Author's Notes: Hello readers! This chapter was originally going to be longer, but it would have been too time consuming to add in all the neccessary details. So, I'm making this into a two-parter. If you don't want to miss part two, follow the story or my account to keep up to date.

Also, I have said this before in a previous chapter, but now it is becoming official. Superman and Lois just ended and, with it, ends the Arrowverse. I have said much about it already, but I wanted to say again: rest in peace, Arrowverse. Arrow became the inspiration for not just this fanfiction, but for live-action superhero shows with great storytelling and nuance; whether it be the other arrowverse shows such as Flash and Legends of Tomorrow or competition such as Daredevil. Though the Arrowverse experienced a decline and may never be continued, it will not be forgotten.

So, with that out of the way, enjoy part one of this chapter!

Disclaimer: Based on characters and references created by DC Universe and the CW, which I do not own. Enjoy!

My name is William Queen,

A man from the future

Who has come to the past with one goal,

To save Star City.

With my new team now assembled,

I can now set my plan in motion,

The plan to stop the Ninth Circle

And the Order of St. Dismas once and for all.

In order to succeed,

I need to ensure one last factor,

One more unknown,

Is brought to light…

Episode 9: Wolves in Sheep's Clothing, Part 1

A few months ago…

Lyla paced back and forth, her hands behind her back, processing the news William and John gave her. "And you're sure that Clayton Ford's testimony is true?"

William confirmed, "The only way a corrupt businessman like Ford would walk free is if he had something useful. Pollard definitely let him go, and he was guaranteed protection."

John then pointed out, "The question is how Pollard knows about the Ninth Circle in the first place and why she's trying to dig up info on them."

Lyla expanded on the question, "How is she even allowed to ask without being a target for the Ninth Circle?

William shrugged. "You'd think that they'd be allies against us."

Lyla nodded. "The Anti-Vigilante Act would allow them to pull strings in the city unhindered."

It then dawned on William. "And maybe they compelled Pollard to do it."

Both Lyla and John looked at William curiously. John asked, "What do you mean?"

William explained, "Think about the sequence of events. Diaz corrupted most of the officials and law enforcement of the city. The FBI then cleans up the town with help from my father. The police force is cut in half and can only protect the richer parts of the city. At the same time, the Ninth Circle's activities are focused more on the Glades and spread out from there, which happens to increase the crime rates. Diaz's presence, The gun dealings, buying up burned properties. They all connect back to the Ninth Circle."

John started nodding his head, putting his hands on his hips. "The Ninth Circle is priming the Glades to become utopia, getting the population riled up and throwing their blame on the leadership."

Lyla concluded, "And Pollard is in on it. But why release Ford for information on the people she's working for? It can't be to ensure he knows nothing."

John agreed, "She would have killed him herself. So that leaves…"

All three of them look at each other with widened eyes.

Lyla was about to ask, "You don't think she could be an agent for—"

William cut her off. "Let's not assume anything. First, we need access to their databases and be sure. If she is an agent, her current name could be an alias. I'll start planning in the meantime."

As William was about to leave, John asked, "Plan for what?"

William turned around, seeing the worry in John's eyes. "You know that already."

Yesterday…

Lyla was silent for a moment. William knew the mole's reveal was going to be a tough pill to swallow, even if somewhat obvious.

"But…how? Even after what happened—"

"He fooled us all. It's how he went about unnoticed until Athena found a discrepancy with his usual schedule."

"Wh-what do we do? Stop him?"

"No. Let him keep on. Whatever it is, the Deacon's plan is hinging on it. Let Athena keep to the shadows. We need the Order of St. Dismas to think they're winning."

"But William. I'll have to tell—"

"I know. I want you to. Show him the evidence. He's needed for our plan to work."

"Right. One more thing before you go. Your plan. Does it involve Pollard?"

William nodded at his screen, which displayed the list of potential team members. "Yes. I've scoped the office out. She won't leave until all her duties are finished, even if it's past work hours. I'll keep her busy with those to get into position and ensure we're alone for our conversation."

"But why? What part does she have to play?"

William rolled Vergil's coin between his finger and thumb, his eyes fixed upon it. "A major one."

Present…

"Mayor Pollard. We need to talk."

Inside, Mayor Pollard is in shock. How did a vigilante like him get past the security system she designed just for people like him? If he could do so this whole time, why do so now?

Still, Pollard imitated his stance, her hands on her hips for good measure and an angry stare. "Do you have any idea what kind of mistake you've made? The cameras in here will show—"

"I jammed all communications, and the cameras are completely off. BOTH sets."

Wait. Did he say both sets?

"It seems the Ninth Circle didn't trust you as much as you thought."

Pollard's eyes widen. "How do you know about them?"

"I know a lot of things. I know that you let Clayton Ford, an arms dealer, go free from jail in exchange for information about the Ninth Circle and its operations in Yale University."

The Red Arrow takes out a phone from his belt and shows her an old news article. It was the day she was confirmed as mayor, which was just a day after Samantha Watson arrested Oliver Queen.

"I then started to put the arrest and your inauguration together."

Her eyes shift downward, her hands getting tense. If she says anything more about any of her organizations, she might as well be signing her resignation or death warrant, even with the cameras off.

Red Arrow sees right through her nervous demeanor, his red eyes now making contact with hers. "Unless it wasn't the FBI, but the Ninth Circle, who put you in Queen's mayoral office."

His red eyes in the dimly lit elevator cause her to exclaim, "It's not what you think!"

"Enlighten me then."

Pollard's tongue starts rolling in her mouth. Her mouth is pressed together and moving upwards. The pressure Red Arrow is placing on her is making her more intense. How much does he know? Does he know anything at all? Only assumptions come to her mind.

Taking too long to speak, Red Arrow talks ahead, "What has Ford told you about the Ninth Circle? Did the FBI send you to secure the mayoral office and impose the Anti-Vigilante Act? Did the Ninth Circle?"

"BOTH."

Pollard's growing anxiety got the better of her. She just blurted that out to stop the questioning, which she knows full well won't stop.

Out of defeat, she throws her hands in the air. "The FBI and Ninth Circle wanted to stop vigilantes in Star City for different reasons. But now, the Ninth Circle wants to undo it."

"So, you're going to do what they say so you can keep the façade of being their lapdog?"

"Of being one of its members."

That statement got a slight head raise from Red Arrow. Something he didn't know. Not much, but it is a point for Pollard.

Still, she furiously explains, "It took me twenty years to get into their good graces, to assume that position."

"Then why did you need Ford?"

"Because no one member knows everything. They gave me control of the entire continent like the other six. However, anything Ford does outside of North America is confidential. All I know are the other members' codenames and how to contact them."

"But why the Ninth Circle? Of what interest are they to the FBI?"

"Not just the FBI. CIA, KGB, MI6. Every government wants to end them and their apocalyptic schemes."

Red Arrow places his hands on his hips. "Apocalyptic?"

Pollard nods. "It was during the Cold War when the U.S. and Soviet Union first heard of them. They were giving nuclear weapons to both sides, manipulating capitalist and communist ventures. Officially, we were in a state of deterrence. But the Ninth Circle forced it."

"With what?"

"Their nuclear weapons, rigged with explosives. If either side tried to use even one for self-defense, The Ninth Circle would not hesitate to kill us all. Thankfully, we managed to disarm most of them, like the ones in Turkey and Cuba. But the ones still in the hands of countries like North Korea…"

Red Arrow nods. "The nuclear winter would be devastating for both sides of the DMZ."

Pollard elaborates, "But now you understand. I NEED to stay embedded with them. Otherwise, we'll all perish with a wave of Dante's finger, if not one of the others within the inner circle."

Red Arrow then takes something from his belt. He holds up a coin that looks much like the one given to her for information storage. However, she sees something particularly unique. This one has a V. V for…

Pollard's eyes widen again. "Is that…"

"It is. I know how to use it against Dante and the others, but I need one thing from you."

Pollard looks at the coin, then at the Red Arrow. "In exchange for what? The repealing of the Anti-Vigilante Act? Why would I do anything for you?"

"You said you spent more than twenty years within the Ninth Circle's ranks. Given that you still haven't put a dent in them, I'm guessing you still don't know how to destroy them. I have the key to do so. I'll unleash something far greater than what the Ninth Circle would have done to the entire world."

Pollard looks down at the ground again. He's right. She tried nearly every angle to sabotage the Ninth Circle from within. Yet, they brush it off and recuperate. To finish them off means a massive chain of events, something they can never come back from. If Red Arrow truly has Virgil's coin…

Pollard shifts her eyes towards him. "What do you need me to do?"

Red Arrow grasps the coin in his hand. He states…

Floyd Lawton wakes up almost in a cold sweat. His nightmare felt so real: seeing his ex-wife and daughter gunned down, but not by those people who forced him into servitude. It was him and him alone. Whatever happens to them now, it's his fault. The hit was supposed to go smoothly. How did Turner…

"Awake?"

Lawton looks up to where the distorted voice echoes from. A very familiar figure is staring him down. It is the man who used to be his favorite hero back in the 90s while still a grunt during the Gulf War. This man's talents inspired him to push his limits and become an expert marksman.

The Batman, clad in a black cowl, cape, and armor, looks the man up and down. "Good."

Lawton looks around, finding himself in some dark basement. There is nothing around, no identifiable objects to pinpoint exactly where he is, nor what time…

The time!

Lawton immediately asks, "How long have I been out?"

Batman simply continues, "Who hired you to kill Helena Bertinelli?"

"What's the time?"

"Was it James Midas?"

"Tell me the time!"

Lawton tries to jump out of his seat but finds his hands and feet zip-tied to the armrest and leggings. The chair itself does not move, glued firmly to the floor

Batman asks, "Was it the Order of St. Dismas?"

Lawton rushes, "Who else? Just tell me how long I was out for."

Batman keeps looking at him with a deadpan stare. "It's nearing dawn."

Lawton's nightmare flashes into his head. "No. Let me go. Let me go!"

Lawton tries his best to stand or at least lift the chair to no avail.

"We're not leaving until you tell us why you targeted Helena Bertinelli."

"You don't understand! I don't have a choice. My…my family. They have my family under their watch. If I don't do what they say, Samantha, Zoe…"

Lawton closes his eyes, taking a hard breath through his mouth.

Batman then asks, "Where are they?"

"The Order doesn't—"

"Your FAMILY. Where are they right now?"

"I-I don't know! They relocated after some theft that happened at their house." Lawton bows his head. "But it won't matter. As soon as it's morning, they're dead."

"They won't be."

That isn't Batman. It is a feminine voice, a familiar one. Lawton heard it in the briefings. Coming into the light is his target, Helena. She walks over to him with her purse, which has the stains of blood upon it. Looking at her, he sees a bandage on her arm.

Helena states, "You got me. I was killed the moment I sat on my bed, and you disposed of me. It had to be a close-range shot since I wasn't in your line of sight."

Lawton is confused. She's helping me, the man who tried to kill her? But why…

He looks over to Batman, asking, "Why? What do you expect out of me?"

Batman tells him, "A few things. Your silence, time to find your family, and your help."

Oliver's morning has been a quiet one. He and Felicity didn't greet each other jubilee or talk about today's tasks. They ate their breakfast in silence and headed towards ARGUS. Mia had left a note in her room saying she had gone this morning to train. It was unusual for her to do this, but they didn't read too much into it.

They are still wrapping their heads around last night. For Oliver, it's knowing that it was the Ninth Circle who planned his father's death. What else did they have a hand in: Malcolm's plan to destroy the Glades? Were they allies with Slade and Damien Darkh? The only other person Oliver knew to be part of the Ninth Circle's machinations was Prometheus, who kidnapped William and murdered Samantha.

Oliver doesn't know what's running through Felicity's head as they drive towards the facility. He didn't want to know. He's already stressed enough with his own thoughts.

"Do you think your mom knew?"

Felicity's sudden question nearly throws Oliver mentally off, but he keeps driving perfectly.

Felicity continues, "Do you think she and Kazumi knew each other?"

Oliver answers honestly, "I didn't want to give it much thought."

After another moment of silence, Felicity admits, "I keep thinking about how…similar Emiko's life was to William's: caught up in the dramas of their parents, haunted by their pasts, trained to become…"

After driving for a while, the ARGUS facility is in sight. Oliver gets his employee ID out for the gate guard.

"Is that going to happen to Mia?"

Hearing her trembling voice, Oliver briefly looks at Felicity. A tear starts falling down her face, her lip frantically whimpering.

"I mean, look at her! She's got the bow and arrow, the lone wolf attitude, the ability to kick ass, just like William, just like Emiko, and just like…"

As she talks, Oliver slowly puts an arm around Felicity. She leans close to his shoulder, tears draping over his brown leather jacket. He slows the car to a crawl and turns on the emergency lights just in case.

Through her sobbing, Felicity admits, "I don't want to do this anymore! I can't. I know I keep dragging you into doing these things, but I CAN'T. Not with Mia's future on the line!"

Oliver assures her, "You're right. Emiko and the kids have gone down similar paths. But William and Mia had mentors we know and trust, who put them on the right path. Emiko didn't. But we can help her."

Felicity raises her head towards Oliver's eyes, her quivering lip nearly still and her eyes depleted of tears. "Tell me there's going to be an end to this…an end where we win."

Oliver stretches a free hand to Felicity's face. He gently and slowly rubs off the wet trails from her eyes and jaw. "Whatever the end is, William and Mia will make it."

Oliver holds Felicity close, her head resting on his shoulder. He looks out into the open field to their side, imagining William and Mia walking side by side, heading towards somewhere. He doesn't know the destination, but they're alive.

In his mind, Oliver does something he'd thought he'd never do. He prays, God…please let our children make it.

Finally making it to ARGUS, Oliver and Felicity step into the lobby, seeing the familiar security measures: scanners for meta powers and prohibited items, the receptionist with access to a button connected to turrets, and state-of-the-art security cameras. Also awaiting them is Grant Wilson, Slade's son, who's been in the clutches of the Ninth Circle for years until Knightwatch rescued him a couple of months ago.

Grant walks to them and waves quickly. "Mr. Queen. Ms. Smoak."

Oliver greets him, "Grant."

Felicity asks, "What are you doing here?"

"Ms. Michaels sent me. She wants you both in the briefing room."

Felicity and Oliver look at each other with confused stares. Oliver asks, "What for?"

Grant shrugs his shoulders. "That's all I know. Shall we?"

Without delay, they head upstairs and into the main hall. The place is tranquil. Usually, agents were walking all over, discussing developments during their missions, what they'd do after work, and the troubles in their daily lives. Right now, only a few people are either closed off in their offices or whispering very low.

Oliver asks, "You know what's going on? It shouldn't be this quiet."

Grant answers, "Beats me. Since the whole Midas fiasco, it's like everyone is on high alert. Maybe Ms. Michaels has them all on some mission? I don't know."

Oliver raises an eyebrow. Grant is talking fast. His hands are constantly rubbing together. He shifts his eyes everywhere, expecting some assassin to pop up around the next corner.

Oliver asks, "Are you okay? You seem tense."

Grant looks at Oliver with a crooked smile. "Fine. I have a lot on my plate. That's all."

Oliver isn't satisfied with the answer but doesn't push further.

Grant has been taking up many responsibilities here. Bringing food to the prisoners, cleaning locker rooms and bathrooms. Still, he hasn't been pushing too hard to prove—

Oliver slows his pace. His senses flare up, warning him of a looming presence. When he looks back, the hallways they just passed are empty. Still...

"Oliver?"

Felicity's voice draws his attention away.

"Are you alright?"

He looks back, still seeing no one. His senses usually aren't wrong, and he wants to investigate. Still, Lyla is expecting them.

Oliver nods. "Yeah. Just a feeling."

They continue walking, but Oliver remains alert.

Dante taps his foot, looking at his watch.

Another five minutes have gone by. This makes them…

"They'll be here."

Lyla Michael's assurance means nothing to him. "They are arriving late. It's not characteristic of them."

John Diggle dares to point out, "It's understandable. After what you PULLED on them—"

"I gave Oliver an offer. He took it."

"Because you didn't give him any other—"

"That's enough, John!"

Lyla's command tempers her husband, as a dog is tempered by its master.

These two are lucky that I do not put them in the same position. Then again, having ARGUS on a leash is basically the same thing, only they have a chance to retire. And why not? Their only use is to keep their loyalists believing they are still fighting against us.

"Mr. Dante?"

Grant arrives with Oliver and his wife Felicity in tow. Dante grins. "Ah! There you both are." His eyes shift to Grant. "Thank you, my boy. You may go."

Grant nods a little frantically and sees himself out. When he is out of sight, Dante sighs. "Poor boy. He was a child when he first became inducted. Even then, he always wanted to prove himself to me and Dante."

If only they knew.

In his usual straightforward attitude, Oliver asks, "What's this about?"

Dante nods. "Right. To the point. I am giving you your FIRST assignment as an official Ninth Circle saboteur."

Lyla does not react, but John shuts his eyes at the word "saboteur." Oliver and Felicity look at the two incredulously. The latter asks, "You two know?"

Lyla admits, "Since this morning."

Dante nods. "Emiko recommended this. I wanted it to be a surprise, but Emiko said we should be transparent."

Oliver asks, "Where is she?"

Dante tilts his head. "Emiko wanted some time alone." He then clasps his hands. "Still, let's get down to business. We have good news and bad. The bad news first."

Everyone is standing idly, with neutral or angry stares. This news will break the tension.

"Vergil is dead."

Now their faces are riddled with shock and awe. John asks in horror, "DEAD? When?"

Dante answers, "Since last night. Grant told me this morning. Apparently, it was by poison."

Felicity deduces with a rambly tone, "Maybe it was Alexi Burov? Not from the grave, but something he gave to Vergil or an agent he sent."

Dante shakes his head. "That was my first thought, but the death was instantaneous, and nearly all of Burov's known associates are either dead or nowhere inside the US. We do know who provided the poison. The man you arrested yesterday."

Lyla confirms, "Midas."

Dante nods. "What this means is that we have a mole in our midst. We need to find and stop him, but NOBODY outside this room must know."

Felicity shakes her head in disbelief. "So wait. Where's the good news in all of this?"

Dante grins again. He reaches into his pocket and takes out the USB drive labeled "DEACON," raising it up for everyone to see. "This was found in a secret compartment of Vergil's left shoe during an autopsy. Whoever killed him was looking exclusively for the coin."

John asks, "You had someone look at it already?"

Dante nods. "It contains photos of Blackfire and his disciples, as well as the names and addresses of the people who have been in Star City. Alexi seemed to be connecting these locales and finding their hideout in the city. Unfortunately, either Vergil couldn't glean every detail, or Alexi never finished before dying."

He walks up to Felicity and holds out the drive to her. "I expect you to pick up where he left off."

Felicity hesitates, so Oliver takes the drive in her stead. "We'll get it done."

"Count me in too!"

The sudden voice startles everyone, even Dante. They all look towards the doorway, seeing William stand there in his Red Arrow suit, maskless and holding his bow. He maintains a neutral glare, as if the trauma he displayed a couple of days ago is nothing but a feather on his conscience.

While joyful to see his future protégé return, Dante addresses him calmly, "William. Welcome back. I take it you have thought upon the events in Russia?"

William slowly nods. "I have." He walks inside, step by deliberate step, raising his bow towards Dante. "It was one of your own that has sealed my decision."

Dante looks at the bow carefully. His eyes widen when he realizes that it is not the compound bow William uses. It is a dark, wooden bow, the same one used by…

"Beatrice."

Everyone's eyes fix upon the bow.

William explains, "She came to me last night, said that I had become a hindrance and that I clouded your judgment. She sought to kill me, and…" William's eyes dart downward, his breath exasperated.

Dante interjects with, "William, I am SO sorry. Beatrice had voiced her disapproval of you to me. If I had known, I would have—"

William raises a hand. "Beatrice made her choice…just as I have made mine." William holds the bow in both hands as if presenting a ceremonial gift to Dante. "I know what I must do and what needs to be done."

Dante hesitates, looking William up and down. There is no trace of doubt or subtle anger in his voice. His eyes show fiery determination. His tone, while low, display confidence.

Is this really happening? Has everything I have done actually born fruit?

Dante points out, "Your younger self will be dissatisfied with your choice."

William replies, "My younger self has had nightmares about becoming the Deacon for weeks. Once that shadow's cast off, they will cease."

Dante looks at William's parents. Oliver's jaw is somewhat ajar, his fists clenching into balls. Meanwhile, Felicity is holding one hand to her mouth, afraid of the outcome. Dante can't help but smile. His suspicions are put at ease.

Samantha…your boy is finally mine!

Dante takes the bow from William, who bows to him graciously. No one says a word, but both of Felicity's hands are now clasping her mouth, covering whatever scream she wants to utter.

Dante affirms, "You made the right choice William." He grips the bow firmly as if to crush it, not out of anger but remorse. Still, he quickly returns to business, "Now, we can focus on finding and killing Blackfire."

"No."

William's sudden response confuses Dante, as it does everyone else.

He explains, "Killing Blackfire will only drive his followers onward. They'll consider him a martyr. We need to CRUSH their resolve and set an example for those who would dare follow him. What we need…is a demonstration."

Dante half grins when he realizes what William is talking about. "A round of torture…followed by his execution, televised to all of those who betrayed us for Blackfire! Something to put the fear of GOD in them."

William adds, "Not just the Order. Assemble the other Ninth Circle Members. Tell them that the Deacon will be captured within a matter of hours. I'll be the one to bring him to you. Just have a time and date when Knightwatch and I get back."

Dante can't help but give a devilish smile, approving of William's foresight and planning. "This will certainly be an event NO ONE will forget."

William nods. "We'll leave at once."

Dante nods back with an approving smile. "Do what must be done…protégé."

William starts to walk away. He signals the others to follow. Only his parents and John obey his command.

Lyla asks him, "Do you really think William will stay in your clutches?"

Dante looks long and hard at the bow, remembering what Beatrice called Samantha the last time they talked.

He mimics William's statement, "He made his choice."

After William's display, he leads Oliver, Felicity, and John out through the back of the building. They are silent during the walk, but he can tell that Felicity is about to burst with questions, and John is visibly confused by what he has just seen. Oliver is the only one who looks at William affirmatively, knowing it is all an act.

Going out, they find the mobile base sitting there, its door opening to reveal Curtis.

William asks him, "Are we clear?"

Curtis nods. "The cameras above are on a loop, and the van has no mics. The others are here too."

Walking inside, William sees Dinah Drake, Laurel Lance, and Rene Montoya, whom he instructed Curtis to pick up.

Rene asks, "Mind explaining why I'm missing Zoe's hockey game?"

Dinah adds, "And why I'm not in the middle of questioning a well-known member of the Falcone family?"

Laurel next, "And why I'm not getting some urgent paperwork done?"

Finally, Felicity's dam of questions breaks, "And did you REALLY kill Beatrice just to get Dante's trust?"

William addresses each question in order, "Zoe wins, Falcone's going to walk free because he has a corrupt cop tampering the evidence, YOU hate your job, and I did NOT kill Beatrice."

Felicity gives an exasperated sigh, uttering, "Oh, thank god!"

William ignores the others' looks of surprise or amazement, turning to Curtis and telling him, "Get us out of here."

Curtis nods and starts the engine. Everyone finds something to sit on or cling to while John asks, "Wait, where are we going?"

William sits down on one of the side seats, "To prepare."

Oliver clutches one of the safety bars and asks, "So, it's time then?"

William nods. "Nearly."

Laurel asks with a raised eyebrow. "Time for what, exactly?"

"To take down the Ninth Circle and the Order of St. Dismas."

Dinah shakes her head. "Impossible. We haven't even found a weakness to exploit. Even then—"

"Actually…" William takes out Vergil's coin, which he has held onto for weeks. "We do."

It takes a while for anyone to comprehend, but it is Felicity who asks, "Is that Vergil's coin?"

William nods with a grin. "Everything Vergil ever took note of while at Dante and Blackfire's side. The main members, spies, and organizations that are in their control or lost to The Order."

Rene asks with wide eyes, "You telling us we just hit the jackpot?"

"To add to the betting pool, a possible lead on Blackfire and his crew." William shifts his eyes towards Felicity. "The drive."

Felicity nods and takes it out from her pocket.

While the others observe the drive and coin, John gives an exasperated laugh. "How'd you manage to plan for any of that?"

"That's a long story, but we have other complications. First, an attempt on Helena Bertinelli's life."

Oliver, who has been neutral since he knew much of this already, now stares worried. "When?"

"Last night. But that's not the half of it. The shooter…is Deadshot."

John's eyes widen. "DEADSHOT? As in FLOYD LAWTON?"

William nods. "The same."

John shakes his head in disbelief. "No. He's dead!"

"He's not. The Ninth Circle found him and the Order kept him. He's doing this so that his family stays safe."

John leans forward in his chair, looking down at the floor and rubbing his temples. He mumurs, "This whole time."

Oliver asks, "What about Helena? Is she okay?"

William nods assuredly. "Unharmed and underground. For the time being, the public needs to believe she's dead for Lawton's family to live."

Felicity nods. "Is that where we come in?"

William nods. "There are others standing by to save the family. You just need to track them down. What happens next…is the other complication."

William pans over the people before him: the current Knightwatch members, the D.A., and the Captain of the Star City Police Department. He had rehearsed how to say this in his head, to phrase things to get them on his side. However, in reality, he knows that what he will propose, the likelihood of success, is a long shot.

With a deep breath, he tells them, "Of all the things I never told you about the future, it's the state I found you guys in. When Felicity and I left Star City, you guys became divided. When I came back years later, you only worked together…at the end. The future we have been fighting for, driving to make true, was one where the team is fully reassembled, the Anti-Vigilante Act repealed, and where Mia calls Star City home."

Oliver, Felicity, and John nod in agreement.

William continues, "I have a plan, one meticulously crafted since Dante took over. If it works, that future's secure. If not…" William pauses for a moment, letting the others fill the gap with their imaginations. "What I'm asking of all of you requires coordination, timing, and skills of the highest caliber to pull off. There may be a chance that things will go very wrong, and we'll all pay the price for it. If you want out…I won't blame you."

There is a long, sullen silence about in the air. The distant traffic noise and the mobile base's slowness indicate that they are close to the city. At this point, the members they picked up will either ask to be dropped of or—

"I'm in."

Rene's firm affirmation is not surprising for William, but it gives some relief.

Rene continues, "I've seen first hand what these guys do with children, and I'll be damned if I let them go anywhere near my daughter."

William then hears a loud sigh from Laurel, which grabs everyone's attention. "You know, there is one thing I like about my job." She then smiles mischievously. "I like finding the little legal loopholes to get my way. No doubt that's what you want from me, so I'm in."

While a bit concerning, William does appreciate her enthusiasm.

Then, all eyes lay on Dinah. She doesn't immediately answer, instead reminding everyone, "You guys know that Pollard is always on my neck, waiting for one slip up from me and take advantage of the Anti-Vigilante Act."

Whereas everyone else is rolling their eyes or giving nods of somber acknowledgment, her tone suggests to William that a "but" is coming up.

Dinah then gives a snarky smile. "HOWEVER, given that Pollard hasn't been very vocal since the debate and hasn't been checking up either, I'd say that my burdens are lifted, at least for now. So, I think I can extend my powers as Police Captain."

William smiles back, knowing his confrontation with the Mayor last night guarantees Dinah's help. The others do too, but more to signify reprieve.

Rene gives her a pat on the shoulder. "I knew Black Canary was still in there somewhere."

Dinah gently shrugs his hand away. "Don't get carried away. Even with a costume, the damage to my throat means no Canary Cries."

Felicity raises a hand. "I actually have a solution to that! Unless, you know, you want to rock the normal Police Captain thing."

William then turns to Oliver and Felicity, the former affirming, "You already know our answer."

William nods with a half grin before turning to John.

John then affirms, "Mission's a go."

From the driver's seat, Curtis confirms aloud, "Great to hear because we're already far from everybody's homes, so we can't just turn around."

Felicity raises an eyebrow. "Isn't the Bunker a few blocks from most of our places?"

William then explains, "We're not heading there. Chances are that Emiko bugged the place, so we need to keep operations here for the time being."

Rene shakes his head in disbelief. "Emiko?"

"It's a long story. She's on our side now, but she won't come into the action until my contact gives the all clear."

Oliver inquires, "You mean Mia?"

William shakes his head. "She's prepping for her part in the plan. Our first steps are a bit complicated." William takes the drive from Felicity's hand. "Even with this, I don't think it will get us closer to the Deacon."

John rubs his chin, leaning forward to find anything wrong with the drive. He then looks at William, concluding, "The mole!"

William affirmatively nods. "Most likely, Blackfire will be told to expect us and lay a trap. Instead, we'll draw him to us."

Oliver then deduces, "And you already have a plan for that?"

William shakes his head. "Another lead. This one, Dad, is where you come in."

Peter York stomps into the small dining room. He calls to his wife, "Jenna!"

To his right, Jenna is in the tiny, square kitchen area, loading in dishes. She doesn't bother to look at him. "Yes, Peter?"

"Have you seen where Noah went?"

"He said he was hanging out with friends."

"And you let him go? I told him he was grounded for his behavior at school."

"I warned him, but he said he'd rather take two more weeks than be a prisoner."

York rubs his eyes. His other hand grips a chair from the table to his left. He considered throwing it towards the wall.

No. Remember what the doc back at Slabside said. Verbalize, don't act.

York breathes a heavy sigh. "Why is he always like this?"

Jenna closes the dishwasher door carefully. "Maybe if you start acting like a father and not a warden, he would actually listen to you."

"It ain't that simple, Jen. Boys like him need discipline. That's what Pa taught me."

"And Joseph?"

The name puts a barrier on York's lips.

"Noah has grown more attached to him than to you. Being a pastor, that's probably a good thing."

York clenches both hands on the chair.

If only I could tell her.

Instead, York mistakenly says, "Noah doesn't talk to you either."

The statement makes Jenna put both hands on her hips, akimbo style. "You don't think I've tried to? Every time I do, he doubles down on his troubles. I haven't seen you try to help him work through whatever troubles he's been going through. Noah doesn't need 'discipline,' he needs a father's empathy."

York looks for any excuse to get out of this conversation. He finds a nearly full garbage can in front of the kitchen countertop, grabs it, and ties the top into a knot.

Before heading out the door, Jenna tells him, "This conversation isn't over."

York doesn't say a word as he heads outside. He rushes to find the garbage…

Oh, HELL no.

"It's been a while, York."

The presence of Oliver Queen stirs up an anger that he hasn't felt since being fired from his position as Slabside's top guard. It was, after all, this man's fault that he's now working as a local store manager, where there is no toleration of his methods from prison.

York asks with suppressed anger, "What do you want?"

"Just to talk."

Queen keeps his tone polite and friendly despite the bad blood between them.

"My son told me he met yours last week. They nearly got into a fight until you interrupted."

York continues towards the trash bin, placing the garbage bag inside. He tells Queen, "Well, don't go thanking me. My son wasn't supposed to be leave my side."

Up close, York can see the changes to Queen's appearance. His beard is shorter and cleaner, and the scars on his face are nearly gone. He still has the crew cut given to him in prison, but it is slowly growing back. Yet, York can picture a prison uniform in the place of the brown jacket and jeans he is currently wearing.

Suits him much better.

"If that's all you came here to say…" He closes the garbage lid hard. "…then get off my property."

York starts walking away.

"Joseph Blackfire!"

He only made it a couple of steps before hearing that name again. To hear it from Queen of all people, a man York still considers a prisoner, chills him to the bone.

Oliver continues, "I know he's your brother."

"FOST-" York immediately turns around but stops himself from yelling. He takes a long breath. "Foster brother."

Oliver nods agreeingly. "Taken in after his mother died. She was a preacher."

York, regaining composure, asks, "How do you know him?"

"My son. He encountered Blackfire at his former boarding school. He and his associates nearly kidnapped William and at least a dozen of his fellow students. If you know anything about him, we need to know."

York hesitates. Blackfire threatened that if he disclosed the location of his hideout, he would take Noah away for good. He had to be smart about this. He had to give just enough information for Queen to leave.

York nods. "His mother was a preacher. A Baptist one. My father would bring us to her sermons every Sunday. It was the most uplifting thing in this town until…"

The memories of that terrible night were something he had long kept under lock and key. To revisit it means opening a pandora's box of trauma, seeing a body fall to the floor, riddled with bullet holes and blood pouring onto the stairs.

Still, York continues, "One night, a man came in, playing up some poor oppressed man act. He shot her dead with an SMG aimed at the chest. Joseph and I were kids then, talking afterward during the brunches he and his mom provided. After that night, though, Dad took him in. We never talked much, but he obeyed Dad's instructions. When he got older, he went on his way. I never saw him again until a few years ago, when I became a guard at Slabside prison."

"You knew he was running it?"

"Yeah. He offered me a position as the warden if I complied with his Level 2 shenanigans. I refused. Instead, I tried to ensure you all didn't do anything extreme to warrant being experimented on."

Queen tilts his head. "And how did that work out?"

"WELL, until you took me out of it by framing me, 4—"

York's mouth clasps together. His wild tongue desperately wants to call Queen by his old prison number. He keeps reminding himself that he's no longer in Slabside. This isn't a prison. Still, this is just at the border of the Glades, which may as well be a fertile ground for a mega-prison. The vigilantes are the wardens.

Still, Queen seems unphased by this attempt. "I'm sorry for what I did. But I had to. My family's lives were on the line. If you don't want to forgive me, fine. At least tell me where I can find the church Blackfire's mother ran."

York takes a deep breath, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. It's not where Joseph is, but still an area that he frequently visits. If he calls Blackfire and tells him that company's coming, he won't send anyone on Noah or Jenna. Easy.

So, York tells Queen, "It's called the Glades' Hope Church. When you leave here, head five blocks down to the left, then three to your right. It's long abandoned, so I don't expect you to find anything."

Queen nods approvingly. "Thank you, York."

Queen turns around and heads on his way. When he's out of earshot, York takes out his phone and dials Joseph's number.

As soon as Oliver is out of sight, he calls William via his comm. "Is he calling Blackfire?"

"Yeah. He is."

"You know this means you won't be alone when you get there."

"I'm anticipating that."

"What now? He's not going to come over."

"He will. The Legends show me what happens. He's going to use this moment to complete Noah's villain arc. If that happens, Chimera continues to exist, meaning he'll attempt time travel again. He NEEDS this to happen."

"And I'll be there to stop it if it happens."

"Both of you will be."

Oliver takes a deep breath. "Are you sure about this? Is he even ready?"

"He's already volunteered. He knows what risks are involved. Whatever happens, you'll be there."

Oliver hesitates for a moment. Before he has time to reply, he hears the front door open. He turns around and sees a woman of about York's age with darker red hair tied into a bun and freckles on her face.

"Is there something I can help you with?"

William tells him, "You're on."

Oliver nods to her, stating, "Yes, actually. My name is—"

"I know who you are, Mr. Queen. My husband wouldn't stop exclaiming how you 'accosted' him of his job for three months straight."

Her tone is more friendly and upbeat than York's, giving Oliver a breath of fresh air. "Of that I am deeply sorry for."

Jenna smiles. "I believe you. He obviously doesn't."

"You heard our exchange outside?"

"Not much of it, just that you were looking for Joseph. He's coming by tonight if you want to see him." Jenna then holds up a finger. "Oh, I just remembered. Your boy went to the same boarding school as ours before it closed down, didn't it?"

From her delivery, she isn't hiding anything deliberately. She does not know that Dante's school was a front to kidnap children and train them into killers.

Still, Oliver went with the story. "Of course."

"Why don't you bring him as well, and your wife? I'm sure they'll have fun catching up."

Oliver's doubts start to gnaw at him. Having William in the same room as Blackfire and the future Chimera is the last thing he wants, especially when the future William proposed it. Now, it seems like this is happening one way or another.

Oliver nods. "Felicity will be busy, but William will be there."

"Splendid! Oh, and I won't tell Peter. It'll do him good to talk out his frustrations, not avoid them. Dinner's at 7:00!"

Jenna retreats into the house, cueing Oliver to leave immediately. He takes a sharp, frustrating breath.

Why do things always get more complicated? And where IS William?

In the silence of the church basement, Emiko's thoughts echo all around. They are constantly wrestling, clawing, and banging to get their turn.

Kill him! It's the only way!

This plan could work. It just needs to be flawless.

Screw the plan! Find the opportunity to strike. Make them pay!

For who? Mom? This isn't what she would want.

She's DEAD because of THEM. Dante and Blackfire. They only saw us as tools. Show them—

DON'T!

DO IT!

The sudden echoes of footsteps cause her to grab an arrow from the quiver and turn around.

"Whoa! Wait! It's me."

The presence of younger William with his hands up somewhat eases Emiko. During his weekly visits, she had only seen him a couple of times. They never talked, but she did listen to his accounts of living at the Wayne Manor, helping Alfred with chores and training with Bruce and Talia. Oddly, Dante never attempted to scout the premises to try and capture William again, but maybe Wayne being the Batman is what's preventing him from doing so.

Emiko doesn't apologize, but asks bluntly, "What are you doing here?"

William slowly lowers his hands, "To talk. That's all."

Emiko slowly lowers her arrow, quickly catching on to what's really going on. "Older you sent you here?"

William nods. "Connor showed me the footage. He figured you would be conflicted over how to take it."

Emiko does not respond. He's not wrong, but she refuses to divulge information to somebody who's only here to give pity. She doesn't want any more of that.

William walks towards her. "He also showed me the parts the others didn't see."

Emiko turns away. "And those are?"

"Why you left your mom alone in the apartment."

Though surprised that William would be the only one to see that footage, she stares straight ahead.

"It was the day my dad got arrested. Your mom watched it intently while you didn't want to see any of it."

"Mom, can we please just change the channel?"

"You wanted nothing to do with your father nor mine. You said the wrong thing…"

"Look, he's getting what he deserves! Can we PLEASE—"

"How DARE you say such a thing?"

"…And you two got into a fight."

"Your brother is being arrested for being a—"

"He is NOT my brother! Nor is he a hero. He and his sister are the VERY reason Dad left us."

"Your father leaving has nothing to do with—"

"SAVE it! I'm not having this. I'm going out."

"You stormed out, leaving her alone…and vulnerable to Dante."

Emiko didn't realize it, but she had been gripping the sides of the chair she is sitting in the whole time, squeezing tighter and tighter as the memories flooded in. She may rip the seat off if William keeps talking. This isn't out of anger, however. It's…

"You think you're avenging her, but really…you're hiding yourself from the truth. Deep down, you blame yourself for her death…"

Emiko is close to slapping William at this point.

"…like I did."

The last statement freezes Emiko's hand in place. She turns to see William's eyes, who gives a stare similar to that of his future counterpart's, a way to show how serious he is. However, his eyes start to gleam, what Emiko would see in the mirror whenever she held back tears, thinking about that night she came back, seeing the flames roaring from her apartment window.

Mom? MOM!

William continues, "My mom died…because I didn't kill Adrian Chase when he gave me the knife. He gave me a choice, and I made the one I thought was right, what I thought my father wanted me to make. It ended seeing my mother…lying on the forest floor."

Emiko remembers seeing the burned remains of her mother's body, no piece of flesh spared. She didn't need an autopsy report to know.

NO! NOOO!

Emiko screamed as she was held at bay by neighbors, who kept telling her that there was nothing she could do. She gave up when the firemen closed the body bag that encased her corpse. She collapsed on her knees and cried in a way she swore she would never cry again.

"For so long, I blamed my father when I knew it was my fault. It made me do reckless things to become stronger and not burden anybody. It took the compassion of others, even my own future self, to get my head on straight." William walks closer to Emiko. "You need to stop. You have to let this go, otherwise… it will consume you. Stop throwing the blame on others and look at yourself. FORGIVE yourself…and forgive your parents…before it's too late."

Emiko doesn't know what to say. She can't fight off the memories that keep sticking to the walls of her brain. Words can't be processed, only strong emotions she doesn't want to reveal.

From his pocket, William takes out an old, stone hozen.

"Felicity gave this to me in the hopes that we could one day come back together as a family." He places the hozen right next to her. "I'm hoping you can too."

William turns around and heads to the stairway exit.

Suddenly, a simple question pops into Emiko's head. "Where are you going?"

William stops and turns his head enough for his gaze to meet hers. "There's one more thing I have to do. My future is counting on it."

He then heads up the stairs. As Emiko hears his footsteps echo and the door opening and closing, she takes the hozen in her hand and looks at it. There are other symbols, but they are irrelevant compared to the one that says, "reconnect."

Mom…Dad…

For once, she allows tears to roll down her eyes.

William opens the doors to the long-abandoned church, Glade's Hope. The only light illuminating it is the one outside. It is as William envisioned it: small and simple, the décor almost muted with a singular table beholding a cross, and nearly nothing else to offset it. He had talked to enough Baptist associates to confirm this.

He looks around to ensure no one else is here before placing a time camera beacon. He puts on his glasses and calibrates the settings.

He then instructs, "Find references to Joseph Blackfire and his mother."

For a long stretch, there had been no silhouettes. Eventually, there was one coming every 5 seconds, once every year. It was Joseph Blackfire, visiting intermittently. He must honor his mother here yearly, or maybe he wants a place to be alone. However, one of the times he does, either at 18 or 19, he heads past the table and to the far end of the church, which the light outside does not shine on.

Eventually, it stops at the night William wants to see. To his left and right, many congregants fill the pews or stand at the sides. At the front is Ms. Blackfire, wearing a modest white dress, her hair as black as her son Joseph's.

She stands with her hands out to the sides, addressing everyone with a firm yet gentle voice, "The Lord has heard your cries, as he heard the cries of his people in Egypt. He has heard the SUFFERING of the Glades, from the BURDENS of the poor to the shopkeepers STRUGGLING to keep their families fed!"

Several crowd members respond with either a simple nod, a loud "agree," or a low "amen."

"I know that I am not from around these parts, but I came from my Southern rural home to bring what I named this church for…HOPE."

Several more joined with similar responses.

"And I am glad that many of you have found my church, that you have come to me to find the Lord. Because of your word of mouth, more have been able to come here to pack in this small building. So now, I can tell you God's plan, as he has whispered into my ear."

"Momma!"

The young voice came from the back of the church. Stepping inside is a child who can't be any more than twelve. William can already tell that this is a young Joseph by the black hair. With him is a man in a trench coat, shivering exaggeratedly but convincing enough to the untrained eye. The hat he wears hides his face.

The man clings to Joseph, addressing Ms. Blackfire, "Ma'am. Please! I need your help. A burden, a DEMON, is possessing a friend of mine. He sent me here to find a remedy only you can provide."

Ms. Blackfire puts both of her hands on her heart. "Oh, but of course. Tell me, what is it that ails your friend so? Who is this demon?"

The two get close to William, getting in range for the man to open fire. First, though, he stops where he is, allowing William to look at the man's face as it raises to meet her eyes. He doesn't look too special: a round face, blue eyes, stubble from his cheeks to his neck. His eyes, though, scream his murderous intent.

"YOU."

Immediately, the man smacks Joseph away with one hand. With the other, he pulls out a small SMG and opens fire on the shocked woman. She goes down almost instantly, her head grazing the table behind her as her body falls to the floor.

Only one man, standing near the aisle, responds. He clocks the hitman in the jaw and brings him to the ground. A series of punches ensue to either knock the hitman out cold or make him bleed. William can see red hair and a similar face to Peter York's. This must be his father.

"MOMMA!"

The young Joseph gets up from the floor and rushes to his mother's side. Ms. Blackfire was still alive, but barely.

"Momma, stay with me. Stay—stay with me." He yells out to the crowd. "Somebody help us!"

One of the congregants rushes to the telephone in the back to call for an ambulance. Before others rush to the young Joseph's side, William sees Ms. Blackfire whisper something into his ear. William can barely make it out.

The recording ends with young Blackfire screaming out in agony while his mother's eyes close and her body goes limp.

"What did you expect to find here, William?"

A familiar voice echoes within the church's hall, one not part of the recording.

"Did you come here to ascertain some weakness I may have?"

William doesn't turn around. He knows that Blackfire hasn't come here to hurt him. If he had his dark cloak and helm, William would have heard the voice modulator attached first.

"Or did you have some kind of hope that you could persuade me to stop?"

William slowly turns around, seeing Blackfire in a white button-up shirt and dark pants. He holds a bouquet of yellows and reds in his hand.

William answers, "I wanted to see for myself, to know that you were telling the truth."

Blackfire shakes his head, his eyes closed in disappointment. "I never lied to you, William." He starts to walk forward. "That day I met you, I had been nothing but honest. I wanted you to see God, KNOW God, as I did. Do you think I highlighted the story of the prodigal son out of sheer bible study? I ran, too. I ran from this festering city and into the arms of the Order of St. Dismas. They showed me how to turn my pain…into absolution."

Blackfire walks past William, placing the bouquet on the table.

"It is the same pain that drives you. The pain of having your family WRETCHED from you…knowing that it is your fault."

Blackfire turns around to meet eye-to-eye with William. "I was on watch that night. My mother said it was to keep the people of suspicious character out of our parish. That man…he convinced me of his anguish, that he wanted to hear my mother's words, to hear the WORD of God…But unlike you, I accepted my part in things. I did not cast blame on others. I looked for solutions, and MY answer was absolution. There is only one path forward, as St. Dismas commanded. We must force judgment day upon the world, FORCE God's hand…to bring revelation."

William merely responds, "Your brother told you of my father's visit?"

Blackfire nods his head. "I told him that his cooperation ensures his family's survival. But that ends today."

"You're going to send an assassin after him…like you sent one after Helena Bertinellie?"

Blackfire smirks. "She wouldn't be dead if you hadn't gotten her involved. You can deny it if you want to, but ARGUS taking down Midas wouldn't have been possible without your help."

"Whatever you're planning with Noah's parents, I WILL stop."

"You won't. I already have my 'assassin' in position. Yet, their lives will not be his to take unless I say so. They are meant for another."

William already knows who it is but widens his eyes to feign surprise. "Noah. It's how he becomes Chimera, isn't it? You'll FORCE a BOY to KILL his parents?"

"If Peter had accepted my invitation, they would have been spared." Blackfire walks to William and leans close to his face. "They WILL die, William. If I am not there by the predetermined time, if you are seen ANYWHERE near the house, my 'assassin' WILL open-fire. He has ways of killing a dozen birds with one bullet."

With that, Blackfire walks towards the exit. Before he leaves, William throws in one last statement, "We WILL stop you, one way or another."

Blackfire fires back, "With the devil I created on your shoulder? Let me tell you one thing about Dante: Whatever deals he makes, he will double-cross you. It's how he survived as an urchin before the Ninth Circle took him in."

Blackfire closes the doors behind him, leaving William with very little light except for the few windows. William turns back and activates the time glasses again. He leans down near the silhouette of the dying Ms. Blackfire in young Joseph's arms.

She whispers, "They are over yonder, where the bad men won't find them. Deliver them to the people, and bring…God's…"

She dies before she can finish the sentence. William turns the recording off before young Joseph screams in agony.

Over yonder…The front of the church!

William heads to where Blackfire was during one of his visits. He feels around for a loose tile, which does not take very long. He lifts it up and finds a crate.

Empty. But maybe the spray paint…

He lifts the crate and inspects it in the shred of light given outside. The paint is faded, but he can discern what it is supposed to be, a symbol he has seen many times before.

A white falcon.

Quickly, William gets on the phone and dials. Within seconds, he hears, "Hello?"

"Captain Drake, it's me. Do you still have that Falcone member in custody?"

Within the confines of the mobile base, Felicity has been tapping away at her keyboard for what felt like hours. A whole series of events has gotten her attention: locating Deadshot's ex-wife and daughter, looking up new information about the murder of Blackfire's mother, looking through drone footage to find any possible sniping locations. She can feel her brain ready to have a meltdown at any second.

Curtis is beside her, doing his best to help speed up the process. Yet, he also seems fatigued, his eyes red from staring at a screen for so long.

Still, at least one of these cases, Ms. Blackfire's murder, seems to be the one with new leads developing at every turn. Yet they seemed to diverge off towards different paths.

Just then, a hand rests on Felicity's shoulder. She quickly looks up, seeing John with a worried stare. "You've both been at this for hours. You can afford to take a break."

Felicity shakes her head. "Not while the fate of the future's at stake, especially Will's and Mia's."

"Well, if you get fatigued, which WILL affect little Mia."

That statement immediately takes Felicity's eyes away from the computer.

Curtis' jaw drops. "Hold up! You're pregnant? You and Oliver told John and not me?"

Felicity's head shakes rapidly. "I didn't say a—"
"You've been bringing extra mint chip ice cream and eating a quarter a day. For Lyla, it was Rocky Road."

It then dawned on Felicity that she had been bringing ice cream into the bunker to satisfy her cravings, supplementing it with fruits and veggies Thea had recommended.

Felicity sighs. "That obvious?"

Curtis exclaims, "Not to me! When were you—Oh, right, first, congratulations. Wonderful for you and Oliver. Now, WHEN were you going to tell us?"

Felicity sits back, her eyes looking up at the ceiling. "When we were sure that Dante and Blackfire were out of the picture." She slowly looks back at them. "We didn't want to burden everyone—"

"Is that it?" John kneels down to Felicity's level. "Or is it something else? Something you're hesitating to tell us."

Felicity presses her lips together, forming a wall between her words and the outside world. She wants to reveal to John what she told Oliver earlier today. Yet, if she did, what would their response be? would they think less of her? Would they worry about her more than they should?

Screw it!

"I want out."

John doesn't react at all. He just looks at her with a very assuring stare.

Curtis, however, seemed not to get the message. "Out as in…out of ARGUS?"

John shakes his head. "Out of Knightwatch."

The revelation now shocks Curtis, his eyes widening. "Wait! You want to stop…but I thought you liked this."

"I do! I do, Curtis, but…things have changed."

John nods in agreement. "You and Oliver are already looking after one kid. Now you're having another. You can't risk your baby's life by staying with this lifestyle. That's the dilemma Lyla and I had, too. I've been taking care of things while she was balancing home and ARGUS, raising JJ—"

"It's NOT just Mia! It's Oliver. William may not have told us much about the future, but I can take a wild guess as to why I raised Mia alone for years! I can't go through that John. I can't…"

Felicity's head bows. Her grief has worn her down.

Again, John puts a hand on Felicity's shoulder, which causes her to raise her head. "Before I asked Lyla to marry me again, I questioned whether having an attachment to me would be a detriment. What Oliver and I had with Team Arrow was helping the city, but if I died on the field and left JJ without a father, that would have been the worst-case scenario. I threw those doubts away because having Lyla in my life, keeping JJ safe, assured me that I was making the right choice."

Felicity shakes her head, her lip trembling. "It's not easy for me John."

"I never said it was."

Suddenly, the mobile base's door slams closed, catching everyone's attention. William steps inside, slowly making his way towards them.

I didn't even hear the door open. When did he…

"Is everything alright?"

Felicity clears her throat. "Yeah, we were just talking about the leads."

John stands up while Curtis looks as if he is about to talk about the actual conversation, but changes to, "We have found some leads on Blackfire's Mom."
Felicity brings up the articles she found on the deceased Ms. Blackfire and the map of all the cities she had been to before Star City. "She didn't just stop at Star City. She helped out at a church in Georgia, but it doesn't say where."

William deduces, "Most likely scrubbed by Blackfire."

Curtis continues for her, "From all the articles, we have drawn a pretty good line of all the destinations she was at. First was Bloodhaven, then Coast City, then Gotham."

Felicity then concludes, "She didn't establish a church until Star City. Before that, she was just an assistant. She had to move constantly because of how bad cities got during that time."

William looks at the articles and the map, his arms on his hips. He asks, "Tell me about the move to Bloodhaven. When did it happen?"

Curtis answers, "Around '91. It's strange since she didn't get a license until she got there."

John asks, "What are you thinking?"

William's eyes look down at the ground. He is as still as a statue. It's hard to tell whether he is breathing or not. Though, no one dares to disturb him. This is when he's deep in thought, focusing on how the dots connect. A loud scream would not take him away from whatever enriched his thoughts.

After a few moments, his eyes snap back at the computer. He moves towards Felicity's, which prompts her to move out of the way. He begins scrolling through the articles, skimming through the details.

William begins elaborating, "All the cities she's been to have reported, above all else, rise in gun crime. These cities, plus her…"

Curtis raised an eyebrow. "You're saying Blackfire's mom is an armsdealer?"

"No." He opens a new tab and looks up something else. "She was working for THE arms dealer."

Felicity, Curtis, and John see an image of a white falcon on the screen, spray painted onto a wall. Below it is the word…

"FALCONE?" John is the only one who seems to know what the misspelled Falcon meant. "The crime family?"

William nods. "Not to mention the top arms dealers during the time. Batman nearly stopped them in Gotham, but the family retreated to Star City."

John nods agreeingly, but Felicity is stumped. "So wait…how can she be part of a parish and secretly deal out arms simultaneously? Wouldn't somebody notice?"

William answers, "Not if the churches she worked for were fronts for the Falcones. I've had Captain Drake confirm this with the Falcone in her custody. He says that they're from a long line of Baptists, in charge of building up communities, which STARTED in Ms. Blackfire's home state of Georgia."

Curtis asks, "So she was a fake pastor?"

William shook his head. "No. I heard her voice. She was a fervent believer. But that's what drove the wedge between her and the Falcones." William looks back at the articles and points out certain details in each one. "All the starting points of each crime wave were around the churches she worked at, which fell quickly. Now, say she eventually had enough and wanted to find the Falcones and make them pay."

John's eyes widen. "She was going to stir the masses, inspire them to help her wipe out the Falcones."

"But then the Falcones caught wind of her activities and sent an assassin to silence her, which was why she had her son outside to turn away suspicious characters."

Felicity leans back in her chair, taking in all that information. It's hard to believe something so elaborate and tragic. They have faced dilemmas like these before. But this one… "It's no wonder Blackfire wants to kill all criminals on sight."

William adds, "And why he sought out the Order of St. Dismas afterward."

Curtis breathes out a heavy sigh. "That is just…messed up."

Suddenly, a beeping noise frantically goes off from Curtis' computer. He immediately checks it out.

For the first time in hours, Curtis gives a wide grin. "Yes! We found them."

William walks over to his chair quickly. "Deadshot's ex-wife and daughter?"

"Yes indeed! They are in…" Curtis' eyebrows raise high. "Northern Star City? That's a coincidence."

John looks on. "Probably not. Having them nearby means having a better eye on their activities."

William nods in agreement. "Especially since they don't have the Ninth Circle's resources."

Another alarm goes off, this time on Felicity's monitor. She clicks on the window and taps away before confirming, "It's the info we got from the coin. We know who the Silencer is."

William and the others gather around the computer in anticipation. "And that is?"

"Hannah Gale."

The file shows surveillance photos of a young Hannah and a younger boy outside an orphanage.

William asks, "Who's the boy with her? A brother?"

Felicity nods. "Her only other relative, Benjamin. Says here that an orphanage in California took them in. The Ninth Circle took her in, but not him."

"Most likely a condition for joining."

"Both graduated from college with degrees in computer program—" Felicity's eyes and eyebrows shoot upward as she sees the photo of them in a college graduation photo. "Oh god!"

John leans in close above Felicity, asking, "What is it?"

William can already guess, "You saw him before?"

Felicity leans back, prompting John to give her space. "I served him coffee when I was a barista."

"When we were in witness protection?"

Felicity does not confirm anything. She is completely still.

William gives her a worried look. "Felicity?"

Her thoughts go back to a few days before Diaz's break-in, to when she first saw the man.

"Oh crap!"

"What's up?"

"I keep getting a stupid error message and I have no idea how to—"

"Let me see."

The guy, Benjamin, was a regular who came in once every week for a coffee and a place to write lines of code. He seemed harmless enough, what with his somewhat chubby frame, glasses, and nerdy clothes. She didn't hesitate to help him, mostly because it meant she could code again. She never got a good look at what she was correcting, only the line that was giving him trouble.

"That ought to do it."

"Wow! I didn't think to do that."

"Coding's an art. You experiment with the sentences long enough,it all looks like a canvas you've seen before."

"Sounds like you should be a programmer and not serving coffee."

"Trust me. I'm saving the world one coffee at a time."

"I fixed the code."

The others give her incredulous looks. William asks, "You mean you—"

"It was right in front of me, and I helped make it effective!" Felicity's hand slams the table. "If I had just stopped for five seconds to see what exactly it was—"

William interferes with, "THAT CODE…was written in a way so no one would even know what it was. Not even you couldn't have known."

It takes a little while, but Felicity nods in agreement.

John then asks, "Can we pinpoint his location?"

With a slight nod, Felicity looks up Benjamin Gale through an encrypted server. The result makes her jaw drop in disbelief.

"You're kidding me!"

William looks over her shoulder, his tone conveying her very shocked expression. "He's living in the apartment?"

Curtis confirms, "The one you guys were hiding in? That got broke in?"

William's inflection lowers and becomes more gruff, "The very same." He then takes out an earpiece and hands it to John. "This will get you on the line with Lawton. Call him and convince him to stand down."

"Why me?"

"You two were associates. Maybe he'll listen." William then takes out a breach beacon. "And I need to have a word with Benjamin."

Felicity stands up. "Take me with you. If he's not bad, he'll be more responsive to me."

William places the breach beacon down. "I know he isn't and having you go to him will be too dangerous. Better that I go and remain discreet. Call Oliver and younger me. Tell them all the info we got on Blackfire and his mother."

As the breach opens, Curtis raises a hand and asks, "What exactly does Blackfire's mom being a former arms dealer do for us exactly?"

As William steps through, he only says, "Much!"

A neighboring street-level house isn't precisely Lawton's ideal spot for a sniper perch. Still, he has a full view of the kitchen area, the house entrance, and the backdoor exit. Whoever calls first, whether the Deacon or those vigilantes, his target will be clear. Lawton doesn't enjoy his targets being a kid's parents, but it's either this or hopes that Batman has found out where Zoe and Susan are. So long as his family is safe, that's all that matters.

It is close to dinner time at this point. Deadshot sees Peter York setting the table, his wife preparing the meal. Outside of the house, two figures are approaching. His mind turns to Blackfire and his nephew, ready for the initiation phase. However, the figures drenched in the street lamp's light are Oliver Queen and his son, William Clayton.

Lawton remembers his orders: if anyone other than Blackfire or the nephew comes by…

Just then, his earpiece starts to ring. He taps it and answers, "I've got an eye on two strangers heading up the sidewalk."

"Don't take the shot, Lawton!"

A familiar voice, one that has been ringing in Lawton's ear for nearly two years after joining Blackfire's crew, has returned. "Hello John. It's been, what, three…four years?"

"Listen to me. We found your ex-wife and daughter. We have people going to get them now."

His good eye widens. Thoughts of his family start to flood back into his mind.

They did it? They found Zoe and Susan? What's keeping me here, then?

Oliver and his kid make their way up to the porch.

"Where?"

"We'll tell you when they're safe."

"Tell me where they are John!"

"If Blackfire finds out you left your post, he'll kill them both. Trust me, Lawton."

His good eye looks down. His teeth bite his bottom lip furiously.

Dammit. He's right. But I'm not letting John off that easily.

Oliver and his kid are at the front door…

"You let me know the SECOND she's safe. Until then, I'll be nothing but a neutral party."

"The millisecond."

Oliver rings the doorbell. Any discreet shot Lawton may have had is too late. He'll make up some excuse for Blackfire, but his vow for neutrality is redundant. Either way, by his hand or not, somebody is going to die.

It won't be his daughter. He'll make sure of it.

Batman is across the way, on the eastward side of where Lawton's family is. With his detective vision, he can see Susan, the ex-wife, prepping dinner for her daughter, Zoe, who is writing something on paper. Probably homework.

From his ear piece, Nyssa calls him, "I'm in position at the back of the house."

Batman has eyes on her, even with her black, hooded robe blending with the shadows. "Do you have eyes inside?"

Nyssa nods. "The girl's doing an assignment. The mother is cooking…but her meal seems a bit large for just two people."

"Which means she's expecting visitors. Stay close and let me know the instant you see something. I'm going to scan the neighborhood."

Batman turns off detective vision and taps on his gauntlet. A neighborhood scan will require satellite coverage. With the parameters set, he takes out his remote batarang and throws it into the air.

As it takes off, he uses the gauntlet again, guiding it forward and connecting it to the satellite. The imaging comes online, showing him everyone inside every home. He then taps a button that brings up the database of St. Dismas members William gave him. One by one, it compares neighbors and whittles down each suspect, watching them either winding down from work, preparing meals, or what else.

It did not take too long to find a match. A couple matching two followers are conversing just across the street from Susan and Zoe.

With the satellite, his comm can listen in. The woman in one of the chairs asks, "Do you believe Deadshot will go through with it?"

The man, who is dressing up, answers, "He must be. His daughter's life is at stake."

The woman sighs. "It would be better to take the daughter and leave Deadshot out of this. She clearly has more smarts and has been winning gold medals in her gymnastics team."

"Can she replicate the precision her father has?"

The woman bites her lip. Clearly, Floyd Lawton's precision isn't an inherited trait.

The rest of the conversation is irrelevant. Batman again contacts Nyssa and tells her, "I'm going for the ones across the street. If any visitor comes by, match their faces to the database before engaging."

"How exactly will you do that without alerting the rest of the neighborhood?"

Through the satellite, Batman sees at least three points of entry: the front door, the back, and windows leading into the bedrooms. Both followers are in the upstairs bedroom, and the man is inside the bathroom. Only one window leads in there, propped open and facing the back of the woman's chair.

Batman grins slightly. "Just leave it to me."

With a plan of action, he takes out his line launcher, which connects with the chimney behind him and the one across the way. Under the cover of darkness, Batman rides the launcher through the air.

The two of them are at the door now. He knocks and before too long, Jenna greets them with a joyful smile.

"Joseph! Good to see you."

Blackfire greets her with his mask of humbleness, "Hello, Jenna. I hope we're not too late."

Jenna's eyes darted towards Noah. "Not at all. I just hope bringing Noah back home wasn't a hassle."

Blackfire responds gleefully. "Not at all. In fact, he's found something along the way home. He'll show you when we've had dinner."

Jenna nods. "Good. We'll have a lot to discuss later, young man. Go get your dinner."

Noah responds. "Fine."

Noah rushes in while Jenna looks on with a disapproving stare. "Why is he always like this with us?"

Blackfire wants to give a million reasons: Peter not being the strict and rigid father he should be, Jenna being too relaxed, both of them not instilling the kind of discipline the Order of St. Dismas would instill. Instead, he dismisses her concerns with, "He's young. Give them time, and they'll crave structure."

Jenna shrugs her shoulders before inviting Blackfire in. When they are inside, Jenna calls to Noah again, "I said go inside for dinner."

Noah is frozen, his mouth agape. The only time he had ever been like this was when Blackfire showed him the true cutting power of Azrael's sword.

Peter is calling out from the kitchen, "He's reacting as I said he would!"

Jenna storms inside. "Peter, that's no way to talk to our guests."

Guests? Blackfire follows her to see who is inside. Deadshot was supposed to take care of any...

When he is at the large doorway, his body becomes still. He feels rage and surprise, yet his mind tells him to stay composed.

He utters, "William."

William and his father, Oliver, are sitting on the left side of the table. William, who sits closest to Peter, greets Blackfire with, "Hello, Mr. Blackfire."

Deadshot, of all the people you have let into my BROTHER'S HOME—

As if reading his mind, Lawton responds through the comm in Blackfire's ear, "Play along. I'll explain later."

Blackfire quickly responds with a single, forced chuckle. "Well, it is SO good to see you again." His eyes then turn to Oliver. "And you must be the boy's father."

Oliver slowly gets up and says, "William's told me a lot about you."

Oliver outstretches his hand. Blackfire takes and shakes it, resisting the urge to crush it. "I'm sure he has."

Blackfire waves his hand to Noah. "Come on, Noah. No need to be shy."

Noah slowly enters the kitchen and sits on the table's right side, just one chair away from his father. Blackfire takes the one near the hallway entrance, right next to Oliver Queen.

Jenna clasps her hands, "Good! Now, let's get that chicken."

As soon as she leaves, all is still. Oliver's eyes fix upon Blackfire, and William looks back and forth between him and Noah. Blackfire turns his gaze to his brother, who raises a defensive hand. Peter will say that Jenna did this on the spot, which she usually does. Blackfire knows better. The Future William conspired all of this. He was always the schemer who concocted plans like this. No doubt that he is Samantha's son. She always loved coming up with the riskiest of plans.

Using his own younger self was not something Blackfire anticipated. He is William's life essence, a tether to this world.

Lawton calls back, explaining, "I know what this looks like, but I know how much you wanted this kid. I already planned out kill shots for Queen. I've been planning creative ways to get back at him for my eye. You'll get three birds killed, and you leave with the two little ones. Nothing about this has changed."

Tension is in the air, thick enough to cut through it like thin glass. There is some ultimate plan for this confrontation. There must be.

No Lawton. I will be leaving with THREE little ones.

Landing gently on the rooftop, Batman quietly approaches the edge. With the Bat-grapple, he walks down the wall until he is at the window. The woman is still sitting in her chair, tapping her foot as she stares at the bathroom door. With detective vision, he sees the man almost done getting ready. If he is to do anything, he needs to do it now.

With a push off the wall, Batman shifts himself in front of the window and lands on the silent carpeting. He quickly creeps up towards the woman's chair, arms raised to subdue her.

However, the man inside the bathroom calls out, "Be ready in a minute."

She may get up. Account for that.

The woman lets out a groan and, indeed, does get up. "Good! I don't want to be late."

Batman is able to take cover behind the chair. Peering around the corner, the woman does not turn around but checks her cell phone. Most likely, she's making sure her conspirators are heading to the house. She grins as she looks at whatever message is there.

The minute she stands upright, get her in a hold and neutralize her.

The moment she is done checking herself, Batman gets up from cover. When her body becomes more visible, he grabs her by the neck and mouth and drags her into a hold. One hand keeps her from shouting, and the other applies pressure to her trachea. One of her hands attempts to grab anything that could get her out, but Batman moves his head around to keep her from doing anything. It does not take long for her to pass out, still breathing, but her body limp.

"Okay! Ready."

The man's about to come out. The woman can stay here, be bait. Move to the side of the bed.

Quickly, Batman dives for the bed as the man opens the bathroom door. He gets prone and crawls halfway under, waiting for the man.

"Oh no!"

As expected, the man rushes to the woman's side, feeling for a pulse and putting an ear to her barely breathing mouth. His head quickly darts to the window, getting up to check it out.

As he looks outside, Batman gets out and up, still quiet. Yet, the man turns around as Batman draws near. That's no problem since Batman was planning to grab him by the neck.

He brings the man away from the window, lifting him until his feet hover above the floor. "I know you work for the Deacon! There are others. WHO ARE THEY?"

The man just chuckles intermittently, Batman's hand applying just enough pressure. "If you know…then singling us out was your biggest mistake."

"The Deacon won't hurt Lawton's family, not as long as he's still useful."

The man slowly smirks. "If Lawton is…The Deacon would have told us."

Batman's eyes widen, realizing the significant implications of the message the woman received. He knocks the man out with an elbow to the face and throws him onto the bed. He finds the phone and sees it is still in the message tab.

It reads, "No response from the Deacon. It is time."

Mrs. York places a large serving of chicken, mashed potatoes, and string beans on the table. She sets herself down but does not take anything just yet.

Instead, she turns to Blackfire. "Care to lead us?"

Blackfire, who has been looking back and forth between William and his father for the past few silent seconds, gives a small smile. "But of course." He puts his hands together in prayer, as does everyone else. "Heavenly Father, we gather round this table…"

William doesn't care to listen. In his mind, he utters something of his own: God, whatever happens tonight…at least let Dad be okay.

Both he and Blackfire simultaneously say, "Amen."

The others echo the sentiment before grabbing a little of everything. William eats slowly, his eyes still on Blackfire and Noah. Still, his tastebuds are alight. This is some of the best crispy chicken ever. He has trouble identifying what kind of seasoning Mrs. York added, but partially, his concern is what his adversaries will do.

"So, enjoying the chicken young man?"

It takes a little bit for William to register that Mrs York is talking to him. He quickly reacts with, "Uh, Yeah!" He slows down a bit, his mind conjuring his honest opinion of the food. "This is…the best chicken I've ever had. You added a…seasoning or spice to this?"

"Oh, well…It's an old recipe I came up with in my teens. It's how I won over Peter here when we first met."

Mr. York looks down at his food, but William notices the faintest smile on his lips.

Just then, William hears something else. It is faint, but he recognizes the sound of someone fumbling with something. He slowly looks to the area just between Blackfire and Noah. The latter is swallowing hard, making it look like food is going down his throat.

Blackfire must have given him something.

Blackfire himself comments, "It's a shame Ms. Smoak could not join us. She would have loved this spread."

Oliver responds with, "She's been busy with her work, starting up a company from the ground up."

"Well, I'm surprised she's not trying to restart YOUR company. Surely, you see yourself as something other than a hero under the thumb of a HELLISH PMC."

Oliver is silent for a moment. William knows that Blackfire refers to Dante's takeover of ARGUS, something his future counterpart informed him of in his message about the mission.

Oliver then refutes, "I have friends in that PMC."

Blackfire raises a defensive hand. "But, of course." His eyes then shift towards William. "How about you young one? Surely, you have been diligently reading the bible I have given you."

William nods. "I did. But it 'fell apart' at the seams. I had to replace it."

"With a Catholic version, no doubt?"

Mr. York looks suspiciously at William while Mrs. York gives Blackfire a confused glance. Noah is the only one not reacting.

Mrs. York stammers, "He didn't say—"

Blackfire interrupts, "I have met people from the many denominations. I can identify folks like him a mile away. Besides, I have heard of your adoption under Bruce Wayne. His family, his mother in particular, were very staunch Catholics. Her billionaire playboy son, on the other hand…not so much."

William utters, "He's taught me enough."

Blackfire quietly chuckles. "And what exactly has he taught you?"

This is it. I can bring HIM up, just like Connor wanted. Provoke him and alert the family.

William answers, "About Dumas."

Blackfire doesn't react, taking a bite from his chicken. Noah's eyes widen, his mouth ceasing all chewing.

Mrs. York is the only one scratching her head. "I'm sorry. I don't think I've heard of that one."

Blackfire swallows and explains in a calm voice, "Not many would. He's an obscure knight of the Crusades, picked up by a Parisian priory. He named himself after the penitent thief."

William questions, "Why? Because he just happened to be a thief himself? Or was it to cover for all the crimes he committed?"

"He saved lives, William."

"He killed indiscriminately."

Mr. York, from across the table, looks over to Oliver and glares at him, trying to tell him to shut William up. Oliver refuses to meet his eyes. This is what Connor instructed. The Yorks had to see what Blackfire truly is.

The conversation goes on, Blackfire exclaiming, "He fought and defeated more Muslim invaders than the Templars!"

"Are you counting all the innocents whose heads he placed on pikes as a scare—"

"He did what was necessary boy!"

Blackfire's tone raises, his hands slamming the table as if ready to slap William. Noah swallows his food down hard as if forcing down large rocks. Mrs. York is looking back and forth, not knowing what to do. Mr. York is rubbing his temples, clearly knowing what Blackfire and William are discussing.

Blackfire takes a breath before continuing in a disgruntled voice, "His actions inspired followers, groups of warriors!"

William retorts, "They were a CULT who treated Dumas like a saint. His high kill count stained the Catholic cause."

"Because THEY decided to throw him to the DOGS they called historians! These same historians are the ones who generalized St. Dismas' crusade as the Catholics', so blame them! If Dismas' followers had been allowed to continue instead of being exiled, given weapons instead of an excommunication, the Catholic Church would have been a juggernaut."

Oliver then interjected with, "Like the weapons you provided them?"

Noah and his father give the same surprised stares towards Blackfire. He, on the other hand, sits himself back.

Mrs. York, after a while, shakes her head and exclaims, "All right! I am not going to have a night where we are all arguing and throwing accusations—"

"It's true."

Mrs. York is tongue-tied. She looks over to Blackfire with an incredulous look.

His eyes lock with the York family's. "They were my gift to the Order when they took me in. My mother could not use them for their intended purpose."

Mrs. York, her brows furrowing and hands fidgeting, utters, "What?"

"She wanted to tell the people of how the Falcones were using Baptist churches as fronts to sell arms to their clients. She wanted to rile the masses up and do to the Falcones what they had done to the fair cities she had unwittingly doomed." His eyes then shift to William. "You see, William, we are so divided because our institutions were weak, too weak to uphold traditional morals. Today's churches can't even fight back against the rise of secularist PARASITES because of the so-called 'separation of church and state.'"

Blackfire then puts a hand on Noah's shoulder. "But Noah…I showed my nephew the truth. Our purpose is to burn the chaff and preserve the wheat. It is the end times promised to us by God…only hastened quicker than maybe God intended, but it is what must be done."

Mrs. York, who has been listening with a quivering lip, stands straight up out of her chair. "STOP IT! I won't have that kind of talk IN MY HOUSE in front of MY SON."

Blackfire smirks. "You mean the son you let me counsel while his father was away at work?"

Mrs. York looks down to her husband. "Peter, get him out."

Mr. York just looks at Blackfire, his glare slowly turning into a snarl.

"I've spent more time with him than you two ever had in his entire lifetime, and I have shown him the realities of this world…"

"Peter!"

"…toughened him up in ways that no 'normal parent' would ever do, and it's all culminated to THIS MOMENT."

Mr. York shoots up out of his chair, yelling, "ENOUGH! I've had just about up to HERE with—"

Suddenly, a clicking sound from Noah's side freezes Mr. and Mrs. York with stares of horror or shock. Noah's hands raise higher, showing a small gun, most likely what Blackfire passed to him under the table.

Upon seeing this, Oliver gets up from his chair, but so does Blackfire as he pulls out another gun.

William is now conflicted, looking from side to side.

Connor didn't mention anything about this! What do I do? What do I do?

Blackfire explains, "I may not have been ready for you, but I will shoot my foster brother and his wife."

Oliver looks at William, subtly pointing to Noah.

He wants me to…to talk to Noah! Talk him down.

Mr. York slowly moves to Noah, but he jerks the gun toward his father, yelling, "Stay away from me!"

Oliver reaches out, but Blackfire threatens him, "Move, and you die, Mr. Queen!" Blackfire looks to Noah. "Complete your trial, Noah. Finish them!"

Mr. York shields his wife, ready to take the blow first.

William beckons, "Noah, don't!"

Oliver stares Blackfire down. "You won't get away with this."

"Mr. Queen, I have prepared this scenario in my head for MANY years. If I or Noah don't kill them, my man stationed out there will."

"We know about him…Lawton. We already have people protecting his family. Even if you get the word out—"

Blackfire chuckles. "You fool. It was my word that kept Lawton's family alive. My silence is what will lead to their deaths."

William can't see it, but already pictures his father's shock, just as he is.

Lawton's eye widens, his hands trembling and his aim shakey.

No. NO! Stupid, stupid, STUPID. Why did I think—

"Do you hear me, Lawton? Your pact with me will be broken…and your daughter will belong to us. I promised that somebody will die, and I keep my word. God's eye is now on you. If you want to kill me now, go ahead."

Lawton's scoped eye immediately aims at Blackfire.

Then, John's voice exclaims, "Lawton, don't! Our people are there. Give us time. This isn't what Zoe would want."

Blackfire's voice comes back with, "My life won't matter. Others will carry on St. Dismas' cause. Do what you do best, Lawton."

"Lawton, don't do a – Wait. Yeah…Repeat that?"

His finger is on the trigger, gently squeezing. He's running out of patience.

Whatever I hear in the next ten seconds BETTER be good.

Nyssa remains in the backyard, peering above the fence to look for incoming neighbors. She looks through detective vision with her new cloth visor. Even from here, she can see the blue skeletons of two people, a man and a woman, just one house away from the house.

"Nyssa!"

She briefly breaks line of sight to tap on her ear and communicate. "Bruce. I see two people heading towards the house. I'll ensure they don't harm—"

"The Deacon was supposed to message them. He didn't. They're going to kill Zoe's mother and take her as Deadshot's payment."

With wide eyes, Nyssa spots the neighbors coming around the corner. One of them is a man, tall with black, neat hair and bulky arms. The other a woman who is skinnier but has that athletic look. Nyssa can spot the hidden weapons right away: a cut-out shoe heel for the man's blade, the hilt of a dagger barely tucked away in the woman's purse. They plan to kill and to do so silently.

Before Nyssa even has time to aim the first arrow, Susan, Deadshot's ex-wife, is already out there, greeting the two. They do not attack, wanting to be away from public eyes first.

As the three head inside, Nyssa tells Batman, "The only way is to set up an ambush. I can cover the door."

"I can see a point where I can zip line to the house. Wait for me, but be ready to barge in."

Nyssa rushes to the back door's porch and positions herself by the window. She sees the followers greeting the young Zoe with glee, or at least fake glee. They point to the paper she is drawing on, asking what it is. From this angle, Nyssa can barely make out a well-drawn Batman insignia surrounded by a yellow circle.

Susan gestures for the followers and for Zoe to enter the kitchen area. Nyssa can't get a good line of sight as the three of them enter, but there is a half-wall which she can shoot through. She just needs to know where they will be.

Nyssa contacts Batman. "Are you on the roof yet?"

"Just landed."

"I need to know where everyone is in the kitchen and what they're doing."

"I already see them. Susan has a knife, going to cut up the ham she made. The man's standing next to her and the woman's next to Zoe. There's a window I can use to take down the woman."

"Where's the man?"

"Farther left, across from the table."

"Is he visible from the half-wall?"

"Definitely. He's taking the knife from Susan, possibly to use as a weapon."

Nyssa takes a sharp arrow from her quiver. "No time to waste then."

"In position. BREACH!"

William pleads with Noah, "Don't do this, Noah!"

Blackfire snaps, "Quiet, William!"

Blackfire points his gun at William, prompting Oliver to get in the way.

Without hesitation, Nyssa kicks the door in and quickly aims her arrow left. Susan and Zoe are in shock while the male and female followers are alerted. Nyssa quickly takes her shot, successfully knocking the knife from the man's hand.

As she does, Batman breaks through the window, successfully tackling the woman follower to the ground and knocking her out in one swift movement. Zoe screams and runs to the fridge behind her, clenching the door as if it could keep her safe.

However, the male follower is quick, grabbing Susan with a chokehold and reveals the small razor blade in his hand. Susan doesn't scream as the blade kisses her neck. She is afraid of getting prematurely killed.

Nyssa aims her arrow while Batman readies a batarang in his hand.

However, the man grips Susan tighter. "Drop your weapons!"

York shouts, "You brainwashed OUR child into KILLING US?"

Blackfire tells York, "You didn't accept my offer at Slabside, Peter! Things would be much different if you had."

"You were taking prisoners down into the old building to be brainwashed!"

Jenna exclaims, "You KNEW about those horrible things?"

Blackfire chuckles, "And he, in his own hubris, thought he could reduce the number of prisoners ending up there as punishment."

Nyssa finds a shot, but Batman holds up a hand to her. She looks at him and his batarang. Her eyes glimpse a yellow light slowly but steadily turning green. That isn't something a typical batarang would do.

The man continues, "You'll give me the girl. She and I will be walking out of here, with your weapons ON THE GROUND."

Nyssa doesn't do as asked. She looks at Zoe, who stares wide-eyed at her mother.

The man threatens, "I WILL kill her. I'll do it!"

Batman is completely still, staring the man down. Just then, the Batarang glows solid green.

Batman utters, "I believe you."

Batman then throws the batarang, which completely misses the head by miles. The man smirks, but does not notice the batarang making a 180 turn and heading his way. By the time he is about to plunge the blade into Susan, it hits him squarely on the back of his head. Seeing this, Batman rushes in with a jumping fist towards the man's disoriented face. The punch's force loosens the man's grip on Susan, sending him flying to the floor. His head nearly hits the wall, but he does not move a muscle. He's down for the count.

Susan rushes to his daughter, hugs her, assuring her, "It's okay, baby girl. It's alright. It's over."

Batman is quick to get on the comm. "Batman to Knightwatch, Lawton's family is safe. REPEAT—"

"—Your family is safe! Our people saved them. Do you hear me?"

Lawton breathes a subtle sigh of relief. Still, his sights stay on Blackfire. He let those assassins loose on his ex-wife, on his little girl. So long as that man was out and about, they will never be safe.

"I hear you."

Blackfire now looks Oliver in the eyes. "I must thank you. I always loathed the idea of scum like the ones on Ricardo's bus being used. Only the righteous should do good works."

Oliver dares to take a step further. "You consider brainwashing your nephew GOOD?"

"He has undergone rigorous training already. He just needs a little push, one that your son is preventing. So…" He cocks the pistol hammer back and aims at Oliver's head. "Let's start with you!"

Oliver hears William yell, "NO!"

A shot rings out, but not in this room. It is from outside, a bullet whizzing through the window and into the small dining area. Its destination is towards Blackfire, but not for his head, but his hand. The large projectile hits the gun barrel and, by sheer force, knocks it out of Blackfire's hand.

Quickly, Oliver flips the table over to block Noah's line of fire and to have a clear path as he charges Blackfire. He grabs Blackfire by the waist and they both tussle, trying to land hits on one another as they roll around from the dining area into the little kitchen.

William's attention shifts to Noah, who has gotten himself out of the table with the gun in hand.

William tries to run in, but Noah quickly aims and yells, "STAY AWAY!"

William stops dead in his tracks but holds his arms out towards him cautiously. "Noah, listen to me."

Mr. York is quick to move the table aside and march towards Noah. Again, he is quick to aim the gun and threaten, "I said STAY AWAY!"

York stops, yelling "Noah, drop the gun! You have no idea—"

Noah pulls the hammer back. "Uncle Blackfire had me shooting rats with this thing since I was twelve! Ma would know."

York turns to Mrs. York, who defends herself, "Joseph told me it was with BB guns!"

In the commotion, William just yells, "You're a jerk!"

Noah's eyes turn to William, but his gun stays aimed at his father. William can see the searing stare on Noah's face for the façade it is. William would make that same face to tell the kids in his school to stay away, that he was a ball of anger after his mother died. Yet, it was all fear.

William continues, "You're a bully, a constant thorn in everybody's side who wants nothing more than for people to respect him. I don't know how much of that was from your uncle giving you a script, but I know you're NOT a killer."

Noah points the gun at William now. "How would you know? My uncle's shown me people dying, murdered, and tortured by PSYCHOPATHS. He's shown me what kind of world we live in, that we need to reset it all in a FIERY blaze."

William hears Noah's words but not the conviction behind them. William learned this kind of rhetoric after Malcolm Merlyn convinced him to run from his mother with the promise of seeing his father, without his mother's lies to cover up anything.

William points out, "You'll become a psychopath yourself if you do this. You HAVE a choice."

Mrs. York pleads, "Noah! Listen to your friend."

Noah points the gun at her now, screaming, "He is NOT my friend!"

Mr. York puts himself in between the two, stretching his arms out, "Don't Noah! Your uncle twisted your mind, warped your perception of right and wrong."

"This ISN'T about right and wrong!" Noah puts his back on the wall, the gun aimed at his father's head and his finger on the trigger. "You have NO idea what Uncle Blackfire's capable of. He's shown me the psychopaths…made me watch as he GAVE THEM what they deserved."

Both William and Mr. York flash wide eyes at the young Noah, whose angry eyes are crumbling. Mrs. York puts a trembling hand to her mouth.

"I have to kill you…or he's going to kill me." He says this with a whimper, his lip trembling but his gun still steady. His finger slowly pulls the trigger.

Blackfire…killing Noah…

"Kill me!"

Like Adrian Chase…

"Just one stab, right into my neck."

…a similar pain…

"No!"

Tell Noah the truth.

"I won't end up as one of the chaff. So please stop talking so I can—"

Do it now!

"I got my mom killed!"

Noah's trigger finger stops. His eyes dart to William, as do Mr. and Mrs. York's. William realizes he said this aloud a few seconds after shouting, but it doesn't matter. He has Noah's attention on him.

William continues, "My mom died because of me. She died because her kidnapper gave ME a choice, one I knew both her and my Dad wouldn't want me to make." William takes several steps forward, but Noah refuses to aim towards him. "Your choice is different. You can hand your Dad the gun, Blackfire gets arrested, and EVERYONE lives. You three can start over again…as a family."

One of Noah's hands starts to tremble. His trigger finger itches, but it doesn't pull. His mind seems to be racing with the possibilities of living or dying, taking lives or leaving them be. Everyone is silent. That is, except for the noise of Blackfire and Oliver fighting in the small kitchen behind William.

As soon as Blackfire's pistol is shot out of his hand, Oliver does not hesitate. He flips the table to stop York's kid from getting a shot off and then charges. Oliver gets a grip on Blackfire and rams him into the wall. Blackfire quickly hits Oliver's head with multiple elbow strikes, disorienting him and loosening his grip. Oliver tries to think of what to do next, but the only thing that comes to mind is to take the pressure off. So, he throws himself and Blackfire onto the halfway point between the dining room's wooden floor and the kitchen's black and white tiles.

As they land, Oliver notices the pistol just within reach. Blackfire stretches out a hand and barely grabs the barrel. Reacting quickly, Oliver moves up to grab Blackfire's wrist. However, Blackfire's hand moves away as Oliver's arm stretches out, hitting Oliver's nose with a hammer fist. Blackfire then shifts himself away enough to kick Oliver off.

As Oliver shakes off the disorientation, Blackfire stands up and prepares to shoot. As he aims, Oliver quickly grabs the gun barrel and stands to spin around Blackfire's back to land an elbow on him. Unfortunately, it seems Blackfire is familiar with the technique, for Oliver can feel him moving away from the elbow's intended destination to Oliver's side. Blackfire then pushes Oliver towards the fridge and slams him into it, then towards the countertop to their left to pin him there.

As Blackfire twists Oliver's arm with the gun in hand, he remarks, "Your son could not defeat me. What chance do YOU have?"

Oliver looks for weapons, seeing only a knife used to cut the chicken up. Without hesitation, he stomps on Blackfire's foot hard, alleviating some of the pressure, and stands up just enough to throw the blade at shoulder level. Still, Blackfire is quick and lets Oliver go, dodging the projectile. Oliver turns around, hoping to get one hook punch in to keep the fight going. However, as he does, Blackfire ducks under it and places the gun on Oliver's right temple.

Blackfire smirks. "I told William that someone will die tonight. If it is you alone, so be—"

Before Blackfire can say another word, another gun points toward the back of his head. Oliver's eyes move to see York unscathed, but his scrunched face shows suppressed hate.

He commands York, "DROP IT."

Blackfire hesitates, taking a deep breath through his nose. Still, he complies, taking the gun away from Oliver's head, and takes a couple of steps back with his hands up. Oliver grabs the gun from Blackfire and aims at him.

Oliver looks back, seeing Jenna York holding Noah tight, whispering into his ear, most likely assurances and apologies. William watches them, his breathing somewhat shaky as his hands are.

Finally, Nick Anastas comes in from the front entrance with two other officers by his side.

Right on cue.

He looks down at Jenna and Noah. "Is everyone okay in here? The neighbors reported gunshots."

York calls to Anastas, "Over here!"

While Anastas heads over with cuffs, Oliver rushes to William and kneels. Will's eyes are still on Noah and Jenna. "You okay?" After a second of no response, Oliver grips William tightly. "William!" Finally, his eyes meet his father's. "Are you okay?"

William nods frantically. "Noah had a gun. I tried to stay as stone-faced as I—"

"That's go – William!" William's eyes start filling with tears. Still, Oliver assures, "You did GOOD."

That didn't seem to be enough. William doesn't move to wipe his tears away. He doesn't affirm with an "I know" or "Thank you." It then dawns on Oliver that this isn't Older William, the man who completed his training, whom he had been fighting alongside for the last few months.

This is just a boy.

So, Oliver gives the young William a hug, reassuring him again, "You did good."

Finally, William moves his arms to hug him back.

Oliver continues, "You did EXACTLY what you needed to do. Everyone else would say the same."

With a lump in his throat, William remarks, "What Connor would do."

With a grin, Oliver nods. "Yeah. Exactly."

Dante's smile is the widest it's ever been as he stares at Blackfire on his knees in his cell. It's almost as if he's repressing a chuckle. Standing next to him, Lyla feels wholly uncomfortable but maintains a composed stature.

Dante then gloats, "This is SWEET."

Blackfire, though detained, keeps his head bowed and stares at the floor.

"St. Dismas' leader easily captured by father and son, both of which now belong to ME."

No response from Blackfire, just slow, calm breaths. It's as if he's meditating.

Dante kneels on one knee, trying to make eye contact with him as his smile becomes sadistic. "Deep down, you knew this was coming. You're old and weak. I imprisoned the Longbow Hunters. Now, you will die, and the Order will crumble."

Dante stands up and looks at Lyla. "The execution will be at the Star City Square building. As per my request, all the members will be there in two days. Tell William and Oliver to be there and in uniform. They are to witness our victory."

Finally, Dante walks away and out of the cell block.

Lyla looks on and takes a deep breath as the door closes behind him.

"You said nothing about Lawton."

Blackfire's sudden remark makes Lyla slowly turn her head to him. He looks up at her, his eyes not filled with sadness or disappointment at his defeat. It's just neutral.

"Neither did you."

Blackfire smirks. "His involvement does not matter anymore. Neither do the others. Your choices are what will matter."

"You're not the slightest bit worried about dying? About the Order collapsing?"

Blackfire shrugs his shoulders. "If I die, it's so that the Order lives on. If Dante and the Circle dies, the better. Someone IS GOING to die."

Lyla leans in close to the glass door. "We'll see."

Lyla then makes her way to the cell block door. As she does, it opens to reveal Grant Wilson coming in with a food cart. On the cart is the usual evening meal for the week: a hamburger with fries and water. No utensils are included for fear of being used as lockpicks or concealed weaponry.

Grant takes the tray, kneels down, and slips it under the glass door. He doesn't stand up. Instead, he looks up at Blackfire. "I turned the cameras off, but it's only a matter of time before they find out. I may be compromised. We NEED to abandon the mission."

Blackfire shakes his head. "You are afraid. Child, it is only natural."

"If they find out what I'm doing—"

"It will be too late. They will focus on Dante and the Ninth Circle…and me."

"This whole plan was to ensure your escape!"

"Your brothers and sisters are the priority. THEY are the bulk of the Order. If I die, someone stronger must take my place. The Longbow Hunters are my most trusted lieutenants, and they will ensure our survival. Do you understand?"

Grant hesitates. He bows his head.

"Grant." The young man lifts his head to meet Blackfire's eyes. "Where do your loyalties lie?"

Grant answers immediately, "The family."

"And who is your family?"

"The Order."

Blackfire leans in. "And what do you do when family is threatened?"

Grant's stare is firmer, more confident. "Whatever it takes."

Blackfire nods, satisfied. "If I do not make it out of the execution, proceed with the plan. Timing is of the utmost importance."

That's all I needed to hear.

Athena has heard every word from the upper vents. Her suspicions, as well as William's, have been confirmed. As she crawls away, she gets on the comm to William. "It's me. Grant just talked to Blackfire. They plan to release the Longbow Hunters when you stop the Ninth Circle."

"Good work. I'll tell Lyla and John to have them post extra guards at their cells and every entrance."

"And Grant? Do we stop him?"

"We will, but not immediately. Let him think he's in the clear. Slade will corner him."

"Do you think he will agree to do that?"

"He has to. We have the evidence. And he'll want a shot at redeeming Grant. What about the execution?"

Finally, Athena makes it to an exit. Before she opens the shutter, she tells William, "It will be at the Star City Square building. You and your father have been invited."

"Good. I'll head there and plan things out. First, there's one more issue to take care of."

"You spin my head right round, RIGHT ROUND…"

Benjamin Gale types away at his computer, singing the lyrics to Flo Rida's "You Spin My Head" as he goes. Next to his computer is a bag of nacho chips and a can of soda, with a box of melon fruit to add some nutritional value. He's typing fast, the signs of a natural programmer.

Before he can finish the line he is on, an alarm on his laptop rings. "Alright! Time for a break."

He gets up from his chair and heads toward the hallway behind him.

This was William's cue.

With his bug, it's easy to hack into the security system Benjamin installed. He opens the door quietly, ensuring that Benjamin wasn't looking back. By the time he entered, Benjamin had closed the bathroom door.

William slinks into the kitchen and starts examining the laptop. Thankfully, Benjamin didn't put it in sleep mode. He can see entire lines of code, similar to the code he had examined after Diaz's intrusion almost a year ago.

With a tap of his earpiece, William calls Felicity and Curtis. "This is Red Arrow. I've got a hold of Ben's laptop."

Kurtis responds. "Perfect. Insert that drive I gave you, and we'll have access to the whole thing."

William takes it out, plugging it into one of the USB ports.

Felicity's voice confirms, "We're in! Looking through it now."

"So am I."

He minimizes the window. The first thing he sees is Benjamin and Hannah, the Silencer. They're in graduation gowns and caps, smiling and waving diplomas in their hands. For William, who has only ever seen her as staunch and serious, it's like seeing someone popping in from an alternate Earth.

One of the file icons on the left-hand corner caught his eye: "Clients." He double-clicks it and sees a lot of familiar names: "Express VPN," "Nord VPN," "Atlas VPN," and so on.

These were the major players of this decade before companies like mine outdid them. I wonder…

William opens the coding window back up. He looks at individual lines now, finding the same misleading types of code that help VPN customers fool streaming services into allowing them to watch region-locked shows.

This code can be repurposed to fool a security system into believing that malware is part of the program's subroutines. It must have been how the security system here didn't signal any alarms when it went offline. It may be what Silencer's tech is based on.

Behind him, William hears the sound of a toilet flushing. Ben's almost done.

Ben and his code may prove helpful. But first, he'll need to know what exactly his sister is.

Quickly, William heads to the wall just next to the hallway and takes his emblem from the jacket pocket. He looks to see if there is anyone outside the windows before placing it on his chest.

"William?" Felicity's voice rings in William's ear. "We're seeing you put your suit on. What are you doing?"

Red Arrow states, "You'll see."

From the corner, William sees Benjamin strolling towards the computer, humming a tune from Britney Spears' "Give Me More." Sitting down, he notices the thumb drive in his laptop. Red Arrow silently walks towards him as he touches it, his fingers ready to unplug it.

Red Arrow's hand is faster, grabbing Ben's wrist. Before Ben can utter anything, Red Arrow exclaims, "DON'T scream."

Ben does as commanded. The only thing leaving his lips are slight stutters. It takes a while for him to say a complete sentence. "T-take whatever you want."

"I need information. The code your compiling, what does it do?"

Ben starts stuttering more, seemingly conflicted over whether to say anything. "It-it's a program based on camouflaging IP addresses, connections—"

Red Arrow leans in towards Ben intimidatingly. He whispers harshly "Get to the point!"

Ben doesn't scream, but his grunts are certainly loud. "It's code for VPNs. They do what the companies and their sponsors advertise: protect your data, disguise your online presence, even get you onto foreign versions of Netflix."

"And this is the only program it can do? Can it be repurposed into a virus to hack into security systems?"

Ben's at a loss for words again, but no stuttering. His eyes are wide. "You don't think…Look, I'm no hacker. You have to believe me!"

"Then answer the question!"

"There is…a possible chance that, if altered, it can become nearly untraceable malware. But I have NEVER done anything like that. SERIOUSLY!"

"I have two witnesses that say otherwise: Felicity Smoke and Alena Whitlock."

Ben's visible eye darts upward for a minute, trying to recollect who Red Arrow is talking about. "The second girl I know, but I haven't dated any—"

Red Arrow authoritatively talks over Benjamin: "You knew her as ERIN, the barista who served you coffee and helped correct your code. The apartment you're in was hers before YOUR CODE, used by RICHARD DRAGON, bypassed her security!"

Ben's jaw is now agape. "Ricardo Diaz?" Ben raises up and shakes his free hand. "Man, I didn't know. I didn't know — but I didn't do it either! Honest."

During the conversation, Red Arrow's lie detector has been all green. Ben is telling the truth. Red Arrow slowly loosens his grip on Ben's wrist. "I believe you…because I already have the one who did it."

Ben shakes his head. "No one can salvage my code once I send it to them, not even the companies."

"You're right. It would have to be somebody that made the code, either you…or your sister."

Ben is completely frozen, his expression stuck to his face. "No. No! Hannah wouldn't—"

"She already has."

"WHY?"

"For you, because she didn't want you involved with the people she's working for. Now, she's in ARGUS custody." Ben is about to yell something, but Red Arrow holds up a hand and exclaims, "BUT I can guarantee her release and protection for the both of you. But first, you need to do something for me."

Ben looks down for a minute, contemplating. His eyes then shift back to Red Arrow. "How can you guarantee her freedom?"

"Because with you safe, she'll be compelled to leave her life of crime behind. She went in for you. She'll get out for the same reason."

Ben looks down again, then at the laptop. There are no words for a while. He looks back at Red Arrow again. "Erin, Felicity, whatever her name is…is she safe?"

Red Arrow nods. "I saved her myself." He also wanted to add that she was married, but he'll save that fact for later.

Finally, Ben nods. "What do you need?"

Author's Notes: Thanks for reading! Don't forget to like the story if you are enjoying it so far. I'll see you all in part two of this chapter!