Chapter 2: Abducted… Again.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
USA, WA, STARLING CITY - DUCATI DEALERSHIP: 19 APR 2012, 1 PM
Tommy came around the corner of the block to see two men load Oliver into the side of the van. Tommy's eyes widened. Already? They acted before I was even in place? He also noticed the two men load one of their team members into the van. The man was obviously unconscious.
What the fuck happened? They attacked in broad fucking daylight? At a freaking dealership? Tommy noted Oliver's motorcycle was still sitting at the dealership when the van pulled away. Shit. I have to get the cops here now.
Tommy spun his car into the lot and ran inside. He yelled for help. Slowly, several heads popped up from behind desks and the countertop where they sought shelter.
"My friend was just abducted. Call the police now," Tommy shouted at them. He noticed the lady at the counter and immediately dialed the police. He strode up to her and took the phone from her shocked hands.
"9-1-1, how may I direct your call?" the dispatch operator said in a neutral voice.
"I am at the Ducati Dealership. Oliver Queen was just abducted at gunpoint in front of the dealership," Tommy forcefully told dispatch. "I need the police. I need detectives here immediately. Oliver suspected a potential attack. I have a way of tracking him... You need to hurry."
"There were three outside the van," the lady at the counter said quietly. "I assume one was driving." She gave him a slight smile. "I'm Maggie."
"Maggie was a witness," Tommy relayed with a smile at Maggie. "She saw three men outside the van. She assumed a fourth was driving."
"Officers are on the way," the dispatch replied.
"Do... Do you want me to stay on the line?" Tommy asked. He was unsure of the protocol now. His adrenaline was still pumping. It's up to me now. Ollie is counting on me to bring the police. His anxiety ramped up as he feared for his friend.
"Yes, please," dispatch replied. "Did you make any other observations?" she asked seriously.
"Yes," Tommy relayed as he tried to calm his racing mind. He was very worried about Oliver. "The van was a white, panel van. I have photos of it and I got the plates. I also have photos of the two men in front."
"They had masks," Maggie replied.
"What?" Tommy asked her.
"The men... They had masks on. Hoodies. Gloves. One had a huge gun. The others had small guns," Maggie continued.
"Maggie says that the attackers had on masks, hoodies, and gloves. They were armed. One had a large gun. Two others had smaller guns," Tommy relayed.
"The big gun went off," Maggie whimpered. "But... Your friend... He shoved it up into the air. We would have died if he hadn't done that."
Tommy was shocked. "It went off?" he asked Maggie. She nodded. Tommy took a calming breath. "Maggie says the large gun went off. She said Oliver saved everyone inside by shoving it into the air." Tommy turned as several cruisers pulled up to the dealership, lights flashing. "The police have arrived," he told dispatch before he handed the phone back to Maggie. He went to greet the police and relay his information.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
USA, WA, STARLING CITY - ABANDONED FACTORY: 19 APR 2012, 1:30 PM
Oliver came back to consciousness quickly. All he could see was blackness. He blinked a few times and took a shallow breath. It was stuffy. A hood, he thought to himself. They were prepared. This was planned.
His senses went into overdrive. He felt the solid presence of wood under him. He was sitting. His arms were pulled behind him. Small, tight bands constricted his movement. Zip cuffs? Really? Possible to escape. Well, most people couldn't, but I can. [2]
His jacket was missing. He felt the cool air against his shirt. Sounds echoed in the room. A large open space. He could hear voices not far away. He tried to listen to them.
"What the fuck, man?" the first voice continued. "I'm not getting paid enough for this shit."
"Shove it, Paul," a second voice continued with frustration. "We weren't prepared for him to resist. We should have been. The boss will not be happy because of our lack of preparation."
"The boss can shove it," the first voice continued. "Did you see Kevin's face? I think he broke his cheekbone... Through the fucking mask."
"We got him out of there," the second voice continued. "Kevin can go to the hospital afterward. For now, the boss wants answers."
"I think he's waking up," a third voice stuttered painfully.
The other two voices went silent. Steps echoed closer. Oliver kept his head down. Kevin has a broken face. Paul is scared. At least two more. Three at the dealer. Likely one driving. Four total. Masks to hide their identity. Mysterious boss who wants answers. I need more intel.
Oliver deliberately took a deep breath and slowly raised his head. The voices of three of them were coming from in front of him. Where is the fourth man?
The hood was suddenly yanked off his head. A bright light blinded him. He blinked back tears as his eyes struggled to adjust to the bright light. The image finally resolved itself into a cluttered warehouse. The floor was cement and littered with debris. The walls were industrial metal. Warehouse... not currently in use. Probably few neighbors. Not a bad location for holding someone.
Oliver could easily see the three blurry men in front of him as his eyes slowly adjusted to the light. He carefully swung his head from left to right, like he was clearing his head. His vision finally came into focus. He noticed the fourth man standing behind him to the right. He was carrying an AK-47. A man behind armed with a rifle.
Oliver examined the three men in front of him. They wearing all black. Black jeans. Black boots. Black gloves. Black sweatshirts with hoods. They all had red demon masks on to conceal their identity. The man in front was brandishing a taser. The other two had AK-47s. One held his weapon ready. The other had it slung on his back. It was a vaguer threat. Present, but not ready to use. Shit. Three with rifles. One with a taser. Four total. Not good odds with me being restrained and seated.
"Welcome back, Mr. Queen," the lead demon greeted him. He was the second voice. Oliver pegged him as the leader. Taser demon is the leader and he knows exactly who I am. Targeted abduction. Got it.
Oliver remained silent as he watched the three men closely. He continued to scan the building, assessing the threat level, determining potential tools to use, and finding escape routes. His mind was processing all the available intel.
"Mr. Queen," the lead demon called his attention back to him with his voice sharp. He didn't like being ignored. "I am going to ask some questions. You will answer."
Oliver stared at the man with a disinterested look. His face morphed to disgust. Really? This is an interrogation, not an abduction. What the hell? "What the fuck does that bitch want now?" Oliver spat at the man with open hostility.
Oliver's words threw the men into confusion. The leader finally rallied and returned the hostility. "I will be asking the questions," he demanded. He pressed the taser into Oliver's chest. Triggering it to shock Oliver.
Oliver rode the electricity and snapped the zip ties holding his hands. Slade's mad voice echoed in his mind as the shock went through him.
~You will pay for your sin, Slade's voice echoed.~
Fuck! I hate electricity. Oliver groaned in pain as he let the noise cover his escape from the zip cuffs. He only hoped the guy at the back didn't notice. He interlaced his fingers to keep his arms in position... Under the illusion that he was still restrained.
"Did Robert Queen tell you anything?" the lead demon demanded.
Oliver replied with silence. What the fuck? Waller already knows about dad. Who the fuck are these guys? Why the fuck do they care about what happened to dad?
The lead demon pressed the Taser into Oliver's chest again. Oliver rode out the surge of electricity and ground his teeth against the immediate pain.
~Slade's laughter rang through the hold as he pressed electricity through Oliver's hanging form.~
Oliver dragged his mind away from the flashback. He focused on the chair. I'm sitting, not hanging. Electricity wasn't an effective deterrent for him. All it did was piss him off. The lead demon stepped back.
"What did he tell you?" the lead demon demanded aggressively.
Oliver huffed. He blinked away the flashbacks from the Amazo. Electricity was Slade's favorite form of torture. I don't have time for this shit. I'm not supposed to have to deal with this shit anymore. I'm supposed to be fucking safe. GOD DAMN IT!
"What kind of sick fucks are you? You want me to tell you how my father died?" Oliver snarled with venom. "You get a kick out of snuff stories? Fucking hell."
The lead demon pressed the taser into his chest again. Oliver rode out the pain.
~You will pay for your sin, Slade's voice echoed before he pressed the electricity into Oliver again.~
The flashbacks were stronger this time. Only his position kept him from falling deeper into them. Slade hung him in chains. Sitting was helping him stay grounded in reality. Oliver tried to bring his mind back to the present. To focus his rage on the demon in front of him.
"What did he tell you?" the lead demon yelled at him.
"I am going to kill you all," Oliver responded belligerently. "You fucks no longer get a pass."
"Are you fucking insane?" the lead demon replied as he leaned over Oliver. "You are zip-tied to that chair." Then he pressed the Taser into his chest again.
Oliver roared as he fell fully into the flashback. The pain of the last shock threw him into his last battle against Slade while the Amazo was sinking. He snagged the taser and shoved it into the throat of the lead demon. He snagged the man as he fell, unconscious and held him as a shield. He threw him at the demon in front of him. The one with his AK-47 at the ready. The lead demon caught the bullet spray before they both fell to the ground in a tangled heap.
Oliver spun, grabbed the chair, and smashed it into the demon standing behind him. The man started to fall. Oliver grabbed him and spun him around to hold him as a shield between himself and the last two men… the one on the floor and the one who was finally pointing his weapon.
"You'll never touch them, Slade," Oliver screamed as he threw the body of the unconscious demon at the last of the demons with AK-47s. The demon was struggling to bring his weapon forward when the body of his teammate slammed into him. He reacted on reflex. His weapon shook as it fired against the body of his teammate.
The other demon on the floor finally crawled free of his teammate's body. Oliver grabbed him as he rose. He started to beat the hell out of him with his fists. The demon's mask was shattered, and his face was a bloody mess when Oliver dropped him. He quickly moved to the last demon awake. This one still struggled on the floor under the body of his teammate.
Oliver smashed his foot on the arm of the demon before he kicked him several times in the ribs and back before landing a blow to his head. The man stopped moving. Oliver continued to unleash his wrath on the man's unconscious body. Letting his fists fly in rage as he vented his flashback on the man's body.
Oliver finally stopped. He slowly fell to his knees in the center of the chaos. The bodies of the attackers surrounded him. Lost in his flashback. His mind floated in the sea, full of self-loathing. Waiting to die. His eyes stared blankly at the wall in front of him. [3]
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
USA, WA, STARLING CITY - ABANDONED FACTORY: 19 APR 2012, 1:35 PM
Captain Pike was in the lead cruiser as it sped towards the destination where Tommy Merlyn believed the attackers had taken Oliver Queen. It was a wild story. A group of men shot up a motorcycle dealership and abducted Oliver Queen. Their motive was unknown.
SCPD's only break was when Queen suspected the tail. He took measures to ensure Merlyn could find him quickly. Merlyn witnessed them loading Queen and one of the attackers into the van before it departed. His story was collaborated by multiple witnesses at the dealership.
Pike gathered SWAT and any available officers to storm the factory in the Glades, the location indicated by the tracking app Queen loaded. Pike's impatience was with the time it took to coordinate the assault. He hated that they had a location and it took time to get there. It took time to secure the scene. It took time to rescue the castaway.
To his surprise, Lance and Hinton insisted on coming. Pike was familiar with Lance's hatred of Queen. Lance was the last person he wanted to include in an operation to rescue Queen. Pike was surprised when Lance specifically asked to come along. Not to be lead detective, but because he was certain this would trigger Queen into a flashback. Hinton agreed with him.
This was the first time Pike heard about Queen having flashbacks. When he thought about it, he wasn't surprised either. Lance described how Thea Queen and Tommy Merlyn pulled Queen out of several flashbacks, including a severe one, while they were discussing Sara. All Lance's anger at Queen was gone. Pike noted Lance's concern for Queen. For his well-being. He allowed Lance to be included as long as he didn't interfere with the investigation.
SWAT swarmed the facility when they arrived. Pike waited to hear gunfire. No sound was heard aside from windows breaking and doors being forced open. Then silence.
"Captain," the SWAT leader came over the radio. "The area is secure. But... You need to see this."
"On my way," Pike replied. "Lance, Hinton, on me." He ordered as he strode through the open door into the factory.
What he found was carnage. Four bodies littered the floor around Queen. Queen was a bloody mess. Blood was splashed liberally across his body. Most of it looked like blood splatter. Queen was staring straight ahead and kneeling completely still in the carnage. He seemed to be whispering something.
"Check those bodies," Pike ordered. He slowly approached Queen. He almost reached out.
"Don't," Quentin stopped him. "Something triggered him. He's stuck in a flashback loop. If you touch him, he will lash out violently. He... He warned us about it happening when we went to see him. Told us to keep our distance when it happened."
Pike's eyes widened. "What... What trigger was he concerned about when you went to see him?" Pike asked.
Quentin sighed. "His memories. His memories are a damn trigger," he said in frustration. "But he insisted... I told him we could wait, but he insisted Sara needed to be found. He would suffer the flashbacks to see her come home."
"You think that happened here?" Pike asked as Quentin knelt in front of Queen.
"Yes," Quentin replied. "From what little I heard, it was bad there. Really bad." Quentin leaned forward to talk to Queen. "Hey, kid. Come back now," he told him softly.
Oliver's voice rose slightly. "You'll never touch them, Slade. I won't let you," he replied in an angry, hostile tone.
"Oh fuck," Lucas whispered. "He's reliving the Amazo. The one where Slade went insane."
"Who is Slade?" Pike asked.
"Was. Slade was a friend to Queen until the man went insane," Lucas replied. "That was when Oliver lost Sara the second time… when the Amazo sank. Queen said Slade threatened everyone Queen knew. Queen killed him... He hated himself for it."
"Shit," Pike swore.
"Sir," one of the SWAT officers approached him. "Two of the men are alive, but they were badly beaten. The two dead were shot. It looks like their fellow attackers shot them." He made a gesture towards the ground where the AK-47 rifles littered the chaos around the dead men. "Ambulance is on the way."
"Thanks, Grimes," Pike replied. "Leave the dead. Transport the living. Secure them with SWAT until they can be questioned. Who... Who do we call for Queen?" he asked Quentin.
"Merlyn," Quentin replied with careful thought. "He and Thea pulled him out of a flashback when we saw him. He might be able to snap him out of this."
"Call the Merlyn kid," Pike replied. "See if he can get Queen out of his flashback loop. Then have Merlyn take him home. I figure home is the least triggering place. I'll interview him there. We need to clear him from the scene."
The CSIs arrived and processed the dead. They were frustrated Oliver was still sitting in the middle of their crime scene, but Pike, Lance, and Hinton glared at them before they could make a comment. Before long, Tommy Merlyn was escorted into the factory. He blanched when he took in the scene.
Pike turned and stopped him. "Normally, you would not be allowed in here. But... Queen needs you to bring him out of his current state." Pike relayed as he gestured toward where Oliver was still staring at a wall. "Detectives Lance and Hinton think he is reliving the Amazo. He mentioned the name Slade in his trance."
"Fuck!" Tommy swore softly. "That... That was bad, but not his worst. It was after the Amazo his life went to hell," Tommy replied. He paused and took a controlled breath to brace himself. "Okay. I got this." He replaced Quentin before Oliver. "Ollie? Come on, bud. Come back to us. You are home. You are safe. You are free. You remember. Home. Safe. Free."
"Home. Safe. Free," Oliver parroted Tommy.
"Come on. I got you," Tommy told him soothingly.
"Tommy?" Oliver's voice asked softly. His eyes slowly started to focus. "Is that you?" he asked again as he started to bring the world back into focus. He blinked a few times to clear away the flashback images.
"It's me, bud," Tommy replied. When he was certain Oliver could see him, he slowly reached out and took Oliver's hand. "I got you," Tommy said softly.
"Shit!" Oliver swore softly. "I lost it, didn't I?" he asked Tommy quietly.
"No," Tommy replied sincerely. "I would say you were fairly well controlled. They attacked you first. It's not your fault they had no idea what you would do. How your existing traumas affected you. All of your actions were justified."
"Justified?" Oliver replied. "I..." He looked around the room and blanched. "I killed them, didn't I?" he asked.
"Actually, you didn't," Pike replied softly. "My initial assessment of the scene is that you resisted and they tried to shoot you. Unfortunately for them, you used them as a shield from the bullets. The two men you beat are still alive. They are being transported now."
"Is it safe to process Mr. Queen now?" the most insistent CSI asked.
"Is that okay, Ollie?" Tommy asked.
"Yes," Oliver replied curtly. "I won't hurt them now," he insisted.
The CSI quickly processed Oliver and took the remaining zip tie from his wrist along with samples of blood from his fists and his shirt with blood splatter. Then Tommy led him out of the factory warehouse and to his car.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
USA, DC, WASHINGTON - CIA HEADQUARTERS: 19 APR 2012, 4 PM
General David Patraeus sat heavily at his desk chair. He returned from an emergency meeting with President Trumbull. The story he spun sounded like fantasy, but the President wanted it investigated.
President Trumbull made some very valid points. This story was too wild, too out of this world, to be a carefully crafted lie. The President wanted him to find the grains of truth this story covered, and reassure the President that some rogue US Agency was not consistently endangering the country with its actions.
David had to agree. I'm not retiring soon enough. Something like this... It sounds like a pretty veneer lying over a trash heap. There is truth there, but it will be brutally ugly. His experience at the CIA ensured he was well aware of the ugly truth beneath the veneer of society. The fact this veneer was already ugly made him want to avoid the horrors it covered up.
I will need special investigators for this. Incorruptible. Bluntly honest. Survivors. Investigators who won't shy away from the ugliest truth, but bring it to light. David had no doubt this truth would be ugly. A dozen names immediately came to mind. Five of them are here in DC.
David picked up his phone and dialed his chosen replacement, John Brennan. He needed him in from the start. This investigation could go on for months. It needs to be done.
"John, I need you and two agents to report to my office. Use Willard, Hayes, Maes, Mendes or Malakhov. I know they are available right now," David relayed.
"Sure, David," John replied. "I collect them and be right there. I assume this is time sensitive."
"It is," David confirmed.
"Good. See you soon," John said before he hung up the phone.
Before long, John Brennan, Yeva Malakhov, and Cory Willard arrived in his office. They dropped their cell phones in the box David had set on the desk with his own phone in it. Brennan took them out of the office and lock the door upon his return. David hit the switch to activate the countermeasures.
"We are secure," David relayed aloud. "I have a special assignment for you two. You can use all means of travel to complete this assignment. I expect it to take several months to complete."
"What's the assignment?" John asked. He wasn't usually invited to these types of meetings.
David sighed. "I have very little information. All of it is relayed through a third-party. However, the President thinks some of the information may have merit or grains of truth. You are to find that truth," he said carefully.
"Mr. Queen came forward to the US Coast Guard about the activities of ARGUS, a US governmental Agency. Specifically, their Director… Amanda Waller. I was not told about specific activities aside from torture and assassination. The countries involved were China, Bialya, Moldova, and Russia," David relayed. "The FBI will investigate the US activities. Coordinate with the FBI agents assigned to this case."
"What do you want us to do exactly?" Yeva asked. She was very meticulous in her research.
"I want you to find the ugly truth and bring it to light," David relayed. "The President can decide how best to take action, but we need facts... provable facts... before we can act."
"How do you want us to start?" Corey asked.
"Start with the Agency. ARGUS. Who are they? What are they entitled to do? Who belongs to them? What are their qualifications? How did they get there? All of it," David told them. "The accusations may or may not be baseless, but the agency needs to be investigated from top to bottom to ensure that. Consider it an audit of the agency. If they are doing intelligence work overseas, we are the best agency to audit them."
"Then I want you to interview Mr. Queen," David continued. "Document his story. His accusations. I've been told he summarized his five years for the Coast Guard while his lawyer sat there. Mr. Queen wasn't looking to clear his name. I've been told to have you coordinate with his lawyer for a face-to-face meeting. Mr. Queen is paranoid about ARGUS coming after him and his family. Go through the lawyer for your first meeting. Get a feel for the intel and the man."
"From there, I want you to investigate everything. What he said. What he left unsaid. I want to know everything ARGUS has done since they were established," David declared. He gave them a half smile. "This will not be easy. If Mr. Queen is believed, it is also dangerous. Isolate your investigative data. Protect it. Coordinate with Brennan and whomever the FBI assigns. If you need anything, contact me or Brennan."
"What exactly did Mr. Queen accuse this agency of doing?" John asked as his eyes widened at the scope of this investigation.
"Mr. Queen was forcibly inducted into this agency. Coerced to learn to torture and to assassinate others. Threatened. In at least two instances, he stopped this agency from creating a war the US would have to back up," David replied. "I have no doubt Mr. Queen was traumatized by his experiences. How those experiences equate to his accusations... That is up to you. Find the truth. I am certain someone will be imprisoned if even ONE of his accusations is true. I hate to think about more than one is true."
"Jesus H. Christ!" Corey swore softly.
"He is famous, is he not?" Yeva asked with a look of consternation on her face. "How could this agency hide a famous man?" she asked.
"Another good question for Mr. Queen," David replied. Then he remembered the last warning. "Admiral Allen of the Coast Guard stated that according to Mr. Queen, ARGUS has the ability to modify digital media and to track digital mentions. Avoid saying Oliver Queen, Queen Consolidated, and Queen's Gambit. ARGUS is monitoring those mentions."
"Even on secure servers?" Brennan asked in concern.
"According to the Coast Guard, yes," David replied. "Mr. Queen's paranoia became infectious. The two CGIS agents designed a code to talk about those three on phone. Otherwise, everything was paper or magnetic tape."
"That is not a bad precaution," Corey nodded. "I'm sure we will get more information from the CGIS agents when we read their notes and listen to their tape."
"We will," Yeva agreed.
"Good. Here are the agents' names," David replied as he handed a note to the two agents. "Take what tech you need to keep your computers isolated. Find out why the CGIS became paranoid. Then let us know what precautions we need to take."
"Yes, Sir," Yeva replied.
"Yes, Sir," Corey added.
"Good. Room is no longer secure," David said as he flipped the countermeasures off. "Good luck."
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
USA, WA, STARLING CITY - QUEEN MANOR: 19 APR 2012, 4 PM
Captain Frank Pike, Detective Quentin Lance, and Detective Lucas Hinton were escorted to the Receiving Room at Queen Manor two hours later. Moira Queen and Walter Steele were already present. Oliver was escorted into the room by Tommy and Thea. Oliver showered and bandaged his hands. His clothing was clean. He nodded in greeting to the three officers.
"How are you feeling, Oliver?" Quentin asked sincerely.
"I'm better," Oliver replied with a ghost of a smile. "Thanks for asking."
"I'm sure you know why we are here," Pike started. "Mr. Merlyn said you suspected a tail and a possible abduction."
"I did," Oliver replied. Then he took a breath. "Tommy and I went to eat at a diner. When we came out, I scanned the area. I... I always do that now. I noticed the van. I... I know I am hyperaware right now. I know I could just be paranoid. But... when the van tailed us, I just knew. We went to a dealer and I made a purchase. While we were there, I had Tommy load the tracking app. I shared the location of my phone. I made him aware of the tail and to go to the police as soon as the tail attacked. He was just supposed to follow me if they didn't attack."
"I didn't expect them to attack at the dealership," Oliver said with a wince. "Three guys jumped out of the van. One had an AK-47. The other two had handguns. I didn't recognize the handguns at first..."
"You could recognize the handguns?" Pike asked with skepticism.
"I can now," Oliver said. "I know those AK-47s were the mass-produced ones. Not the Russian ones, but the handguns were... wrong."
"Did you know how they were wrong?" Quentin asked.
"At the time, no," Oliver replied. "They made a strange sound when they fired. That's when I identified them as dart guns. I took out the AK-47 first. Biggest threat. I eventually felt a dart penetrate my thigh."
"Dart guns?" Pike clarified. At Oliver's nod, he added, "That indicates they always planned to abduct you."
"That is my guess as well," Oliver replied in agreement. "When I got off the bike, I jumped the man with the AK. Again, the biggest threat. I think I startled him. His gun went off and he was in shock. I knocked him out and used the bike for cover to attack the other two. Before I could jump, I felt a dart hit my thigh. Then I blacked out."
"That matches the story we got from the multiple witnesses inside the dealership," Pike nodded. "They indicated the AK-47 was pointed at the dealership when you attacked. Shoving it up in the fight ensured the spray went harmlessly into the air."
"Why would they put all those people at risk?" Oliver asked. "They could have stopped me on the bike later... At an intersection... Reckless amateurs."
"That they were," Pike nodded in agreement. Then he hesitated. "Do you remember what happened in the warehouse?" he asked gently.
"Mostly," Oliver replied with a wince. "After I attacked them… that part is mixed with my flashback. I can try to sort it out. You need to help me with what evidence you found at the scene."
"Let's start with your certain memories," Pike told him, gesturing for him to continue.
"I regained consciousness in the dark," Oliver replied. "They placed a bag over my head. I could hear them talking. I felt the zip ties. I knew there were four of them, but only three were talking. Paul and Kevin were the names of two of them. They were hired by someone they called boss. I never got a name. They were silent when they thought I was awake."
"Paul and Kevin. No last names?" Pike asked.
"No," Oliver replied. "Kevin was the guy I had beat at the dealership. They said he broke his cheekbone. Paul was freaked out. Neither one was the leader." Oliver paused and took another deep breath. "The leader tried to interrogate me. He was armed with a taser. All I learned was that they don't work for the Hell Bitch. She was not the boss they were talking about."
"Hell Bitch?" Pike asked as he looked over to Quentin and Lucas.
"No," Quentin replied while shaking his head. "That must have come after the Amazo."
"No mention of a Hell Bitch when we talked to him earlier," Lucas replied in agreement.
"Who is this Hell Bitch? Why did you suspect her immediately as the boss?" Pike asked.
"Unfortunately, I can't divulge that information," Oliver replied. "It's an open investigation."
Pike sighed in frustration. "Do you think this Hell Bitch is an imminent threat to you or your family?" he asked.
"I know she is," Oliver replied confidently. "She prefers to stay hidden. These guys... They were sloppy. She would execute them herself for their incompetence, if they were hers."
"Well, that explains why there's an open investigation," Lucas said softly in horror.
"What happened after they figured out you were awake?" Pike continued.
"They did the usual threaten and bluster routine. Used a taser to get me to comply. I didn't," Oliver replied. "They kept demanding to know what my father told me before he died... They kept hitting me with the taser. It started to throw me into a flashback... Slade liked to use electricity... I know I snapped the zip ties before I lost it. The rest... I'm not sure... It all sort of blended." Then he blinked a few times and focused on the officers. "The next thing I am sure of, Tommy was talking to me."
Pike gave Oliver a few minutes to regain his composure. "What sporadic memories do you have?" he asked gently.
"I hit the pirate with the taser, then spun him to use as a meat shield. I threw him at his partner," Oliver said with his eyes closed. "I knew the pirate behind me had a gun, I took him out with the chair, a throat chop, and a few hits to the head... Then he was a meat shield for the third pirate with a gun. I kept hitting Slade, but I had no effect on him. The pirate dropped to the ground. The last pirate... I had to reach for him. He... Slade wouldn't die. I kept kicking and hitting him. Then... Then I was floating in the ocean. I... didn't care anymore..." his voice faded.
"The Taser threw you into the flashback," Quentin reminded him. "I assume their choice of electricity is why that particular flashback was chosen. Either way, your assailants became pirates. Still bad guys. They were trying to kill you. Kill or be killed. Got it?" he asked pointedly.
"Kill or be killed," Oliver repeated. Then he let out another huff of air. "Electricity is another fucking trigger… I hate losing control like that."
"It's happened before?" Lucas asked in surprise.
"Not like that," Oliver replied with a shake of his head. "Not in a combat situation. But... I beat the hell out of a guy for poking one of my scars... It was... not pleasant. My friend used it though."
"Your Russian friend?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah," Oliver replied with ghost of a smile. "He gets it. He was a prisoner on the Amazo. He helped free me."
"Well, I can confirm that your sporadic memories were mostly real," Pike replied. "Not Slade or pirates, but assailants with guns. What you basically remember is what forensics has pieced together. The other assailants shot the two dead. The two living are being treated. One woke up. He is our next stop."
"If you think of anything else, let us know," Quentin told him.
"I will, Sir," Oliver replied with a quiet nod.
"Do you know anything about these assailants?" Moira demanded. She needed to know who would endanger her son after she just got him back. Oliver is supposed to be safe now. I can't have others putting him at risk.
"Not yet," Pike replied. "The names will help us identify them eventually. Hopefully, one of the living will give up their boss."
"I want them prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Moira demanded imperiously.
"That is not your call, Mrs. Steele," Oliver sniped at her angrily. "Let the police do their jobs. It takes time to gather intelligence and evidence. They have all but the boss responsible. They will get him. I have confidence in them."
"Oliver is correct, Moira," Walter soothed her. "The police are more than adequate for this investigation. You need to allow them to do their job."
Moira huffed and then stormed out. Oliver shook his head. "I apologize for her behavior," he said in slight exasperation.
"It's alright, Mr. Queen," Pike replied. He was glad he didn't have to argue against Moira Queen. Politics was never his strong point. Moira Queen was known to be overprotective of her children. Her reaction was expected. Oliver's defense was not.
Quentin stood and approached Oliver. He slowly telegraphed his hand going to Oliver's shoulder. "You did good, Kid. You noticed the tail. You safeguarded your friend. You made it possible for us to find you quickly. Remember, kill or be killed. It's different from murder. Doesn't have the same intent," he said softly.
Oliver looked deeply into Quentin's eyes before he finally nodded.
"I apologize now for the media circus this will ignite," Quentin told him. "The media has access to our blotter. They will know about the attack and that you were involved. Not details. Just that."
"Damn," Oliver swore softly. "This was the first day I could leave the manor."
"They stuck it out in your drive for a week?" Lucas exclaimed in surprise. "Thank goodness for the open investigation seal."
"Yeah," Oliver said with the ghost of a smile at Lucas. "It shouldn't be as bad as your last visit though. Don't be surprised if the media stalks you. Detective Lance can relate."
"Indeed, I can," Quentin replied. "I think Laurel dating you is why I got stuck talking to the media all the time."
"I'm sorry," Oliver said in a quiet voice.
"Don't worry about it," Quentin replied with a forced smile. "Better me than some of the other guys."
"Amen to that," Lucas replied. "I didn't realize how much Quentin shielded us from the media until our last visit... and I was involved in the Dollmaker Case."
Pike chuckled. "I think the media prefers Quentin to the Commissioner," he said with a smile. "Quentin is much nicer than he is. He doesn't answer squat, but he does it politely."
"Anyway, Kid, I hope it gets better for you now," Quentin replied. "I'll let you know if we find anything to help us locate Sara."
"Thank you," Oliver replied as he escorted the officers out the front door.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
Chapter Notes:
[2] Zip Ties: My ex was a police officer. They frequently used heavy duty, human restraining zip tie cuffs. These zip ties were specially designed to restrain humans. They require wire cutters to open. However, they are trackable. Most common zip ties will restrain humans, but they CAN be broken. These are the zip ties you find in the auto parts stores. They are only effective up to 10, 20, or 50 lbs. Most criminals use the 10 or 20 lbs zip ties to disguise their use, and they easily age and become more brittle. I have no doubt these criminals would use the easily snapped zip ties if they expected a rich playboy.
[3] Abduction: This is my take on the canon abduction. In this AU, Oliver isn't trying to hide his trauma and hates liars. I wanted to illustrate how the abduction would trigger him. I wanted to allow him to display his BAMF prowess, but still highlight his trauma issues. This is my fix-it for the abduction and interview.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~