Post by adrini on Jul 2, 2013 17:45:12 GMT -5
Roy adjusted his wrist communicator and adjusted his quiver. Behind him Dinah pulled her gloves into position one more time and moved to make sure her outfit allowed the movement she would need.
Rose had volunteered to help team alpha and so was hanging by the western wall.
“Taking them long enough.” She was sharpening the long blades she carried for the third time. Roy did not want to be on the wrong side of those things.
Dinah smiled at the teen. “They are in a camouflaged car weaving through the woods to get close enough to execute our commands. I’d rather they take the time they need and not crash.” She chided gently.
Rose granted the point. “A collision would wake the neighbors.”
Roy smiled and shared a look with Dinah. Rose was a professional but the two of them didn’t turn ‘on’ until the mission was go. It took too much energy.
>--)->
Thea felt the car stop and saw her brother put the car into park. He didn’t look happy. “We’re here.” He said. “Make sure the button doesn’t go anywhere.”
Thea looked west and saw the dim lights of the compound through the trees. “We are a good distance away, aren’t we?”
She could hear Ollie’s anger as he reclined his seat. “Nice and safe.” He said. “Unlike the others.”
It didn’t take much for Thea to guess the reason for his anger. Adrien had allowed Dinah to go in as her history involved a lot of infiltration missions, a perfect mission history to the current one. She had pointedly told Oliver to stay in the car. As much as she loved Aunt Adrien her brother was a grown man, nearly a husband, and she couldn’t keep him locked away forever.
Never the less this was the mission, the sooner it was over the sooner they could get home and Mia could have a home in the first place. She radioed the inside team.
-Speedy for Canary. We are in position. Begin.-
-This is Canary. Understood Speedy. Commencing now.-
Oliver nodded to her before putting his forehead on the steering wheel and she pressed the button to issue the command. The perimeter lights of the base went out. Looking out across the dark woods Oliver closed his eyes, praying that everything went right
>--)->
Diggle had opted for a ski mask over the small eye peices of the others. He stood behind a large red wood and waited for team beta to disarm the outside barrier. In his front pocket was Mia’s card, something he needed once he got inside.
The lights went out, leaving the grounds lit only by the early morning’s light. He waited for a long beep, jumped out from the tree and dashed into the door. He arrived at the door and swipped the card, it went through.
With a beep of it’s own he opened the door and took a sharp right. The outside controls could be remotely disabled, thanks to Roy and Thea’s training from Adrien and Jax. The inside security had to be disabled from within. He saw the security room and tried the card again, this time using the code he had been given as well. It wasn’t the first time Mia had ‘run away’ so they had taken a chance that the camp wouldn’t change the codes in the eleven hours since her leaving. It seemed to be paying off.
Inside he pulled out the data stick, a virus that would complete stage two. Quickly finding a free USB port he inserted the stick and loaded the program. It took a few tense moments to install completely but all seemed to be quiet. He removed the hardware and went to the room on the far left of the north hall, which was currently unoccupied, until his part came up again. He saw the east team entering as he closed the door. Right on time.
>--)->
Dinah, Roy and Rose stood behind a nearby tree and waited for the soft beep from the other end of the hallway. Rose smiled and leapt to the door and opening it with a praticed skill. Once inside they each took out a second card and started swipping the card readers in the hallways. The eletronic readers shorted and smoked, the occupants now stuck within until the feds arrived.
At the end of the hallway Dinah softly knocked on the last door and Diggle walked out.
“Coast is clear?” He asked, looking at the hallway of smoking card readers.
“So far.” She said as the lights in the building went out and the virus took hold. “But don’t count on it to last.”
“I’m not.” He ran to the weapons control panel in the next hallway as Alpha team ran up stairs to finish jamming the doors. It was about to get hard, but they needed to make sure the agents could take the place safely.
>--)->
-Canary to GA. Cards have been smoked and moving to HQ. Blow in two minutes.-
Oliver allowed himself to smile. -GA here. Glad to hear it Canary. Stay safe.-
Thea allowed herself a breathe a little. She watched the timer on the screen as it counted down to zero, this mission was almost done.
>--)->
Diggle fell to the ground to take cover as the blasts hit. Next to him Roy was curled into a ball with his head down. Dinah was covering Rose against the blast nearby. He looked up in the final moments and saw for a brief moment a sky that seemed perfectly bright even as the ringing started fading in his ears. People would start waking up now.
Alpha team ran into position as they took their place by the main entrance to the grounds in case anyone came out. He heard the banging and screaming of the men locked in their rooms, people they didn’t have to fight.
He nodded to Canary, who nodded in return. He was going after Gaynor.
>--)->
Dinah was looking around the perimeters, gun storage dismantled, power on lock down and data transferred. Digs wanted to secure Gaynor but the mission seemed complete otherwise. Nearby she saw Rose eyeing the walls and Roy waiting for clearance from Diggle. She also saw that Rose was carrying a thick rectangular case.
“Mia’s things?” She asked.
Rose nodded. “Only thing she’d want from this hell hole.” Her tones softened. “They belonged to Sarah.”
Dinah kept up the watch but smiled. “Precious indeed. If you don’t mind me asking, what is it?”
Rose smirked. “You won’t believe me.”
Dinah jumped a little but looking found she had only spotted a branch. “You’d be surprised.”
Looking at Rose she saw the woman was impressed. She was slightly insulted, she was once a professional to. “It’s a bow and quiver. Mia’s father was raised in Star City, taught Mia and left his bow to her.”
Dinah laughed before she could stop herself. “She’ll fit in fine.”
“I was going to take her, once this place went down.” Rose said, she had moved to look at six o clock to Dinah’s twelve. “She’ll be happier with you, I’m just glad you found each other.”
“I’m not one for the supernatural but I have a heavy suspicion Mom had something to do with this.” Dinah thought she saw movement to her right but when she looked again nothing was there. “We looked for those two for years. We were still looking when Mom passed.”
Rose’s eyes were sharp but she nodded. “My sympathies. I know how that is.” Dinah nodded herself, an understanding formed. “Anyway, I was wondering if I could visit, see her now and then.”
Dinah smiled. “Rose, you were a friend when she needed it most. You would be welcome. We have lots of rooms, there is always one waiting for you.” Dinah smiled at the wistful look on the teens face. Suddenly she realized she hand’t seen Roy in a time.
She looked by the entrance and saw him. They weren’t alone.
>--)->
Roy gulped a breath of air as a small dagger hit the man that had been holding him in the arm. He fell to the ground for a moment until he got his breath back.
“It’s over Knox.” Rose said, she knew the man. “On the ground yourself or I put you there.”
There was clearly a history there. “Sounds inviting, but you’re not who I had in mind. Now give her back or the reservation goes away.” The man said. He had short black hair with a deep tan.
Roy stood up. “Not likely, actually. Your systems have been deactivated. I really would surrender if I were you.” He had moved to stand next to Dinah who was waiting for a cue from Rose.
The man jolted, he hand’t counted on that. “So my choices are these two? There are worse things.”
“Your choices are to stand down or suffer the consequences. That is all.” Dinah said. “I’d take the first if I were you.”
“And here I thought the Canary was retired. I heard you had enough already." Said a second voice from the door. A second man walked out, followed by a third. The first was bald and pale, and the second had spiky short red hair and sunburned skin. He smirked. "It’s good to see you again.”
This time it was Dinah’s eyes that slitted. “Cavanaugh.”
“It’s been awhile Birdy.” The man leared.
Rose and Dinah looked at each other for a moment. They charged. Roy looked at the third man and shrugged, just as good as any of them.
>--)->
Rose jumped as Knox tried to dodge. She swipped her blades, purposely missing. “The people I’m working with require me to give you a chance to surrender. Please don’t take me up on it.” She could taste the blood lust, but this kind came with no associated guilt.
“I wouldn’t dream of denying you the pleasure.” He pulled two knifes out of his boots.
She grinned, that was exactly what she wanted to hear. She stepped forward and aimed for his neck.
He dodged and jutted a blade toward her center, she turned and sliced his side shallowly. He faltered for a moment before continuing to circle, she knew that shallow cuts were the most painful. “Just a scratch?”
She looked at blood leave the cut and smiled. “Oh yes. One at a time. I want to make this last for you.” She said.
The twisted humor disappeared from the man’s face, replaced with fear. He jumped toward her again.
>--)->
Roy was suddenly very glad that Jax used a metal alloy for his bows, it was coming in handy.
While he didn’t have a personal history with his foe he knew that by virtue of association he was a bad, bad man. He was actually able to have some fun.
The red haired man swung his blade only to have Roy block it again. “Never thought we’d be attacked by Robin Hood.” He hissed, aiming an under cut that Roy twisted out of position, the man ended up cutting himself lightly.
Roy managed to shoot an arrow that the man dodged, he was fast. “I’m more of a Will Scarlett, really. You really don’t want to meet the man in Green, he’s having a rough day just now.” He blocked another swipe and kicked the man to the gound and pinned him. “Trust me on this one.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” The man said with a grunt and twisted himself out from under his shoe.
Roy used his feet to flip him onto his stomach before he could stand. “Good call.” He said as he snapped his bow into the back of the man’s head. The man went out cold.
>--)->
Evidently Dinah wasn’t the only person to work in new areas. “I could have sworn I killed you last time we met.” She told the bald man. “In fact, I’m quite sure.”
The man gave her a twisted smile. “I got better.” He pulled a long machete out of it’s case. “It happens.”
She took battle form. “I’ll have to do it better this time, then.” She started to circle him.
The man laughed and swung the blade over head, she rolled on the ground before jumping off it and landing behind him. The last time they had fought it was the two of them in a deserted alley way, she had won mostly through her scream. Here she had people she didn’t want to hit with it.
“No singing little bird?” The man said, the words stung. “You have such a lovely voice.”
She couldn’t afford to focus on the banter. Without the scream this fight had just gotten a whole lot harder. She did have the advantage that it was really hard not to telegraph with a blade that large. From her current position she tried to hit his lower back, he twisted.
The man charged her with the blade and she dived and aimed to twist his feet. He jumped at the last second avoiding the attack and rolled. “You’ve changed, I like it.” The man said as they circled again. “Less of a scared and lonely girl. The old you would be going hyper on me by now.” He looked at her, trying to figure out the puzzle. “What happened Canary?”
“People grow.” She said and jumped as he tried to slice her again, again jumping on the blade. The man was a one trick pny, but he was really good at his trick. “The sword is great by the way. I might integrate it into my workouts.”
“I aim to please.” He said as she jumped just in time to dodge another upper cut. The man cursed. “You will never learn to stand still.” He said. His long arch was a deadly attack when it hit and a huge delay between attacks when it failed.
“Doesn’t seem in my best interest.” She jumped again and twisted his head in her feet before throwing him to the ground. A moment later she felt an intense pain and buckled to the ground, using her last thought to aim her scream of pain in the air where no on would be hurt by it.
Cavanagh had pulled a second knife and sliced her leg. “Give it a shot.” He said cruelly as she blacked out. “You might like it.”
>--)->
Thea sat at the computer in the back of the car waiting for Diggle’s signal to move-out. At the wheel Oliver was continuing to stew. Wearing the costumes seemed almost silly.
“Won’t be long now.” She said. It had been almost ten minutes, Diggle had to be getting close. “We’ll be safe and okay, and on the plane home. Whatever you two decide to do just watch the noise levels, okay? Plane walls are thin.”
Oliver laughed and she breathed a little easier. He was going to worry himself into a panic. “I’ll keep that in mind in future. Sorry about that.”
She moved and sat in the passenger seat. “I’m worried to. But it’s a stealth mission. Too many people could just be a liability.”
Oliver put his seat in the upright position. “We both know that’s not why were here.” He said bitterly.
As much as she wanted to have a response to that she knew she didn’t. They were here because without them there would be no company and no Queen’s. They both lived life in a glass case. “I know. It sucks.”
Ollie smiled a little. “It super sucks.”
Thea sighed, she didn’t like being controlled so well herself. She imagined it wouldn’t be long before she lost patience for it just like Oliver had. A few moments later they heard an audible scream of pain from the base, only is was more somehow. It shook the air, she could feel vibrations all the way out in the car.
Oliver looked terrified. “That was Dinah.” He said, quickly putting the car out of park.
She had to agree with the theory, none of them could scream like that. She hurried to the radio to find out exactly what was going on. The radio center turned on, Thea took the incoming message.
-RA for GA. Canary down. Repeat Canary down. Requesting emergency back up. Bring med kits-
There was a second message from Roy a moment later.
-Bugging out. Repeat. Bugging out.-
It took a moment for the message to sink in but when it did she looked at Oliver who’s face had gone white. She had enough presence of mind to buckle quickly as his eyes sparked with an internal fire and he drove the car toward the front gate.
>--)->
Roy heard the car before he saw it, and not just because of the camouflage. The car parked perfectly just outside the gate, and shortly after he saw Thea scramble out of the car, fastening the quiver on her back. She hurried toward Dinah. Thankfully she was carrying several medkits.
He was fighting Cavanaugh at the time so his attention was torn, and he was once again thankful for the metal bow. By the time he looked back toward the car he shivered at what he saw.
Cavanaugh noticed. “See a ghost boy?” He tried to hit again and Roy used his bow to block it. Useful trick.
Roy dodged. “Yours. You hurt the wrong song bird today.” He hurried to get out of the way.
Cavanaugh laughed. “Why is that?” The man said and tried to follow him.
“Me.” Oliver said, singually focused on the man in front of him. The man turned around and looked like he was going to say something cute. He never got the chance.
Oliver’s bow was still on his back, he only ever used hand to hand when it was personal, and this couldn’t get much more personal. Oliver grabbed the man by the neck and lifted him off the ground. The man’s face began to go blue and the blood covered blades fell to the ground. That out of the way Oliver threw him several feet and walked towards him.
The man had been cocky as hell but now was unsure. He steadied himself and tried to get back in the fight. He threw a punch that was deftly caught. Roy had never seen Oliver like this. The most he had seen was brief flaires of impatience or frustration.
Keeping the fist in his Oliver forcefully closed his hand. Cavanaugh began to cringe and whimper in pain. With a start Roy realized that Oliver was crushing the man’s primary hand, he was disabling his best form of attack.
The ruined hand was released and fell uselessly to the man’s side. Cavanaugh knew what fear was now. Oliver threw a series of punches, each one to pressure points and major joints. Cavanaugh was angry but increasingly weak and hurt.
“You’re too late.” He said making the obvious connection. “I cut her good, settled our score nice and even after last time. Say goodbye while you can.” The man spat, blood running out of his mouth as he spoke.
Oliver had been hunched over, training from his boxing teacher, but now stood calmly. “Then it’s too late for you.”
Taking out his bow he used the metal base and the string. Roy looked away just in time to hear a loud crack. When he looked back the man’s face was facing the wrong direction as he lay on the gound. Oliver was entirely unaffected by the death he had caused, busily trying to rouse and comfort his better half against all hope.
>--)->
Diggle ran to the top floor and kicked in the door, he knew Gaynor and he would have the best suite in the house. He was sliding Mia's key on the fourth door when he heard his radio go off demanding a bug out. He couldn’t bring himself to respond, he was too close.
Roy spoke on the line again, he sounded even more shaken. -'Digs. It's time to leave. We can't wait.-
Diggle cursed. It had been twenty years waiting to close this chapter and they wanted to pull out now. -This is the reason we're here RA. You know the bastard deserves this.-
There was a moment of radio silence. Diggle kept running. He was almost there.
Roy spoke again. -Digs, they got Dinah, and it doesn’t look good. We have to get out of here if she's going to make it. The feds are coming, they'll see he goes away. I'll see to it. But we don't have long.-
He stopped in his tracks and closed his eyes. Walking away would be hard but not as hard as what the others were dealing with, and he wasn't going to find out what Oliver would become if he lost his parents and his partner in one year. -On my way. Make sure a doctor is waiting.-
>--)->
Thea held onto the interior handles of the car as Diggle drove like a mad man on the small dirt road back to the reservation. She was curled into the corner in close quarters with Rose.
Diggle had cursed when he saw the wound, as it had hit a major artery. That explained the mass of blood. He treated and wrapped the leg, and closed the wound but Dinah had still not woken up and was just as pale and still as she had been lying on the ground. Her breath was getting increasingly weak.
Roy had called Brave Bow first, and if the line suddenly being hung up was any indication the man had hurried to the clinic. Second he had contacted the feds and sent them a pack of evidence.
In the seat behind them, the longest, Oliver sat with Dinah's head in his lap. His green suit was covered in the rich red blood Dinah’s body had let. No one had said much to him, both out of fear and concern, instead just getting out of his way when he grabbed a blanket to wrap her in and carried her to the car after Diggle had the wound set for transport. Thea couldn't read his face entirely but she could tell that he was terrified, memories of the grief and loss of their parents running through his head. She wasn’t sure he was strong enough to loose Dinah now as well.
>--)->
Diggle walked into the clinic waiting room. The local doctor, the same that had checked out Mia, was waiting for them when they arrived. After admitting Dinah, Dr. Alana Houlihan quietly told the others to wait at home, it would be a while. Oliver she offered a cup of coffee and the best corner seat.
He and the others had packed and loaded up the car, what they had done wasn’t strictly legal, however needed. It would be best to be able to get going quickly. Adrien had called with good news. She had located the paperwork to prove the blood relationship between Mia and Dinah. With the newly filled ‘investigation’ into Gaynor his custody had been revoked and transferred to them. Normally this news would have thrilled the young teen but she received it following the news of Dinah’s injury. Her reaction was more tempered.
Back at the clinic little had changed. In the fourteen hours since arriving the young man had changed and showered but was still nursing the same cup of coffee in the corner of the office. Diggle walked over and took the seat next to him. He was leaned over in his chair and looking at the emerald ring in his hands.
Diggle leaned over and waited a moment before speaking. “Any news?”
Oliver shook his head. “Surgery. No jewelry allowed. That’s all though.”
The obvious question, ‘Are you alright?’ wasn’t needed. He wasn’t. “Car is ready to go, Mia’s clear, we just need to sign and send in forms, maybe a hearing later on. We heard helicopters after we got back so they’ve claimed the place by now.”
Oliver nodded and actually looked at him. “I’m sorry you couldn’t get Gaynor. I know you were looking forward to it.”
Diggle smiled cautiously. He didn’t know if Ollie was recovering or being polite. “It wouldn’t have brought them back. I’m just glad I got back when I did.” It was a minute before the young man spoke again.
“He said I was too late.” The young man said when he did speak, he seemed to be haunted by the memory. “That he cut her perfectly and she was as good as dead.” Oliver was looking at the ring with a numb expression on his face. “I can’t loose her, not now.”
Diggle’s heart went out to him but from what he had seen of the wound he couldn’t deny the possibility. Roy had told him Cavanaugh had been a nemesis of hers from the old days. Diggle was beginning to understand why she left. For her to be lost now, when the darkness had finally passed for both of them would be cruel.
“We haven’t lost her yet. Hang in there.” He said. He was fairly sure Ollie didn’t hear him.
He stayed in his seat and thirty minutes later the door to the clinic opened slowly. Mia’s blond head peaked around it. She saw who was there and nodded to herself before walking over to him and taking a seat two over. Knowing her history Diggle didn’t take it personally.
She looked at him and spoke quietly. “How is she?” She was hard to hear.
“In surgery. We’ll know more soon.” Diggle was really hoping for some good news.
Mia nodded and a moment later spoke again. “Who did it?”
Diggle realized that she would know the members of the camp. “Roy said it was Cavanaugh.”
She nodded, she wasn’t surprised. “Sounds like something he’d do.”
Diggle noticed an increase in activity behind the doors to the back but didn’t say anything. Both of the young people near him were in their own worlds, it was best to leave them there until he had something for them. A few minutes later he saw the doctor quietly walk over to Oliver and crouch down to speak with him. He felt his heart skip a beat.
The two spoke softly but he heard Oliver begin to cry and soon saw him give the woman a hug. The doctor was smiling. He bowed his head and wiped away his own tear. “Thank god.” He said quietly.
>--)->
It was about the time they approached the front gate that she woke up from napping on Oliver’s shoulder. Dinah tried to move and found Ollie’s hand automatically tightening to hold her close, and she wasn’t even sure he was awake. The gate opened and she nudged Thea with her good leg instead. She, along with Mia, were crashed on the opposite seat. Rose had said she had someone to meet elsewhere.
“We’re home guys. Thea, can you help Mia find her room and get settled?” Dinah said softly as Thea stretched.
Thea nodded and woke up Mia, pointing to the house outside the window. “Welcome home.” Thea told the blond haired teen. “Your room is next to mine, if that’s okay.”
Dinah saw Mia shyly look out the window and beam at the sight, eyes going wide. “You live there?” Mia said excitedly, finally waking up Oliver who had been asleep after all.
Ollie looked at the young woman and yawned. “Only place we ever have.” He said. He looked at Dinah and nuzzled into her cheek. “How are you?” He asked.
Dinah sighed happily. “Good.” She said, the pain killers had finally kicked in, she didn’t have to act like she wasn’t in agony anymore. “Better when I can walk normally again.”
She heard laughter from the front seat. Roy yawned and smiled at the sight of the house. Diggle sighed happily as he parked. “Home safe.” He said turning off the engine. “Now lets stay here.”
The doors opened as the others grabbed the bags from the back and made their way inside. Dinah very carefully scooted toward the door of the car. The idea of tearing a stable out of her just healing skin did not sound appealing. She reached the edge of the seat to see her crutch seemingly fly away of it’s own accord in front of her eyes.
She stuck her head out the door and realized just how tired she would be once she hopped to the front door on her one good leg from her current location. “I need that.” She said, too tired to care much about her tone.
Oliver kneeled down and picked her up instead, the worried and loving expression on his face made her feel guilty. “I have a better idea.” He made his way to the front door and she settled into him. Ever since the fight he had been even sweeter then normal. She was forgetting how she lived without him.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and watched Diggle bring in the last of the luggage. One upside of nearly dying was that people were willing to do all kinds of things for you. Didn’t remotely make up for almost dying.
Seeing the house again and hearing Diggle close and arm the door allowed the last vestiges of the trip to fall away. She looked around and realized just how much this place had become home.