Chapter 10: Civil War
Oliver stood, shocked by Malcolm's refusal to hand over the mantle of Ra's in order to save Thea's life. Malcolm Merlyn was many things, but since he had imposed himself into Thea's life, he had repeatedly stated that he would do anything to protect Thea and would never intentionally bring harm to her. Oliver, who loved his sister dearly, could understand how someone could be drawn to care for her – and he also remembered the deep well of love his own father Robert had shown him and Thea, even dying so that Oliver could live. It had honestly not crossed his mind until the moment it came from Malcolm's mouth that Malcolm wouldn't give up the Ring so that Thea could live.
"Oliver!" Oliver looked down to where Felicity had wheeled next to him. He could tell from her expression that that was not the first time she had called his name.
Oliver became aware of the world around him, from Caitlyn looking apprehensively at his team, to hearing Laurel talking with Diggle behind him on the Hub. "He's going to kill Nyssa!" Laurel said, obviously distraught at the thought.
Diggle told Laurel, "I would be a little more sympathetic if she hadn't just double-crossed us. We wouldn't be in this mess if Nyssa had given us the Lotus in the first place."
Oliver raised a hand to his face and rubbed at his eyes, trying to clear his scrambled thoughts. His mind was muddled with lack of sleep from sitting vigil with his dying sister combined with the twists and turns of the last few hours' interactions with Nyssa and Malcolm. The burst of hope from the promised Lotus cure had fallen back to despair that it was so close but out of reach.
"Oliver," Caitlyn said gently. "I know there is a lot going on right now, but – Thea's fever has begun spiking again and her oxygen stats are falling. What would you like me to do if her breathing begins to fail again? Would you like me to re-intubate?" Oliver looked at Caitlyn blankly, then stepped towards the bed. He gently tugged at Thea's collar and his heart sank as he saw Ra's wound beginning to reopen. In despair, he let his head hang down.
Caitlyn said in quiet voice, but her words sliced like knives. "I will do whatever you would like – if you think that we are awaiting a cure, I can use any means to keep her alive. If you think that it will only prolong suffering … I am ready to do whatever you would like."
Oliver wasn't ready to make this decision. His heart ached as he looked at his sister's impossibly youthful face. Her expression in sleep made her look even younger, reminding him of the little girl he left behind when he climbed aboard the Queen's Gambit. "Without intervention, how long does she have?" he asked in a thick voice.
Caitlyn said delicately, "Without intervention, likely hours or less. Her lungs will become re-compromised, like they were when she was ventilated at the hospital. Without mechanical ventilation, she won't make it until morning."
Oliver nodded, scrubbing at his face. "Okay, so you put her back on the ventilator. How long does she have?"
Caitlyn was looking at him with eyes full of sympathy and it was making Oliver's stomach nauseous. "I don't understand magic and everything going on here, but I do understand how the body responds to trauma. If the effects of the Lotus Nyssa gave her wears off and we are back to where we were when we checked Thea out from the hospital – I think we'll be lucky if she hangs on until morning." Oliver felt the words like it was the nell of a bell in his head. Tinnitus distorted the sound around him. Caitlyn kept speaking, "Thea was in full sepsis at the hospital – multiple organ failure."
Oliver felt a hand in his and looked down to see Felicity firmly holding on. Felicity spoke for him. "Do whatever you have to do to get us more time, Caitlyn. We will get the Lotus by morning." Felicity gave a little tug to grab Oliver's attention and said urgently in a soft voice, "Malcolm and Nyssa are going to war – in the middle of Star City."
Still feeling light-headed but knowing he had to take action, Oliver turned his back to his sister's bed and Caitlyn to face his team. He might not know the best steps to take from here, but if there was one thing he knew, it was that he would not leave his city vulnerable. "We cannot allow a League Civil War," Oliver said firmly. "Too many people will be collateral damage."
John gave Oliver a searching look, like he was trying to determine where Oliver's mind was right now. He pointed out the obvious. "The four of us definitely can't take on two armies of assassins."
"If you need backup," Caitlyn said from behind Oliver, and Oliver turned to look at her. "I can get you backup."
Oliver immediately felt frustrated, knowing what Caitlyn was implying. Barry Allen was a fine kid and he had come through for Oliver more than a few times, but he relied too much on his powers and too little on thinking things through tactically. Not just that, but it also felt like admitting that saving his sister and protecting his city was beyond Oliver.
Laurel said, "Honestly, Oliver, I think we can use whatever help we can get. Thea's running out of time. And if we have two armies fighting through this city -"
"Yeah, it looks like it's already begun," Diggle noted, pulling a live news report onto the overhead screens in the Hub so the entire room could see. They watched cars burning in the streets as people clad in black flitted in and out of view while civilians screamed and ran to get out of the way.
Oliver closed his eyes, knowing the city was counting on him to look out for it even when it meant admitting its safety was beyond his ability alone. Oliver turned to Caitlyn. He said respectfully, "If you are willing, please call Barry. We could use his help." Oliver then looked over the rest of his team. "We'll have Barry protecting civilians, while we take down the generals. We need to work on locating Nyssa and Malcolm."
Felicity, who sounded worn down by the same discouragement that had frozen Oliver, said, "But mainly Nyssa because she's got the whole Lotus cure thing."
Oliver looked at each member of his team. "We find both of them. No one else dies tonight." He turned around to look back down on his sister. "Especially Thea."
"Another one, coming in hot!" Barry Allen's entirely too cheerful voice called in comms. Diggle raised his eyes as he watched a red streak stream across his vision and in its wake, cars were no longer on fire and people had moved locations to within buildings or behind cover.
Digg looked over to see what Oliver thought, knowing that Oliver reluctantly liked and respected Barry. However, it looked like Barry's heroic feats weren't even computing in Oliver's brain. Oliver leapt and caught up a League member by the collar and growled out, "Where is Malcolm Merlyn?" The figure swung out with a sword which Oliver deftly dodged before jamming a tranq into the soldier's neck.
Digg shook his head, feeling like they were getting nowhere. Neither Malcolm's soldiers no Nyssa's men were likely to give up their leaders.
As Oliver looked around and prepared to take off towards the sound of screams down the next street, Digg grabbed his arm. "Oliver, we've got to talk."
Oliver said, "Well, talk and run, Digg. We have to keep moving."
Digg sighed and then gamely set off at jog next to Oliver, heading towards the reflective glow of fire shimmering off nearby buildings. "We need to talk about the elephant in the room. There is an obvious solution to all this."
"If there is one," Oliver said running with a measured gait, "I'm not seeing it."
Diggle said pointedly, "Your sister is on death's door and the city is burning down around us because of one person, and that person isn't Nyssa Al Ghul."
Oliver stopped abruptly. Digg ran a few more steps and then stopped to face Oliver. Oliver asked sharply, "What are you saying John?"
"You've been in denial, Oliver," Digg said as the noise from the streets became louder. "You've been holding onto hope with both hands that you don't have to give in to the hate you have for Merlyn." Oliver shot a look over his shoulder, like he was trying to understand what Digg was saying. "Use that hate to do what needs to be done. But Oliver, this needs to be done. You have to kill Malcolm Merlyn."
Oliver looked at Digg with confused eyes. "But how can I do that to Thea?"
"Don't do it and she's dead anyway," Digg said honestly. "He has been no real father to her. Let him be to her what your father was to you – the one who paid the sacrifice so she can live."
Oliver just shook his head at John and turned to resume his run down the alleyway.
As Oliver and Digg emerged from the alley, they saw a familiar figure ahead. Oliver sprinted and, with a leap, grabbed onto the black leather suit of Malcolm Merlyn. Oliver tightened his hold and thrust Malcolm against the façade of a nearby shop.
"Malcolm," Oliver hissed as Diggle stood by, gun trained on Malcolm, ready to intervene.
Malcolm shot Oliver a cocky smile which was at odds with his fiercely angry eyes. "Oliver, you have the unenviable ability to appear at the most inopportune times. Did I fail to mention I'm busy right now?"
Oliver stood back, giving Malcolm some space to stand up straight from the wall. Oliver said, "I challenge you to combat – for the Demon's Head Ring."
Malcolm's eyebrows vanished into his hairline in surprise. Malcolm then gritted out. "I wonder if your little grudge match can wait – you see, I'm a little busy trying to save my child's life right now."
Oliver's eyes glittered with rage. "NOW."
Malcolm gave Oliver a sharp-toothed grin. "Well, in that case – I accept." Malcolm chuckled a little to himself. "So the day will either end with two dead Queens or Thea waking up to find her father dead."
Oliver clenched his teeth together and said in a low, savage voice, "It's better than doing nothing." Oliver glanced around. "The rooftop of the old Merlyn Global building – one hour."
While the Team had been doing their best to control the chaos caused by the League throughout the city, Felicity had been startled from monitoring her screens and directing the Team by Caitlyn's urgent call. Felicity, who had never had any interest in a career in the medical field, found herself assisting Caitlyn as she had completed an emergency intubation on Thea. The procedure was so viscerally upsetting, Felicity had tears welling in her eyes even while she fought to follow Caitlyn's instructions. Once they were done, Felicity had taken time to grip Thea's hand, softly sniffling to herself before she was able to pull herself back to the Hub to check on the Team.
The Bunker with Thea being conscientiously watched by Caitlyn seemed like a world away now. Felicity's heart pounded in her chest. She stood with the cool night air whipping through her hair on a skyscraper's rooftop alongside Diggle, Laurel, and Barry, while on either side of them, soldiers from the League of Assassins stood silently watching. Nyssa stood, encompassed by her followers.
Purple smoke rose from an open firepit off to one side of the roof, reminding Felicity uncomfortably of the smoke which had risen to indicate the League wanted to see Oliver following Thea's near-fatal stabbing. Felicity watched as Oliver strode across the rooftop to where his friends were gathered.
Felicity ground out in a voice choked with emotion, "This is one of your crazier ideas – and that is a competitive field."
Oliver gave her a lopsided smile that she knew was entirely to set her at ease. He then looked back at his team and Barry. "Well, you've all been telling me all along. Either Malcolm Merlyn dies so Thea can live – or I die trying." He looked at Felicity, hoping she understood. "I've always said that I am someone who would do anything to protect his sister – today, I prove that."
Felicity nodded quickly and said, "And that's why I love you – because of the way you protect those you love." She sniffled quickly, trying to hide that she was nearing tears. "But you have to promise me something right now." Oliver looked at her in expectation, nodding for her to continue. "You can show me how much you love me by not. Dying. You are going to kill Malcolm Merlyn. End this."
Barry looked entirely more serious than Oliver was used to seeing him. Barry said in a tone of bewildered sincerity, "Man, your city is something else. Just casually having a duel on top of a skyscraper?" Oliver shot Barry an unimpressed look. Barry quickly added genuinely, "But yeah – if it comes down to the two of you … kick his butt." Oliver snorted at Barry's PG sentiment.
Oliver turned to see Laurel watching him, her expression unreadable. Oliver hated to know that his actions and Merlyn's actions had produced this hardened version of the Laurel Lance he had fallen in love with in his youth. Even with that grief for the loss of her innocence, he was proud of who she had become and that she continued to be counted as his friend. Laurel said firmly, "This is for Sara. And Tommy. For your dad and what he did to your family. This is for Thea." His grievances against Ra's Al Ghul were many, and having Laurel evoke them did set a fire into his veins. Laurel continued with hard eyes, "You have all these people who Malcolm has taken from you – and they are all on your side. You can't lose." Oliver gave a single nod.
Oliver looked next to her at Diggle. Digg observed Oliver quietly, like he was trying to read Oliver. Oliver reached out and grabbed Diggle's hand in a firm shake. "Thanks for giving me the push to do what I needed to do," Oliver said. Diggle pulled Oliver in by his hand and gripped him in a hug. "Kick his ass." Digg said firmly, pulling back.
Oliver gave one last look to his team and then bent and kissed Felicity firmly. He stood up and faced Malcolm.
"It's inconvenient that it's winter. The removal of shirts makes more sense in the desert," Malcolm noted cheekily, as he pulled off his leather outer garment. Oliver rolled his eyes, unzipping his jacket, then pulling his sweater up and over his head, handing them both to Felicity.
Two League members ceremoniously approached, handing Merlyn and Oliver each a large broad sword. As soon as the hilt was in Malcolm's hand, he gave the balance a quick test by swishing it through the air. He grinned cockily at Oliver and Oliver carefully spun his sword around once in his hand.
Merlyn watched Oliver with glittering eyes. "I never thought it would end this way, Oliver. I always thought of you like a son."
The comment infuriated Oliver in light of Malcolm's crimes. "No," Oliver said. "You killed my father and your own son – tonight, I make that right. Let's finish this."
Oliver ran at Malcolm with eyes narrowing and Malcolm threw himself at Oliver. The first sword clash shook the rooftop with its force. As Oliver wielded the heavy sword to deflect Malcolm's blow, Malcolm struck again, Oliver blocking the strike coming down towards his head. Malcolm cut towards Oliver's neck and Oliver dropped into a squat to dodge the blow. Malcolm's momentum had nowhere to go and he lost balance.
Oliver used Malcolm's unsure footing to his advantage and leapt up, striking out with two quick swings, first to the left, then to the right. Merlyn blocked both, then leapt back, giving himself space to get his feet back under him. Both men charged at each other, swinging with all their strength, pinning each other in place with the blades locked. Oliver shoved Malcolm off and cut across as Malcolm ducked. Malcolm stood up and blocked as Oliver swung a blow towards his head.
Felicity could see the rage flowing off of Oliver and watched as Oliver struck out with two fast overhead blows, hitting so hard Oliver cried out with each. Malcolm blocked both but was distracted and didn't expect the blow when Oliver suddenly decked Malcolm in the face with his non-sword hand. Malcolm toppled back from the unexpected move, landing on the ground. Malcolm seemed to suddenly realize his vulnerability – maybe even that Oliver, decades younger, had strength that Malcolm could no longer match. Malcolm pulled himself up next to a League assassin, grasping the man's bow and snatching an arrow from his quiver. Malcolm took aim directly at Oliver's heart.
Malcolm released the arrow and Oliver swung wildly, cutting at the arrow and sending it off course. Malcolm used Oliver's distraction and ran back towards Oliver, swinging his sword at Oliver's head. Oliver blocked and managed to wrench the sword from Malcolm's hand while landing another punch into Malcolm's stomach. Malcolm stood in shock, now armed with only his fists. Wide eyes stared back at Oliver, and Oliver landed a punch in Malcolm's face that sent him back to the ground.
While on the ground, Malcolm grabbed up his sword. He didn't attempt to rise, though. Instead, he stood on his knees, leaning against the sword to keep him upright. He looked at Oliver with blood streaking his face.
Oliver gritted out, "Last chance, Malcolm – YIELD!"
"Never," Malcolm hissed back. "To end this, you must kill me." Malcolm raised his arms, opening his body up to the possibility of a fatal blow. Felicity's heart sank within her. How would Oliver come back from killing Malcolm while he stood, defenseless and defeated? "But you always knew that, didn't you, Oliver?" Malcolm asked, determined to haunt Oliver with his dying breath.
Oliver shook his head, his voice thick. "I didn't want it to end this way."
"Spare me your false sympathy," Malcolm ground out, "And just do it."
Oliver drew in a breath and his eyes met Felicity's. Felicity couldn't even think what to tell him. What to say. Malcolm had done all to ensure that his death would ruin Oliver.
Oliver looked back at Malcolm, deciding the fate of the man before him. A man he had hated. A man he had sought help from and fought alongside of. The man responsible for so much pain in his life, including the years he was removed from home and tortured on Lian Yu and abroad.
Then he swung.
Oliver's blade sliced cleanly through, splitting Malcolm's arm from his sword hand.
Malcolm cried out, grabbing his handless arm. Oliver looked a little horrified at the sight of the screaming man, and, with the butt of his sword, struck Malcolm in the head, rendering him unconscious.
Oliver peered down at the ownerless hand and laid down his sword. He removed the Demon's Head ring and then turned to Nyssa. He commanded in a low voice, "Bring me the Lotus."
Nyssa nodded behind her and Talibah stepped up, handing Nyssa a bottle filled with blue liquid. Oliver held the ring out with one hand while grasping the Lotus with the other. He said in a voice loud enough for the rooftop to hear. "You are Ra's Al Ghul."
"Thank you, Oliver," Nyssa said. Nyssa slid the ring onto her finger. Every black cloaked figure on the rooftop fell into their knees of one accord and chanted, "RA'S!"
Oliver lowered his head in show of respect. Then he raised it, nodded at Nyssa, and strode over to his Team. Felicity handed him his sweater which Oliver quickly put on. In a low voice, Oliver commanded the group, "Come on – we have to move."
