"Oliver." A voice calls out as if summoned by Everlyn's words. A second later four people walk into the clearing. One dark blonde dressed all in black with a pair of batons. The second pale skinned and whited haired male dressed in grey robes with a sword and bow. And finally, a woman in black with a white mask with a red dot on the top.
Tatsu appears with William at her side. Laurel and Dusan leading the way.
"William," Samantha screams dashing forward to embrace him.
Smirking towards Everlyn Oliver taunts her instead. "You were saying." Turning his attention back to the newcomers Oliver can feel the weight of pressure and fear evaporate knowing his son is safe and he has more people to help. "Where was he." He asks.
Laurel is the one to answer him. "On a boat near the docks, you told me to park by. A few guards but nothing we couldn't handle." Not as if he expected anything less. Laurel has come such a long way in terms of her fighting skills since she started training under Nyssa and Dusan.
"Brother." Nyssa greets her younger brother Dusan. He was cast out of the league when he was younger by his father for being unworthy of the league all because he was albino. After the death of her father, Nyssa tracked him down and reconciled with him over everything that happened. She had tried to find her sister as well but she disappeared and no one knew where she or her students vanished too.
He has a pretty good idea now though.
"Sister." Dusan replies then looks towards Oliver "Brother."
Behind him, he can hear Thea shout out to Laurel rushing forward to hug one of her closest friends.
Turning back to Everlyn he wants to taunt her and make her see just how far out of her depth she really is. "Did Chase see the other two children of Ras Al Ghoul to work with me." Oliver can't help but gloat towards the snake who betrayed his team for reasons he can't even comprehend. She believes Oliver is a murderer so decides to work with another murderer in order to kill said murderer who is trying to help protect people to work with the murderer killing innocent people in order to get into the first murderer's head...
What part of that makes any sense.
So, killing people who are poisoning the city makes him the bad guy but Chase killing a mother in front of her children. Kidnapping Oliver's son and Samantha putting both of them through hell because of his own vendetta. Murdering his own wife makes him the good guy... What... Wouldn't it make more sense to kill both of them.
Like what's her plan for when this is all over. When Chase kills Oliver and his team... her friends. What is she going to do.
She is a level of crazy that Harley can only aspire to achieve. And that's a scary thought... Wait where is Harley. He hasn't heard from her in a long time. Reminder to check in with Lyla over that.
Tatsu. Makes her way over to Oliver who pulls her into a hug. Oliver originally got in contact with her to see if there was any elixir available in case, he needed to use the New Lazarus pit discovered by Nyssa who was chasing rumours about her brother. When he told her about what was going on she had told him she would come and help him fight. At the time he didn't know where Chase was keeping everyone which is why Laurel Dusan and Tatsu didn't appear with everyone else. At this point, they were in different countries looking for the fastest way to Star City. When he found out where everyone was he called and told the three of them that they would all meet up here. They brought two boats able to carry everyone back to the Argus Freighter that is nearby thanks to Lyla.
"Oliver." She greets him pulling back from the hug.
"Tatsu. You didn't have to come. But you have no idea how thankful I am that you did." And he is. He will never not be grateful for everything Tatsu has done for him in all the years he's known her.
"You were there for me and Akio when you didn't have to be. I couldn't stand by when your own son is at risk." She tells him. The sadness in her voice when she talks about Akio is still there, but she does have some happiness that Oliver was reunited with his own son.
"Thanks for coming Laurel," Oliver says as she joins him with Thea and Roy.
"Even if my dad wasn't here, you wouldn't have had to have asked Ollie. You know I will always have your back." Sometimes he forgets how thankful he is to have Laurel in his life after everything he has done to her. Still, he can't get over how she managed to not only forgive him but form a stronger bond and friendship over the years.
When Damien Darhk stabbed her with an arrow last year for a second Oliver thought she was going to die. But thankfully Nyssa had a viral of water from the Lazarus pit which she used to heal Laurel's wound. It wasn't enough to heal her completely but enough so the Doctors could easily do the rest.
Sadly, someone at the hospital had leaked her secret identity so she couldn't stay in Star City. Not with everything going on and she was injured. Because of this, they decided to fake her death while she went off with Nyssa and Dusan. Since then, Laurel has been working on the same secret mission Roy is involved with as well. The four of them have been travelling around the world looking for something.
He's missed having her on the team and in Star City, but she seems happy with what she's doing at the minute so he's happy for her. But he does wish she could come home more.
Samantha guides William to the centre of the group. That way he is guarded on all sides. William looks towards Oliver. "You're the green arrow." He says with slight awe in his voice.
"Yeah, buddy I am," Oliver tells him seeing no reason to lie. He's clearly the green arrow. Lying about it would not end well.
"That man said you were my father." The whole group stills at that. Everyone looking towards him and Samantha uncomfortably. This isn't how William was ever supposed to find out who his dad was.
Oliver looks towards Samantha who closes her eyes in defeat and nods telling him it's ok. "Yes. I am your dad."
"How come you didn't tell me. Did you not want me." William cries out.
Oh god. No. How. How do you explain to a child that the reason you're not in his life is because your mother paid his mother off. To pretend that he was never born. Then he was shipwrecked for five years and when he came back, he had a mission. And now he's a vigilante who protects Star City from monsters and serial killers. Who has fought off an alien invasion and defended the planet.
It's a lot for a kid to take in and understand. And what's worse is he hasn't got the time to explain everything to William. Half of his team are still missing, and Chase is still loose on the Island.
" . No. Of course, I wanted you, William. I wanted you in my life so badly. Ever since I first learned you were my son all I wanted was to be in your life. To watch you grow. To be there for you when you needed me." Oliver tells him his own voice breaking.
He has so many regrets when it comes to William. He wished he was there for his birth. Wished he had seen his first steps. Wanted to know if his first word would have been dada if he was in his life. He would have taken him to his first baseball game just like his dad done with him and Tommy. He wishes Tommy could have met William. That Thea could have seen her nephew growing up. Wishes he could have taught his son how to play baseball. Or football. or basketball or soccer. Whatever sport he wanted to learn. He wishes more than anything he could have been in his life.
"From the first moment I met you I loved you with all my heart. And all I ever wanted was for you to grow up happy and safe." Isn't that what every parent wants for their child. "But..." He really hates the but. "But. If I was in your life. If people knew. Then you would be in danger. What I do to make my city safe. To protect people means I have to face off against a lot of dangerous people. Like the man that took you. And because of that, I couldn't be in your life. Not when my enemies want to hurt you to get to me. Last year when you were kidnapped that was because of me. Because he wanted to use you against me. And the same thing happened here. After last year I thought if I wasn't in your life. If you didn't know about me if no one knew then no one would try to hurt you. That you would be safe."
Having to give William up was the hardest thing he had ever had to do. But if it was down to his own selfish need to be near his son or William being happy and safe somewhere far away how could he pick anything else.
"Even though I wasn't in your life you would still be safe and happy with your mother. That you could grow up without having to worry about what I do and how that might affect you. I never wanted you to be harmed because of me. So, I stayed out of your life to protect you. But I swear to you William I always wanted to be involved in your life. And not a day has passed that I don't miss you and hated that I couldn't be a father to you."
William surges forward hugging into Oliver's chest. Shocked for a moment at his son's reaction Oliver returns his hug. Oliver looks over to Nyssa who is looking at him and William with a small loving smile which only enhances her beauty. Oliver also sees something enkindled to longing in her eyes. When William pulls back, his smile is so infectious even Oliver smiles back at him.
"So, my dad is the Green Arrow," William states proudly.
"And your aunt is Speedy." Thea throws in not wanting to be left out.
Oliver looks towards Roy. "And your uncle is Arsenal." Roy's whole face drops into disbelief at Oliver calling him William's uncle before growing into a huge smile. Roy is his family. There is no doubt about that. Not in Oliver's mind.
"Technically his other uncle is Phantom." Dusan pipes up as Nyssa shoots him a sideways glare.
"Really." Oliver chuckles. "That's the name you're going with."
Dusan looks so offended by his comment. "Hey, it's a cool name... you think it's cool right William." He asks looking towards William for support.
"Who are you." Almost everyone explodes in laughter at hearing this.
"My annoying brother." Both Oliver and Nyssa say at the same time. But Oliver adds in law on.
"I hate it when you two gang up on me." Dusan moans looking towards his sibling and her husband. "Anyways sister what's your name." He resorts back.
Before Nyssa could answer and come up with her own name Oliver chimes in with the perfect name. "Wildcard."
Nyssa's head snaps towards Oliver with a frown. "I did not agree to that name."
"Yeah, and Thea never agreed to Speedy, but I still got everyone to call her that," Oliver responds with a cheeky grin.
"I've still never forgiven you for that," Thea mutters.
Oliver shrugs in response. "Fair enough." He has to admit it really isn't the best codename for a vigilante but at the time it suited her so well and he thought it would be perfect. Besides if she really wanted to change it all she had to was say so. They hadn't gone out into the field yet. Her name was still up for debate, and she chose to keep it.
William turns towards Tatsu ignoring Laurel who he already knows is the Black Canary. "And you are."
"Katana," Tatsu replies with a slight bowing of her head.
William looks towards Malcolm. "They called me the Dark Archer."
"He's actually a villain who we just can't seem to get rid of." Nyssa comments.
Malcolm sends her a dark look. "You know next time we end up in a battle. With swords flying and all that confusion. I might make a terrible mistake." Oh, he did not just threaten her again. What is it going to take for him to get the message. Even Thea tightens her grip on her sword.
However, before Oliver could move forward Nyssa's arm latched onto his holding him into place. The message of let her handle this is easy enough to read. "Threaten me again and I'll take your head."
"You've been saying that for years." Malcolm mocks.
"I've stayed by blade out of respect for my sister-in-law," Nyssa admits. It's the only reason why neither Oliver nor Nyssa have killed Malcolm for his crimes. Because they know how much it would hurt Thea. Even though she would understand it would still destroy her. And for that reason alone, both assassins have allowed him to live... For now, at least.
"Sure, you have." Malcolm snides taking a step towards her. Bad idea.
"Remember what I told you before Malcolm," Oliver growls. "Or do I have to remind you." Roy and Helena seem to take a step back making sure that Oliver has a direct shoot at Malcolm. Nyssa smirks towards Malcolm who in turn glares at all of them.
Thea looks between the five of them that originally came to the island. "Am I missing something here."
"Just a lesson in respecting people," Oliver states.
William turns to Helena who continues to inform him about the group that came here to save him. "I'm Huntress. And the first person to work with your father."
"I was the one who trained him." Slade throws in. "And my codename is Deathstroke."
"He's also a villain," Felicity says throwing Oliver a look. Now is not the time to deal with this.
"Former Villain." Oliver supplies not wanting his son to fear Slade. "Who wasn't in control of their actions after being injected with a super solider experimental drug."
"Yeah, don't worry he's fully on our side now," Roy adds on backing up Oliver's claim. If there's anyone here who can understand the effects of being on Mirakru then it's Roy. He experienced first-hand what it's like to have that drug wrap your mind and turn you into a monster. How it shifts everything into anger and rage. How you lose control of yourself and no matter what you do you can't get it back. You're lost in an endless pit unable to control anything but watch you hurt those you care about.
"That's debatable." Felicity mumbles loud enough for anyone to hear.
"And that's not helpful right now," Oliver says glaring at her hoping she will get the message.
Thankfully Curtis cuts in dispelling any tension. "And I'm Mr. Terrific."
Naturally, Everlyn had to pick this moment to join into their conversation. "And I really don't care."
As much as he doesn't want to scare his son or expose him to the dark parts of himself Oliver has to make sure Evelyn isn't a threat to them. "Well, no one cares what you think Evelyn. You're a traitor a liar and useless in a fight. That is why you were left behind. If you for one second think Chase or Talia care about what happens to you then you are completely wrong. And when this is all over you will be spending the rest of your life locked in a cell."
Everlyn still stares defiantly towards Oliver her faith in Chase's plan to hurt him still there. Even when everything has gone wrong. She seriously is delusional. He's glad she is no longer on his team. She was a time bomb waiting to happen if she was completely happy with all this. God knows how many people she would have hurt on her own when she finally snapped.
Nyssa also decides to push the younger girl's buttons a little picking up from where he left off. "Well... not completely for the rest of her life. Once we hand you over to Argus, they are going to inject a bomb into the base of your skull. From there you will do whatever they tell you to otherwise... You know... Bang."
"Sometimes I forget how married the two of you are." Dusan notes from behind them his eyes glancing from his sister to the man she married.
Baffled at what Dusan said both Oliver and Nyssa slowly turn around to face the group. "What."
Dusan ignores the two of them looking down at the ground. In a sad annoyed tone, he continues. "I still can't believe I missed my own sister's wedding." Oliver and Nyssa share a confused look. This was a strange turn in their interrogation. Dusan generally sounded remorseful about missing their wedding.
Thea understandingly tries to make Dusan feel better. "Don't worry about it I missed my brother's wedding as well." She shoots Oliver an accusing glare as if it was his fault that she missed the wedding.
Laurel lets out a small chuckle at the siblings of her best friends. "I was there." She jokes. "Well not there there. I was in Nanda Parbat when they got married but I was locked in a cell being exposed to a bioweapon during the wedding with him." She points back to Malcolm with distaste. He mutters under his breath that he was the reason any of them were still alive.
"I was in a separate cell." Tatsu joins in earning a nod from Laurel. Oliver rubs his hand down his face. How did this come to the centre for a debate.
Dusan then has his brilliant idea. "You two should get remarried. You know huge party and celebration with all of us there this time."
Thea's eyes light up in excitement as she lets out a loud squeal."Ohhhh. I got dibs on planning it. I already knew how to organise anything." Thea has a crazed look in her eyes.
"Uhhhh." Oliver slips out of Oliver as he watches his sister and brother in law plan out his and Nyssa's wedding.
"We have to incorporate both of our cultures and traditions." Dusan remarks to Thea who nods in agreement ideas already flying through her head on how to do that.
She considers it for a moment. "No. Yeah yeah, I get that. Don't worry I can make it work." She assures him proudly.
"I love a wedding." Roy helpfully adds on. "Who will be your best man."
"Uhhhh," Oliver says again looking at how this spiralled out of control.
"Who will be the maid of honour." Both Thea and Laurel say at the same time giving each other a pointed look. "I'm her best friend," Laurel argues
Thea shoots back with "And I'm her baby sister by marriage." Both women look towards Nyssa who shifts uncomfortably under their intense glare asking for her to say them.
Roy looks towards him. "Just throwing it out there Oliver I would happily be your best man."
What is happening. "Can we all please focus. Deadly island. Army of assassins. Half our team missing. Dangerous madman on the loose and Nyssa and Dusan's sister." Oliver snaps trying to bring order back to their group. To the side, Helena and Slade let out a quiet laugh at him.
"Don't forget the evil version of me from Earth Two," Laurel adds on.
"Or our Australian friends who likes to play with boomerangs." Slade also reminds him.
Completely bewildered at how quickly every just went to madness Oliver closed his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Why did I think that bringing us all together for the first time wouldn't descend into utter chaos."
"Yeah..." Helena answers him as he opens his eyes to see her grinning like a Chesire cat. "That's more on you then us."
"Helena." He says pointedly.
"What does it matter by the end of this you will be dead." Everlyn interrupts. As everyone stops talking and slowly turns towards her.
"I honestly forgot she existed for a moment." For God sake, Roy admits earning a few nods from the others.
"I could kill her." For god's sake.
"Helena," Oliver says again to Helena in warning.
She raises her hands in surrendering motion. "I'm just saying you could just walk away. Never knowing what happened." She offers earning an eye roll from Oliver in response.
Nyssa mulls Helena's offer in her head before turning to Oliver. "She has a point, Habibi."
"Nyssa don't encourage her." Oliver immediately responds with some disbelief in his voice.
Unfazed Helena likes to throw herself back into the conversation. "I'm just saying. The offers' there if you don't want to kill her." She seems almost too pleased at the prospect of killing Everlyn.
Laurel backs up Nyssa and Helena. "She's not wrong you know." Maybe Laurel has been spending too much time around the demon siblings.
Looking up to the heaven Oliver begs for the strength to get through this swearing to never ever bring this group together again. He doesn't care if the world is invaded by aliens or whatever the hell comes next. Having everyone gathered is just a recipe for disaster. "Please don't tempt me." He groans. The idea of killing her will save him a lot of headaches later but then that would be doing what she and Chase accuse him of being.
Helena gives him a strange look then looks towards Nyssa and back to him. "I'll leave that to your wife."
"Helena." He snaps at her as everyone but Felicity Curtis and William laugh at her joke.
"So, what's the real plan now that Harkness will tell Chase the false one," Roy asks finally bringing the conversation back to the serious aspects. For that alone, Oliver might just make him his best man should he and Nyssa ever have another wedding.
Taking control of the group Oliver informs everyone about their plan, He blatantly ignores the fact that Helena sneaked around everyone, so she is in front of Everlyn's cage and shoots her with a sleep dart. Much to some of the group's amusement. "Going in the direction of the tracker we placed on Harkness and the trail found by Nyssa we should be able to find Chase's base camp and where the others are gathered." At this moment Roy takes off his backpack handing Thea her bow and arrows and passes Oliver the tracker. "We'll split into two groups. One group will lead Felicity Samantha and William to the boat and head to meet up with the ARGUS ship. The other group will come with me and face Chase and his army."
Everyone seems to agree with his plan for going forward. Thank God he really couldn't be bothered to have an argument right now. "Ok. But who's going with who." Thea asks.
"Laurel Malcolm Tatsu Thea and Curtis will head with my son. The rest of us will deal with the forces here. "Oliver lists running everything through his head.
Malcolm only came here for Thea so she will be his main priority, so he has to put those two together. Curtis can't handle a fight at this level, so he needs to be taken off this Island as well. That means there are four people who need protection. Tatsu will go with William as Oliver trusts her to guard his son with her life. And Laurel would need to be sent with them to try and keep order in the group. Her training under Nyssa and Dusan will also allow her to be better suited to spotting any potential ambush.
Four defenders for four non-combatants in this fight.
Besides as much as he trusts Slade and Helena, he won't risk them going with his son. He trusts them with his life. Just not his sons. Nyssa and Dusan are going after Talia which leaves Roy to be the one to watch Oliver's back if for some reason Helena and Slade can't be trusted.
"Maybe Nyssa should go with them." Dusan states giving Nyssa a concerned look. A look to which she glares back.
"No. I won't abandon Oliver and Talia is here, I am going after her." Nyssa replies forcefully.
"I'm just saying it would be safer for everyone if-" Dusan tries to argue but Nyssa won't let him.
"Forgot it, brother. It's not happening." The annoyance in her voice seems to grow. Oliver is lost on what is going on. It's not like Dusan to try and make Nyssa stay out of a fight. In actual fact, he's normally the one who challenges her to get more involved. Trying to make it into a competition between the two siblings.
Which Nyssa usually wins. He would like to point out. However, this just makes it more strange why Dusan wants to sideline his sister.
In a far more worried but caring voice, Dusan says, "I'm trying to look out for you." Is Dusan worried that Nyssa will lose if she goes up against Talia. That thought has crossed through Oliver's mind more than at one point ever since Nyssa volunteered to help him. He knows how skilled Nyssa is. Their constant sparing has made him very aware of how skilled she is at fighting as well as her strengths and weaknesses and how to exploit them.
She has done the same with him. Because of this both of them have improved greatly. But Talia is also an exception fighter. She was the person who first taught him how to wield a sword. Yes, Slade and Tatsu had demonstrated and tried to help him, but Slade gave up on him calling him hopeless and had him go back to the bamboo sticks and then focusing more on archer.
As for Tatsu there really wasn't enough time with everything going on around them to really teach him anything.
No doubt in their time apart, Talia has also vastly improved her skills as a warrior and if he was honest Oliver really doesn't know who would win in a fight between Talia and Nyssa. They both seem pretty even. If it comes down to it Oliver would guess that it won't be skill that decides it but desire. Who wants to win it more.
That is what Oliver is most worried about. Will Nyssa fight to kill or will she hold herself back. And will Talia do the same. If Talia is out for blood and Nyssa is holding back that puts her at a disadvantage during the fight.
Some of the fight leaves Nyssa as she answers her brother. "I know you are but now really isn't the time."
"You are in a potentially deadly situation. Sounds like the time to me." Dusan shoots back with. Ok, this doesn't sound anything like Dusan worrying about Nyssa holding back against Talia. If that wasn't why Dusan is so concerned, then what is.
Nyssa then switches to a language no one in the group but Dusan can understand. The two of them argue back and forth for a few moments before Dusan sighs and backs down. Throughout their conversation, Oliver had heard his name mentioned a few times. "Do you promise," Dusan asks sounding as defeated as he looks.
Shifting uneasily Nyssa nods. "Yes, I promise. You can even come with me."
Oliver isn't sure what's going on. A look towards Laurel who has been living with Dusan and Nyssa shows she has no idea what just happened either. Well ok then. Moving the conversation on. "Here comms and a satellite view of the island. Just in case something happens."
Curtis accepts the fear uttering a "you mean when right." Really. Now is not the time Curtis. Under Oliver's glare, Curtis looks away embarrassed.
Turning back to the group. "Be safe, keep your eyes open and watch each other's backs." He then turns to William and Samantha. "When this is over, we can talk. Properly talk." Samantha nods understanding the meaning in his words.
William looks towards him with uncontained worry. "You'll be back right." The panic in his voice is papal for everyone to hear.
Squatting down Oliver tries to abolish his son's fear. "Yeah, buddy I'll be back. I have some of the best watching my back."
"And by that, he means me," Slade smirks towards everyone standing tall.
Nyssa rolls her eyes. "I believe he meant me." Dusan goes to butt in but Nyssa instantly shuts him down. "You lost to both me Oliver and Roy brother. You are at the bottom of the skill set here."
Dusan puts his hands over his heart. "That wounds me, sister."
Smiling towards William Oliver stand back up. "I was talking about my wife." He shoots her a wink pulling Thea into a hug telling her to be safe before leading everyone deeper into the island. "Let's go."