... stayed there... right up to the moment they moved me to solitary."

"I had NOTHING to do. Nothing," Thomas started as he seemed to struggle with this next bit. "I started to work out in my cell. Anatoly taught me Russian. Peter taught me French. I found I liked learning languages. The only other thing to do was make plans. Escape plans. Theft plans. Stealth plans. Anything to keep my mind sharp."

"I couldn't act. All I could do was give Laurel every bit of my support that I could," Thomas said softly. Then he looked at Laurel. "I knew what Ivo was doing to you, but I couldn't act. You needed your friend more than you needed a White Knight. I could be that friend. I will always be that friend."

"Thank you, Thomas," Laurel cried as she reached for him with a hug.

"The only change in my routine for six months was when I was moved," Thomas replied. He looked over at Laurel. "I was worried about what it meant to you. Next thing I know, Nyssa's people arrived and I was on deck hugging you for the first time in six months. Then Ollie was there. Now we are here," Thomas said with a wave at the yacht.

"That was still a lot," Oliver told Thomas.

"Yeah," Thomas replied. "I didn't realize how much had happened until I told you about it."

"I noticed that Laurel only calls you Thomas now," Oliver said softly. "Is there a reason for that?" he asked.

Thomas blew out a breath of air. "Yes," Thomas replied. "Before the Amazo... I felt that Tommy... that child... that he died on the yacht. Thomas was all that was left."

Oliver nodded. "I get it," he said while looking at the table. "Before the island... before the raft even... That was Ollie. Everyone else has called me Oliver," he told them.

"Then we should do the same," Laurel said firmly.

"Yes," Thomas agreed.

Oliver leaned back and gave them both an appreciative smile. "Thanks," he huffed. "I'll... go next," he said quietly.

"When I came up in the ocean, my dad and David Hackett were already in the life raft. They pulled me in. We searched for you both, but we couldn't see anything in the storm. Dad tried to comfort me, but I think he blamed himself. He started rambling about failing the city and making alliances with bad people. Eventually, we fell into an exhausted sleep."

"The next day, Dad killed Dave. Then he told me to survive before he killed himself," Oliver said sadly. It didn't hurt as much as it did back then. Seeing the ghost of his father had helped.

"Jesus," Thomas swore.

"I drifted for days. I ran out of food on the first day. I ran out of water on the second. I made landfall on the third," Oliver recounted. "I was alone with my father's body. That was the first thing I did. I buried my father. Then I was shot."

"One day and you got shot?" Thomas asked, stunned.

"Yup," Oliver replied. "I know why he did it now, but that was how I met Yao Fei."

"Is this the same Yao Fei you tried to rescue?" Laurel asked in surprise.

"Yes," Oliver replied with a sigh. "He was trying to get me to a safe place away from the mercs. I was clueless back then," Oliver said with a smirk. "I still remember the time I thought I was escaping him only to be caught in a merc net. He rescued me then. He told me You die badly before he cut me down."

"That was when he started to teach me some basic survival stuff; what plants to eat, how to track, how to hunt game, how to avoid landmines. He even started to teach me how to shoot his bow," Oliver said with fondness.

"I was there for about a week when Fyers caught me. If you count the net, it was the second time I was caught," Oliver suddenly got silent for a moment. "He tortured me for Yao Fei's location, but Yao Fei saved me and then locked me in the cave to lead the mercs off."

"That's when I saw Dad's ghost. He knew he was dead," Oliver looked over at his two friends. His eyes dry. "He was sorry for dragging us all into this, but he told me he loved me and that I had to survive."

"It's good that you got to say goodbye," Laurel said with tears on her face.

"I guess," Oliver said sadly. "I would have preferred to have him alive, but saying goodbye helped." Oliver huffed. "A few days later, Yao Fei let me out of the cave. We continued foraging and hunting for another few weeks. Fyers caught Yao Fei next. I got away that time, but I owed him. I tried to rescue him. I failed. I was caught a third time. That time I was caged. Yao Fei faked my death and sent me to Slade to survive."

"Um… how did he do that?" Thomas asked. "I figure they were watching him."

"I don't know how he did it," Oliver replied. "One minute I'm being choked to death by Yao Fei, the next I am drowning in a stream, alone, with a map. I went to the X on the map and found Slade."

"The mercenary," Thomas said blandly.

"The merc," Oliver agreed. "He had been contracted to rescue Yao Fei. Fyers shot his plane down, complicating his whole rescue. While Slade collected intelligence on the mercenaries, I would hunt, practice, and forage. When Slade was in camp, he taught me how to fight hand-to-hand."

"The day of the explosion, we were going to rescue Yao Fei. I was captured... again. That would be number four. I discovered that Yao Fei would not leave without Mei. We didn't even know that Fyers had captured Mei. Fyers was holding her in camp," Oliver said. "You guys have heard the rest."

"We have all changed so much in these last six months," Laurel replied quietly.

"Yes, we have," Thomas replied before he turned to Oliver. "You hunt?" he asked.

"Yes," Oliver replied with a smile. This was just like Thomas. Latching onto a mundane fact to lighten the mood. "Not well," Oliver clarified. "But hunger did improve my archery skills. However, I am a master forager."

"Despite the landmines," Thomas remarked dryly.

"Of course," Oliver said. "I told you; the landmines don't chase you."

"Or shoot you," Thomas added with a sage nod.

"You two," Laurel said with a soft smile.

Nyssa had been listening to their stories as she busied herself on the other side of the room. All their stories told of how many trials they had overcome. How they had persevered despite the challenges in front of them. She decided before she stood and approached them.

"We are approaching our destination," Nyssa replied nobly. "However, I wanted to discuss something with the three of you."

Oliver, Laurel, and Thomas all turned to face Nyssa with curiosity.

"You have all faced many trials and challenges. You have overcome each of them. My people could offer you additional training," Nyssa began. "As I told you, our purpose is to hunt evil and stop it. I offer you the chance to join my people and hunt evil."

"I..." Oliver started then looked over at Thomas and Laurel. "Evil like Fyers?" he asked.

"And Ivo," Nyssa replied. "And the man that financed Fyers."

Oliver looked over to Thomas who nodded and then at Laurel who gave him a small smile. "As long as we stay together. We are in," Oliver told Nyssa.

Nyssa bowed her head in acceptance. "I will make the arrangements. We will travel by train next," she told them as she departed the Galley.

~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~

END BOOK 1

CONTINUED IN BOOK 2

~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~