UGA Arc 3 Chapter 4:

[adrini]

Recently, on Ultimate Green Arrow…

Oliver found out that the kidnappers he thought has been left behind are back and mean business, he got away in time but the risk to him, and the infant son he had with him, is clear. Life outside the house is no longer safe. Mia, picking up Thea in London, is well aware of the current risks and is anxious to get home. Thea, however, has moved into the world of the wealthy traveler and isn’t in a hurry to go back.

Adrien, through digging and contacts, revealed that Roulette seems to be in the middle of this and is likely in the area. The team knows basic precautions but also knows that Roulette is always unpredictable. Looking at the many dangers now coming at them team arrow begins to consider that even home might not be safe forever. Though they hope it will never need to be used, plans are laid out to run, if need be.

The team managed to grab intelligence from the enemy base, their first lead. Meanwhile Shado showed Jade the secret she and Jansen have been keeping. Refugees hidden in the forgotten tunnels. Lost and abused people who need heroes.

However an ally showed up that none of them expected. Through means that no one claimed to understand a file appeared from the deceased Black Canary one that gives them the ammo needed to make their first major offensive to the building force. Preparations are in place, but the time for watching has ended.

Ultimate Green Arrow

Arc 3 Chapter 4:
Formation

Star City Arena, Basement level, Saturday Night

“You were directly told not to come here. Do I really need to remind you what happens to peons who don’t pay attention?” Roulette felt herself freeze as she heard the voice. Lady Shiva’s long, thin nail dragged along her jaw line but stopped when she saw the half mask the woman now wore. “Or do you remember?”

Internally fuming Roulette didn’t stop the woman from removing the mask and looking at the images now permanently carved into her skin. The elder woman smirked, approving, and kept the mask in her hand.

“Let me guess, you want revenge. But that isn’t working out, is it?” Shiva continued. “In fact you seem to be digging yourself in deeper. First you upset Mum, then her little bird – but little bird had friends. And not just little artistic friends but a whole city. That was a shock, wasn’t it?”

Roulette was now trembling with both rage and fear, she had lost everything getting out of ‘haven ahead of her clients, when she suddenly felt a sharp nail right at the core of her throat. Any movement could mean death. Shiva’s eye had slitted and were glaring at her.

“But do you know who she really is, my pet? She’s the best student I’ve ever seen and you were a very bad little slave and almost took her away from me. And I can’t have that, can I? I have to do something, or people will talk. What shall it be.” The nail moved, still close to her soft tissue.

“I didn’t know. White Canary said she was safe and-“ She was cut off again.

“Oh, White has her reasons for hating her to. I’m well aware. But you knew to always talk to me. I’m facing a world of trouble now, Roulette, and it’s all because of you. How could you ever make it up to me?” Shiva purred, sending shivers down Roulette’s spine. She gulped, whatever it was she didn’t have a choice.

“I need a distraction, a moving target for the good people to stay focused on. Bait. That’ll be you. Do what I say, how I say, when I say.” Shiva pulled back the nail and Roulette nodded. “And don’t forget, I own you. Just a few little words and your life is over.”

Catching her breath, fear was good at stopping it, Roulette hurried to put the mask on the floor back on. The Lady was gone, but she would be back. She always came back.

>--)->

Queen Manor Kitchen, Monday Morning

“Better, much better.” Di said as her husband arrived at the table. “Spit up really doesn’t suit you.”

Robby, unsurprisingly for an infant, had decided to decorate his father’s shirt with his breakfast. He made up for it though by lighting up at the sight of the man and dancing in place in excitement as he was picked up.

“Its fine, everyone has days like that, don’t they buddy?” He said to the little boy as he shrieked in joy. “Just maybe not so many times a day.”

Watching, Di smiled at her husband beaming at the little boy. It was likely the incoming fear, but the kids had become the stars of the house, a source of strength to pull on. They didn’t seem to mind the attention.

“Are you going in today?” She asked, Oliver wasn’t really dressed for the office, and seemed to be busy imitating Errol Flynn to Robby’s delight.

“Nope, they’re installing new security measures. I’ll be working from home and doing video calls.” He walked back and handed their son back to her. “But I should be done around noon if you want to trade off.”

He sat down and looked at the file, it was the one that they had taken from the building. Di was flipping through it, trying to fully fill out the pattern. They could use whatever edge it offered. Oliver didn’t see anything he knew, it’s was rough drawings and number codes that clearly meant something.

“These look like old tunnel systems.” Di said, looking at the connections. “See how some are straight and some look carved out? There are ones all over ‘haven. Old smugglers routes, are there many here?”

Oliver grabbed the file and looked at the various maps. Scanning the information he spread them over the table, each page connecting to another. Holding Robby on her hip Dinah watched, this was something he knew. Laying out the last of the pages he grabbed the baby snacks, in various shapes, and began to lay them around the map.

“That’s exactly what they are.” He said in explanation as he put the shapes in various locations. “Third street entrance, Gardenia Lane stairway, Conway court. These are the old prohibition tunnels, I almost forgot about them. They’re under the whole city, there was a huge network.”

He kept putting stars, diamonds and arrows at various locations while muttering names. As though in a zone the table was quickly covered in marshmallow treats. Then he turned back to the file.

“They’re putting things at these points. The second set of symbols, I don’t know what they stand for but they have a clear pattern.” He took another set of snacks, small fruits, and put them next to the others.

Picking up one of the unused snacks for her son Di noticed the file had on paper still in it. Turning it over it was another tunnel system. She grabbed Oliver’s attention long enough for him to put it in place with its pieces and turn pale.

“Queen Manor Tunnel Entrance.” He said, looking at the last location. “It’s a way in to the house. That point is about 50 feet down from here.”

“Do they know that?” Keeping her voice calm so as not to upset the still happy baby. “Can they know that?”

>--)->

Kings’ Garden, London. Monday afternoon

Mia rushed across the street after Zinda and Thea. They needed to head home days ago, there was war building and they needed to be there. Zinda at least checked her phone regularly, Thea was entirely uninterested.

“The tower is just up ahead.” Thea was excitedly saying. “The old Boyelyn tower burned down in the Victorian era, but the rest of it is still here. With the guard and the history talk, seriously cool.”

“Right by Hemreges. Great pint.” Zinda said as Thea nodded and hurried on, nearing the gates. She slowed down and got to Mia as they entered. “Speak to me.”

“This isn’t vacation!” Mia hissed, careful not to be heard. “Pick up, run back to plane, go home!”

“Well, you’re right about it’s not being a vacation.” The pilot agreed. Thea was getting programs for them. “It’s a rebellion.”

Walking the grounds after the tour Thea found a group of other Americans and joined them in taking pictures around the grounds, Zinda and Mia sat it out for a moment to talk.

“The Skipper hasn’t told me much.” Zinda continued her former conversation. “But the newspaper filled me in some. You’ve moved from one disaster to another, this is life for you. You can live with being blown up or stabbed. Or worse.”

“It ended, and I’m – I mean I’d like to be home. Right now.” Mia said, free to be annoyed at a distance. Yes, her past had sucked. But she was happy, loved, cared for and part of a family that would do anything for her. There was nothing better than that.

“Home where the place got trashed? Or you two were hit with a grenade? Or people still came after you? More than most people plan for. Not that people like us mind.” She winked slyly and Mia smiled a little. “We’re built like that. But Thea’s world wasn’t like that. She was the princess of a very wealthy house and the worst thing she had to worry about was what take out her parents were going to order that night. She’s tired. And she knows exactly what she’s going home to.”

Looking at her friend she could see it. Life was different here, and she was really happy. It was mean to drag her away from this, but she wasn’t safe out of the house right now.

“She’ll find her way, Mia. Everyone does. But you are correct. It’s time to go home.” She stood up. “Follow my lead.”

“Hey, this is Mia.” The young woman said as they got close. “Mia, come meet these guys. We’re talking about going to the new club, it’s totally rad. You have to see it.”

“If that’s what you want, Miss Queen.” Zinda was leaning on a post. “I was going to surprise you both with a full line at King’s club, sample the beer line. Have a few old friends from civil service show up. But you’re call.”

Drawn to the exclusive club idea Thea pulled away from the group and hurried over. Grabbing Mia’s arm as they followed Zinda away from the tower grounds.

“Oh, I’ve been meaning to tell you.” She said as she hugged Mia close. “I hit the trade shops and saw things that were totally you. It was awesome. You will show up every bitch in that school.”

Later, after a substantial dinner with painfully old war vets Zinda knew, the three left the club and got into a waiting car. Their bags were in the back. It didn’t take long for Thea to realize where they were going.

“Fair enough.” She said as the realization dawned, she had gotten a few more days out of it. “How bad is it this time?”

“Sorry Kiddo.” The pilot said. “The details are still being hashed out but anywhere outside the house is a kidnapping risk right now. Just something to ride out.”

“And fight out.” Thea muttered under her breath, but looked out the window. Across from her Mia couldn’t hide her glare. No one liked the times of war, but Thea’s shopping trips weren’t worth costing the family a pair of hands.

Nearing the air field Zinda only signed and motioned for her to calm down. It was fair, they were going home. The dodge had already failed.

>--)->

Queen Tower, Monday evening

Following her near death Adrien had been demoted from V.P. to Head of the Board. The post had been her secondary job for over a year, but now was her only one. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, she had other work to do.
Entering the secret door she was surrounded by the boards and files she had been using to track and move families out of ‘haven. With Jax’s passing she had also worked on her hacking skills and worked on giving them new names and identities. A few had gotten out, but it was slow work. And the flood was only growing.

Which led to her new project.

Dinah, Jade and Kate might have been spared the worst of Shiva’s wrath, but peons at her level had no such protection. If the woman was here she was in the center of everything that was going on, and she was going to do everything she could to distract from that. Shiva never went anywhere without wanting something. It was just a matter of looking through the misdirection, something no one else on the team would be likely to do. Shiva would know to go after the kids, and the house. She would put everyone she could off balance.

“Follow the steps.” She said to herself, looking at the new map. “The first thing you do is mark your target, but not too openly. Just looking at the territory, getting reactions. So what do you do? Right, the kids.”

Robby, Tommy and Gage – obvious but solid. Not the targets though, a gateway. A terrifying if brief episode. Meaning –

“The parents. And not Ollie or Roy, you couldn’t care less about them. The birds. You’re after the birds, makes sense. You trained them, know them, and you always hated people escaping.” Adrien had learned that the hard way. “But you also have a million ways to get to them at a distance, so this is personal. This is important. You want something for you, something dear.”

She took the red thread, playing with it, before sighing. There were no other connections right now. Kate was one of the elite. Jade we her daughter and Di was a symbol, a powerful one. Excellent fighters, all of them.

“You’re move, Lady Shiva.” She mindlessly moved the small pawn on the nearby chess board. “Show me what you want.”

>--)->

Prohibition Tunnels, under Queen Manor. Tuesday Morning.
“I don’t think things ever actually change.” Jade said as she and Kate looked around the corner. “Just up ahead.”

“To be fair we don’t know these are bombs.” Di was the last down the ladder. “They could be anything. Which I hate.”

“We’ll get rid of them and they’ll be nothing.” Kate was already moving to the space marked on the map. “Canister, connected. Radio up.”

It was a large green canister, with pipes altered into the ceiling. Whatever it was it was piped into the house air lines.

“That I did not expect.” Jade, and her sisters were looking at the set up. “Okay, now what?”

It took time, and they knew Oliver and Digs upstairs were also considering what to do, but Di’s face lit up.

“I need a drill, and a vat.” She said, rushing up the stairs. “And a lot of rose water.”
It took a few moments but Jade suddenly smiled, rushing after her. Only Kate was lost. Noticing Jade turned to fill her in.

“Remove whatever it is. Clean out and replace with rose water for scent.” She spelled out. “When attack begins, we know.”

“How I love that woman.” Even Kate was grinning a little and followed. “And it’s still filled and heavy-“
“So they’ll never know. Comon’!”

>--)->

Wildcat's Gym, Star City south. Tuesday evening.

“If I didn’t know better I would swear you moved the same hell hole to every city you moved to.” Ted looked up to see his old flame saunter into the room. “But it’s a new one. The old one is still being used.”

“Ya, I know.” Ted continued to move the new gym supplies into the ring for the next day’s lesson. “I keep in touch. Good kids.”

Not saying anything he made sure the surrounding lines and padding was in place, that the cooler was ready with water, and that first aid kit was full. Di wouldn’t let him hear the end of it if someone didn’t have the supplies they needed to clean up. He knew Sandra was following, but he really was beyond caring. He had told the others she was there giving them the time to meet safely. He had plenty to talk about if she really wanted to talk.

His last stop, and the one he had to admit he loved doing more than he ever thought he would, was to clean up the kid corner in the main office. It was once Tommy’s corner but now was shared with Robby and Gage. With their parents training in the front room and Ted watching this room it was the only place he knew in his gut was safe for them.

“How is Tommy doing?” Sandra said behind him as he put the newly cleaned blankets into position.

“Fine.” He set up the cat for Tommy, Robby’s worn lion and Gage’s yarn doll. Many more of these family expansions and he’d have to move out the guest chairs to make room.

“Good.” Sandra said, watching. Ted was putting additional kid snacks in the nearby mini-fridge. “What about his problem with, you know.”

“Taken care of. First order after getting him away from ‘haven was to clear that right up.” It was also the first time he had been allowed to see his grandson. Jade had welcomed him after all. “He was almost out of time.”

Sandra, if she had any shame at all, didn’t show it. Instead she sat down, looking like she owned the place.

“So is it just teaching now or is there something on the side, you can’t have really settled down.” Ted shook his head and grabbed a couple glasses. He had actually cut back on the brown liquor. “Are you going soft?”

“Nothing about this town is soft.” Ted handed her a glass. “It just likes to look like it, people aren’t the same though. Don’t put up with as much, and they won’t put up with you.”

“Is that a threat, Wildcat?” She leaned back, relaxed. “Are you suggesting I can’t hold my own?”

“Sandra, these kids had already been through hell. Then they got here and found more hell waiting for them.” He finished his glass and looked at her, she knew the look. His honest look. “They’ve faced more in the time I’ve been here then they had any reason to survive. They don’t play, and neither do I. Leave them alone, Sandra. You’re not going to win this one.”

“Win what, Ted. I came to see my daughter.” Standing up Lady Shiva glared at him. “Make sure my only grandchild was well.”

“If you cared about either of them you would have cleared Jade to get that sick little boy out from day one. You’re here to win. But you aren’t going to. They’ll beat you like they’ve beat everyone else.” He got up and refilled the glass. “So, aside from trying to break up our happy home, what else have you been up to?”

>--)->

Queen Manor, Front Hall. Tuesday Evening

“Little Bird!” Oliver saw his sister slowly walk into the front room and hurried down the stairs. She looked up and smiled weakly, but didn’t push him away. He noticed and sighed. “I know, your vacation. You can go right back as soon as things clear up. We just wanted you safe.”

“I know. Is it bad?” She asked, her brother could hear her voice was steeled.

“Less than it was, but there’s a lot we still don’t know.” Thea turned to see Dinah walking over and a sleepy Robby on her hip. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. But the people who went after your brother showed up, we don’t know who they’ll go after. Soon as we’re done you’ll go right back. Wherever you like.”

“Parisian fashion week?” The young woman asked, exacting the promise now. “Festival in Madrid? Flat in London.”

“Thea, we’re all burning out. Once we get a break we’ll take Europe by storm.” Robby saw his aunt and smiled. Thea picked up the kid and nodded. “I’ve never been, but I hear there’s this killer spa in Turkey. Girls’ week. Seven days of absolute nothing.”

“Home and it didn’t kill you.” Mia walked up and grabbed a moment with Di before Robby demanded her instead, Thea looked hurt and he reached over. “Anything new?”

“Took care of a few things, but we need to have a meeting proto.” Di and Ollie noticed the tiff but they didn’t have time to deal with it just now. “You know where.”

“That’s not good.” Dinah said as the two walked down to the meeting room, Mia holding tightly to the little boy.

“They didn’t say a single word in the plane or the car.” Diggle walked in, the new pilot close behind. “But Zee here got them home. Ms. Blake, the Queens.”

“We’ve met.” Oliver smiled knowingly. Suddenly Digs had the feeling he was out on a secret. “You’d be welcome at the meeting, covering our bases.”

“Sure thing, wherever the Skipper needs.” She nodded, flashing a smile. “Nice to be active again.”

“Good, to work. We don’t know how long Ted can hold her.” Adrien was worried about Shiva, her new normal. But as the last of them, Ms. Blake who declined a seat until everyone else was settled, settled in they got the presentation started.

The room was getting full, which considering the battle ahead of them was a good thing. They needed hands on deck. Adrien, who had a very thick file, smiled in relief at the sight.

“Okay, we have a lot to cover and too little time.” She handed out the files and moved on quickly. “Read it, learn it, burn it. I’ll have masters here. Intel is the key to all of us getting out of this and on to better things.”

“Question there, Chief.” Zinda said, waving lightly. “Am I known at this time or still incognito?”

“You stay at the hanger with your crew, Blake. Good catch.” Adrien responded and Zinda nodded, looking at the file. “Shiva –is- after at least one of the birds, maybe them all. Intel isn’t filled out right now. Waller’s mission isn’t avoidable but we have to cover ourselves, no one is joining her ranks after. You have the first run of the mission in your paperwork, it’s not perfect but feedback will make it better. Any and all thoughts welcome. True of all the items in the folder, correct me, please. I’d rather be wrong then get it wrong. Next issue.”

She turned on the projector and pulled up a number of pictures, all of kids to teens. The birds shook their heads and Ollie grabbed his wife’s hand, making sure she was okay.

“Missing, all recorded metas. Twenty-four of them. Almost certainly Roulette.” The room went quiet. “Exactly. There are some who have done this before. We’ll follow their lead and do our best to deal with this now. The earliest of them disappeared just over a month ago, so it would seem it’s still early. All bios and known information in file.”

“Any bodies?” A soft voice said, as Di spoke with what she could just then.

“Yes. Three, but they got home.” Adrien replied, it was hard news to tell. She put up the morgue photos, all brutal and under fourteen. “I won’t lie, this is bad. We need to find them.”

“Let’s move on, Ads.” Roy said after a few seconds, Oliver was tense, defensive. Now presented with what his wife had really been through. “We get it.”

“Understood, then we have one more matter. Kate?” She sat down, watching her ward. He was obviously upset.

“I’m not drunk.” The red head said and stood up. It lightened the room somewhat. “And I’m not pulling anything. Just hear me out. Mrs. Lance sent us help.”

The mood of the room changed, the sad mood now filled with uneasy disbelief.

“You better be really, really sure-“ Jade said, voicing what everyone was thinking.

“I know, I know. I am.” She pulled out the file, ready to explain. “I don’t get it either, but it’s real. The birds lost Mrs. Lance almost three years ago now. She protected us, looked out for us. She had this long history with the city and used it to help. Things went to hell after she passed, but that’s what happens when protections are gone. But here’s where it get weird.”

She pulled up a few pages, letting the others see.

“There’s no way she should know this stuff. The folder is addressed to Queen’s and company. She knew your married name, Di.”

It looked as if she knew more than that. She had a number of notes written out, most to specific people. She thanked Roy for taking in Jade and Tommy, told Kate she and Renee would be fine mothers. Shocked, Mia saw that she apologized for not saving her mother, but was glad Mia herself had gotten out. Lastly she thanked Oliver for taking care of her little bird, and told them to love all the babies for her. Robby’s middle name, Laurence after her husband, she called a ‘wonderful gestor’. Adrien she thanked for saving her little girl. She had something for everyone.

Zinda raised an eyebrow, glancing at the current canary. Oliver fixed his papers, as Di pointed out a few things of interest. The pilot shook her head, smirking somewhat.

“But the key is this. When the birds were training she was able to corral Lady Shiva into training us, really training us. We assumed it was some kind of friendship at the time, but as soon as out team formed up she turned on us. It was a contract. It was obviously based on some intel or alliance, but there was no way to know what that was.” Kate clicked to the next screen. “However Mrs. Lance got it she wanted us to have that information as well, said we’d need it now more than ever. And she’s right.”

Kate opened the file to about half way, and took a breath. As stoic as she was she seemed upset.

“My mother was connected to more than one of the great families of Gotham and ‘haven. So am I, through her. She was protected. The great families run both cities, it’s how it’s worked since forever.” She paused and collected herself. “Shiva set her up to be killed by Roulette, when I was three. If the main families ever found out both would be dead in the water. It’s not an example they can allow to be set. Mrs. Lance used this to get the greatest fighter of our time to train us, but she says it’s up to us what to do with it now. We play this right it can help everything. We play this wrong it starts a civil war.”

>--)->

Thea's room, Queen Manor. 11 pm.

Thea ignored the mountain of luggage in her room, instead curled up in her tank and panties on her bed. There were things she needed to do. Make up with Mia, catch up with her brother, even get to know her nephew again.

But as she looked around the room none of these appealed to her. She looked at the wide empire windows, ones she had requested be put in for her birthday one year. Her father had overseen the project himself, to make sure it was done perfectly. Once it was her way to wave to the people at the tennis court or gardens, so she hang out and still be with her family. Now it was nothing more than an easy entry point for kidnappers and killers. No one had been allowed to spend long hours in the gardens in months.

Footsteps went by outside and by training she could tell it was Di. They stopped by the door and a few words were spoken. They were worried, war was here again. War was always here. It never seemed to take a break in this house.

There was a knock and the woman entered, peeking in and smiling carefully.

“Is this a bad time?” She asked, obviously perfectly willing to leave. “We can go, come back any time that’s good for you, your call.”

“It’s fine, just give me a sec.” Thea grinned weakly, of course Di would come by. Her mother instincts were scary now. She got on pajama pants and opened the door. Di and her brother were at the railing, having one of those conversations with their eyes. She nodded them in.

“Not quite put back together yet.” She said in mention to the cases. “I’m just beat, I’ll get to it tomorrow.”

Oliver barely glanced at the bags, clearly uninterested. Instead he gathered his sister in a wide hug and held for a good minute.

“I know you escaped over there.” He said as he set her down again. “I’m so sorry, but we didn’t know if you would be safe.”

“The people who came after you, which ones?” She asked, sitting down on the bed. Di was gone, likely called to something.

“That that is a question now-“ Ollie looked tired himself. “The island people. Our local problems wouldn’t affect you out there. But we didn’t know the range on the kidnappers. I know the house isn’t ideal, but the prison camp-“

“The house is the better option.” It was hard to argue. “Only so many scars can be called tres chic and I think I’m there. Scary meeting.”

“We’ll make it. Look, I don’t want you to worry about it. You, Mia, the kids. Your job is to have fun, whatever you need to do. The rest is our job. You’ve seen enough. Take over the pool, dominate the video games, whatever you need to do. If it gets too hot we’ll see you’re kept safe.” Ollie kissed her head. “You’re the only Abbot I have.”

“Robby, look who it is!” Walking back in Di had a tired but awake Robby with her. “Aunt Thea’s home!”

She walked over and sat on her other side, letting Thea have time with the little boy. It did help her feel better. He grinned widely and laughed for her.

“Did your brother read you the relaxation act?” She asked, smiling as the baby was happily transferred to his aunt’s lap. “We got this, we keep you up to date, but the job is ours. You just let us know what you need.”

“Got it, Mom.” Thea teased, kissing the chubby cheeks. “I’ll be as useless as possible, promise.”

They left after a while and she curled up in bed, still smelling the sweet baby scent Robby carried with him. At first she slept peacefully, thinking of the babies, the family game nights they would have now, and the take out she knew was coming. It was only around three that her dreams turned. Mia, bleeding out on the floor nearby. Di, as she had been after the brawls in the pictures, fading into death. Then again bleeding out at the fort. The half-man her brother was after the island, the men there slicing into him. Blood draining out of him as well. The house burning, her family trapped inside, their cries. Her brother screaming to save his wife and son, Di only begging that Robby be spared. She woke in tears, drenched in her own sweat.

It was the shakes, the panic, she could still hear the cries and see the blood. It was everywhere. It was overload, total overload. Fumbling she reached into the side table and pulled out the small orange pills she depended on. The only ones that worked, that made the visions go away. It worked quickly, and the images faded, everything faded. Sleep would at least be safe.