Post by adrini on Jan 21, 2014 21:57:53 GMT -5
"Just keep in mind that the final exam is worth fifty percent of your final grade, so if you have trouble early in the semester you can pull that up. The first assignment for this class is to write three two page essays on any of the books you were assigned over the summer, so I hope everyone remembered to get to them." Mrs. Hanlon turned the projector off and picked up the hand outs. "Double spaced, with references, and due on Friday. No late work unless you have a really good excuse."
Mia nodded and accepted the handout when the teacher walked by. She had finished all the books on the reading list, but needed to decide on which ones to write about. There was whispering behind her, as the new girl in school the other students hadn't quite decided what to think about her.
"We have fifteen minutes left in class, keep the noise levels down and it's yours. Miss Queen, may I see you for a moment?" Mrs. Hanlon sat down.
"Is there something wrong?" Mia asked when she got to the desk, knowing she was new to the rules of the school.
"Not at all. I just know you got here part way through the summer and you might not have gotten through the reading list. If you prefer I'll take three books of your choosing, if that's the case" Mrs. Hanlon smiled kindly. "Your last several months is more then reason enough to go easy at first."
"Oh no, I finished them. Ollie and Di read them with me so we could talk about them to. I just need to decide which ones to choose." Mia hurried to explain. "I'm okay."
"In that case I'll leave you to your pondering. Let me know if you need anything going forward, Miss Queen." The teacher looked impressed.
"Asking for special help?" The girl next to her when she sat down. Mia remembered that Thea had mentioned the clicks and kept her tone even.
"Just making sure I got the summer reading done, I finished them." Mia continued to look at the paper and choose the first two titles. "Just choosing."
The girl sneered a little but went back to talking to her friends. Mia ignored her. A few seconds later a school messenger hurried into the room and talked to the teacher. Mrs. Hanlon turned the projector on and changed it to the cable line.
"There are currently over three hundred hostages, including three school groups of second graders who were on the compound for a diversity day and fifty-three international outreach personal from the medical wing who were there for orientation before shipping out to various locations for six month tours.
The group attacking the Sherwood Outreach call themselves the Aryan Brigade, and appear to be a white supremacist group. The local police are on the scene and are currently assessing the situation. We know there has been some destruction of property in the statuary garden, but the brigades main focus is the capture of senior personnel. Mrs. Olivia Helen is currently being held and her condition is injured but it is not known how badly. The status of Mrs. Dinah Lance Queen, the wife of Queen Industries owner Oliver Queen, is also unknown. They are also demanding the surrender of Jade Grant, Mrs. Queen's personal assistant and the girlfriend of Mr. Roy Harper. Mr. Harper is Mr. Queen's assistant and close personal friend. Her status remains unknown as well.
The group has told the press that they are prepared to start executing hostages if several of the members of the local hero team "Team Arrow" show up. Only Black Canary and Cheshire have been invited to make contact. More when the news arrives, back to you, Steve."
Mia felt her breathing go shallow as she watched the broadcast. Her hands clenched on the bars of her desk as she felt herself get light headed. In a haze she felt herself begin to cry in panic, and heard a voice trying to speak to her.
"Mia, can you hear me?" Said the voice. "She's blacking out, oh god, get her to the office. Go!"
There was a feeling of an arm holding her up her feet moved to the door.
"Not much farther, Miss Queen." Said another voice. "Almost there."
She sat down in a chair and started drinking a bottle of water she was given. As the fog faded a little she saw a number of other students sitting in the room, all of them in states of panic.
"Mia, can you hear me Mia?" The voice was familiar and as she focused she saw Cissie's face looking at her. "There you are. They 're bringing Thea and Rose over and Dad will be here soon to pick us up and take us to the manor. It'll be okay, you'll see."
Mia nodded and looked around the room, everyone was crying or trying not to. Students were calling for siblings, parents, friends and loved ones. She could feel her hands shake, Di was in danger. Ollie had to get her back.
Rose lead in a teary Thea into the room and the four hurried to each other. Bowstring arrived shortly after. He wordlessly led them to the car.
"Thank you, Bowstring. I really appreciate you bringing the girls home." Adrien walked into the sitting room where a sea of blue was working the case when they arrived at the manor. "You're welcome to stay and look after the girls, Digs and I won't really have time."
"What about Roy and Ollie?" He looked for them among the chaos.
"Not doing well right now." Adrien sighed. "We're giving them time to catch up. Anderson? Of course. So sorry Bowstring." She hurried over to the computer when the chief called.
Looking behind him he half expected to see Jade or Di leaning on the staircase waiting to fill him in. There was no one. The girls had gathered in Mia's room and the rest of he house was spookily quiet, it felt wrong. Someone should be laughing or cheering over a game.
The back door was slightly ajar and when he went to close it he saw the two young men sitting in the garden, they looked shaken.
"Bowstring, I heard you took the girls home, thank you." Oliver said softly when he approached.
"Glad to help. Getting fresh air?" He joined them.
"We're remembering, that's all." Roy said. "And waiting for news."
"The garden is important?" Oliver chuckled at his question.
"We forget, you weren't there. This was where the wedding was." The young man sighed. "I'm just hoping forever is longer then it's looking right now. They were both here then, and safe."
"I'm sorry." Bowstring nodded, noticing a look between the two. Roy patted his friend on the back. "Has there been any contact?"
"We're working through the fire walls into Di's office. Once we get that we'll have audio and video of the compound. We can start working from the inside."
Adrien hurried into the garden and waved them over.
"Security from the tower is blocking us, you need to work on your end." She hurried with the others inside. "Go with Digs."
>--)->
This is Rivers. Come in Di and Jade, this is Rivers.
The women looked at each other and scrambled to Di's desk to turn on the desk comm.
"We're here, but it does not look good." Jade said.
"They have someone working on the door, it's not buckling yet but it will be soon." Di added. "How is everyone?"
Worried sick about you. We broke though the security so we have eyes and ears. There is a man with a fire tool working on the door, and a second with a hammer or something.
"We know, they keep screaming at us." Di said wryly. "What should we do?"
Try to find some way of slowing him down. Help is on the way. Just hold on.
"We'll see what we can do with office supplies and agriculture samples-" Di grinned, an idea coming to her.
"Oh, but I love you right now." Jade said to her, catching on. "We'll be okay for a while. Di is being brilliant. Just get the help to us."
Keep being brilliant. We're here if you need us.
"I have extra hose in there, and a sewing kit." Di directed Jade as she opened the box with new soil samples. "Let's see how effective the new fertilizers really are."
>--)->
"We're in. North wing, attic. Directions?" Oliver said as he and Roy walked to the stairwell.
The back passage way is clear, use it to reach the rear of the auditorium. Whiplash is keeping an eye on two rooms. Once you take him out you should be able to clear them.
"Glad he's the easy one." Roy said softly, his eyes went wide. "Look Oliver, kids."
Within the auditorium were about ninety six and seven year olds with their teachers trying to keep them calm. There were mixed degrees of success. The kids were crying and simpering, several asking for their parents. The young men looked at each other, once it would have been a simple rescue scene. With Oliver about to start a family of his own, and Roy looking at doing the same, it had just gotten much more personal.
"Next room." Oliver said, resolve clear in his voice.
They saw Whiplash circle into the room with the kids and looked into the speakers room. The medical volunteers were against the back wall. Softly Oliver knocked on the lecturn and a couple young people looked up and started at the sight. He motioned for them to approach.
They walked over and Oliver and Roy saw their hands were bound. Roy took out a folded blade and cut the bounds.
"Free the others, but stay as you are until we give you the signal." Roy said through his modulator.
"When you get the signal go next store and help them get the kids out. Whiplash will be out but if you can drug him so the police can bring him in. Nothing lethal, just sedation. The exit will be open." Oliver finished through his. "Understood?"
The two young people nodded and hurried back to the others. Scalpels we're taken out so the bounds could be cut faster. They even hid the cut cords in a medical waste bucket.
The two archers climbed into decorated alcoves and waited. Soon the Aryan leader appeared in the hallway again. Waiting until he reached the center point they fired.
The man tried to scream as an electric arrow stunted his pack. But a skin shock arrow hit his chest at the same moment and fell to the ground silent. Oliver wordlessly unsealed the exit and they walked back to the speakers room. They waved and the medical class.
"The kids, but quietly." Oliver said as they hurried to the second room. They hurried with the students.
Once there the teachers hurried to get the kids to their feet. A few of the kids had to be picked up, they were too terrified to move. Ollie and Roy both carried one. Ollie walked next to the head teacher.
"If you take a sharp right into the gardens the security gates will be open." He said to the woman. "The police are waiting, they'll make sure everyone gets home."
"Thank you." She said, trying to remain calm herself. She looked at the terrified little boy. "See Robert, I told you we'd be okay."
"Robert?" He said, surprised. She nodded. "My son's name is Robert."
"He's a lucky boy. Thank you Mr. Arrow." They got to the door. Oliver gently put the boy down.
He and Roy watched as two meds students gave whiplash a couple shots and hurried over to leave.
"He'll be out for awhile, Mr. Arrow." The first said. "Good luck."
Roy closed the door after them. "You picked out a name already?"
"We had names ages ago, just didn't think we'd be using them this soon." Oliver replied. "Next."
"GA to Arsenal. Two rooms cleared. Next destination." Oliver said softly.
Good, the SCPD have already spotted them. Next is the administration. They are being held in the main cafeteria. Golden Eagle is guarding that room.
"What about D- Mrs. Queen and Miss Grant? How is the door holding up?" Roy asked quietly.
Don't take your time. Diggle chuckled. Though I almost feeling sorry for the attackers. We forget they took care of themselves for a long time.
>--)->
"Let's try the AS-31. It was very promising in trials." Di said as she tied off the now filled portion of stocking. "They should love it."
"Where did you get these?" Jade climbed over the door and tossed a ball of fertilizer into the grate. Like the others it hit the overhead grate and the powder fell onto the two men trying to melt the door in. The fire didn't help. The men cursed at them again and started another coughing fit.
"The agriculture wing is working on ways to return deserts to usable farmland. Ease world hunger, help a host of issues. They sent me a box of their newest formulas to give to the greenhouse here for testing." Di cut off the new ball. "Thankfully they hadn't sent anyone to pick the box up yet."
"I can't believe we're using stink bombs to fight neo-nazis." Jade caught the newest ball. "Oh, this is a nice one."
"Phosphorus and sulfur." Di smirked. "Nothing but the best."
>--)->
"What are they doing!?" Golden Eagle screamed. As the breaking of the door dragged on.
Olivia could feel herself grow a little weaker, but she still fought to stay awake.
"Fighting back, what do you think?" She held the wound in her side, keeping pressure on it. "They're from the haven, it's what they do."
"I know." The man growled. "Good god but I know."
Olivia looked around the cafeteria, there were only a few wounded. The rest of the staff were placed against the wall and staying calm. The emergency lights were on, the police had to know what was going on by now.
She was leaning back on the wall when she felt a plastic item hit her side, it was an ear piece. She put it in.
Olivia, it's Diggle. Don't respond. We're getting everyone in this room out. In a few seconds the back exits will short circuit. Pretend that they've been threatening to for awhile, and they need your code to stop. We know you're hurt, bring someone who won't panic with you. We called in the Calvary. Just follow their lead.
Olivia leaned her head against the wall and waited, right on cue the back alarms started.
"What the hell is that?" Golden Eagle demanded. Adrien made a show of sitting up and sighing.
"The back door has messed up wiring, has for a few weeks. I need to put my clearance in to shut it down." She tried to pull herself up. "Won't take but a moment."
"Stay down!" The man screamed, aiming the gun at her. She shrugged and sat down. After a few more moments he twitched. "Fine, go turn it off."
She struggled to stand up again, not needing to pretend, and leaned on the wall.
"May I take a support? Someone shot me and I'm not walking so well." She found she had to focus on staying fluid.
"One. And don't be long." He glared.
"Williams, comon." The black young man got up and held her up as they walked to the back doors.
Reaching the back door Adrien felt her face go white. Green Arrow and Red Arrow were there, holding it open for her.
They have it from here. Go.
Oliver nodded to his fellow archer and they pulled out arrows.
>--)->
"All the medical volunteers and kids are being checked out." Adrien said into her headphone. "The staff?"
"Being wrapped up now." Diggle replied over the line. "Ollie and Roy are screwing with the internal systems to mess the Aryan's up."
"Mr. Queen has a lot of feeds into the Outreach." Anderson noticed.
"It's where his wife works, he has some interest in keeping an eye on the security there." Adrien replied. "Alright, staff exiting. It's just Di and Jade now."
"Stinkbomb!" The girls screamed from the game room, giggles following.
"Mrs. Queen is a cruel, cruel human being." Bowstring said with a slight grin as he walked over. "But only when it's called for."
"Not traditional tactics, but effective." Anderson smiled cautiously. "Now we just have to hope that the arrows can pull the last two away from the door, it's almost down."
>--)->
"Harder, a little more." Jade said as they pushed the desk against the door. "Do you have a safe we can use?"
"In the wall." Di said, winded. "It's official, my endurance isn't what it used to be."
"Less lung space, get used to it." Jade began to pull the sofa over. "You'll get it back."
"This and the table but that's it." Di said, taking the books off the coffee table. "Door isn't going to take much more."
"Help would be welcome just about now." Jade said.
"Di, you feeling okay?" Adrien's voice rang over the comm.
"One of the researchers gave me her cold, do we have medication at home?" Di quickly covered.
"I think so, I'll see to it. The Arrows are incoming, this is almost done. Hold tight." Adrien quickly replied, they could see her putting the note into her phone. Di turned off the speaker.
"Not a secret that will keep." Jade said softly.
"Telling her won't help her focus right now. It's breaking." Di swallowed and grabbed Jade's hand. "I know we've had our rough spots, but you are my sister and I love you. I need you to know that. I really am sorry."
"You don't think you're making it out of this?" Jade raised an eyebrow.
"I should have died six months ago, and I know it. I don't assume anymore." She shrugged. "It's all borrowed time, I guess."
"It's a cold day in hell when I'm the optimist." Jade said in disbelief. The door fell in.
"You goddamn bitches." The first man sneered, instinctually Jade stepped in front of her friend. They both took form.
"Did you really expect us to roll over and surrender?" Jade asked.
"We fought tougher thugs on the way to the gym." Di muttered. "I'd pay to see how long these two would last in the grotto." Jade gave a hallow laugh.
"Oh, sure. You're such big heroes." The second sneered. "We know who you are."
"I would hope so." Jade looked confused. "The names were on the door, until you burned them off anyway."
"No you're heros, Canary and Cheshire." The first said.
The two looked at each other and fought back laughter. Di lost it for a moment and leaned on her friend.
"Ya, sure. Okay." The blonde chortled. "I train recruits, go home and take care of things there then think it might be fun to, what, fight drug dealers for the thrill?"
"Well duh, we can't just save the world through soil samples. Though if your screaming kills people how is your husband still alive?" Jade asked.
"We'd have to ask them." Di shrugged. "After the dry cleaning fail he should at least be in critical condition."
"Enough!" The second screamed. "Stop lying!"
"They aren't." A red clad archer made the turn, arrow drawn. "We got our girls with us." He motioned to his ear peice.
"Couldn't get them out of our heads if we wanted to." Green Arrow added. He cringed, appearing to listen to something.
"You know you deserved that, right?" The first Arrow smirked.
"You-but, they're right there-" The aryan seemed to be frustrated.
"I believe this is where you take over?" Jade said, the two nodded. Jade grabbed her friend and pulled her to one side of the room.
The two Aryans tried to hurry after them but arrows flew in their faces. Red and Green Arrow quickly moved to engage them as the two women ran out.
The first man started fire with his hands, revealing himself as a meta human. The second flexed and began to charge Oliver. Roy quickly rounded the first.
-Heatmonger and Ironcross. You should have everything you need, be careful. The girls are out and okay. It's just this now.-
>--)-->
"Mrs. Queen and Miss Grant are out. The building is clear. Are your friends out?" Anderson looked at Adrien.
"According to the video feed. Thank you for not going after them." She smiled grimly.
"I wish they'd join the blues, but they've been a help so far." He smiled. "Signal Oliver and the others?"
"Already on their way there." Adrien smiled warmly. "I'll get the house and the girls taken care of here. I'll have to clear things with the press as well. I'll trust you'll want a moment also?"
"How about the front lawn for the announcement? I can have it set up quickly." Anderson motioned for his crew to set the area up.
Jade was leaning on a tree and taking in the view. The three officials that had been shot had been moved out to the hospital. Di, in her hurry, had slipped on a stone but was otherwise fine. She was leaning on the tree next to her and looking at her coworkers herself.
"So." Jade said, crossing her legs in front of her. "That little show back there, that was nice. I see why you like the mask so much."
"I try."Di replied dryly. "This family buys therapy at a bulk rate, I'm not kidding. The last thing they need is me adding haven retribution to that."
"Haven tortured you. They never would have killed you. Try again." Jade looked over. "But with more truth this time."
"See, anyone else would have bought that." The blonde said with frustration. "I know I'll be showing this time next month, be even more of a target then ever. We're tracking a host of villains, and we don't really know how bad they are. They got smart a while back. So far there are over seventy separate possible targets, most of them high population. I'll be shocked if it takes more then a couple weeks for them to figure out who we really are. To stop them we need to infiltrate several locations at once but with me like this we have you, just you. I didn't want this life back but it kept being thrown at us." She sighed. "There's a line of coffins lining up in front of me. But I know the manor is the most likely target and the most likely place I'll be stashed when they try something. The first one is very likely mine, I just hope it's the only one."
Jade sighed, it was a valid concern.
"I'm assuming this wasn't planned." Di shook her head. "Then I get you out. Use the old prohibition tunnels." She said after a while. "Adrien is good at back up plans, we'll get her involved. Make sure it has clean air supplies, basics, secure entrance, and I'm going to say a birthing kit. Just in case."
"Cute." Di shrugged. "Heat sensors."
"I'll work on it." Jade rolled her eyes. "Forgive me if I'm not ready to give up yet."
>--)->
Outside the Outreach an army of emergency and aide workers were processing those who had been held, then waiting for parents or making sure they got home. Reporters were on the scene happily announcing the good news. A black hybrid drove up and Mr. Queen hurried out, his assistant close behind. He hurried to the EMP tracking names.
"Queen, Dinah Lance. Grant, Jade." He said tensely. "Please tell me how they are."
"No need to look you up." The woman smiled. "Both fine, sitting with the administration. The only injury was a slight strain. Mrs. Queen slipped on a rock while exiting the building, they were rather focused on getting out quickly. Rick, can you help these gentleman?"
A young man smiled and led them to the left field, where the uninjured administration were being processed before going home. Roy sprinted ahead, eagerly looking for his better half. It was Oliver who saw them first. He grabbed Roy's arm and pulled him to the left where Di was leaning on Jade as they sat under an oak tree. In a few seconds Jade saw them and began pulling her friend to her feet, Di stood up while favoring her left foot.
"Di, thank god." Oliver dashed the last few feet and pulled his wife close. "Are you okay, is Robby alright?"
"We're fine." She said as she felt his hand gently protect her midsection. "Just a klutz attack on a river rock. They didn't hurt us. I'm more worried about you."
Oliver nodded but gathered her closer, she settled in. Next to them Roy had picked up his mate and held her close.
"God, Roy. That was so close." Jade leaned her face into his neck. "A few seconds more and we were toast. Literally."
Roy said nothing but held her. When she tried to move away his hands gripped tighter. She turned to look at him and saw a haunted look in his eyes. He used a hand pull her close and took a bruising kiss.
"I was so afraid, with the cops watching, us stuck in the house. We just had to watch them attack the door. I could have lost you." He searched her face and eyes. " I was going to wait, do this right. Nice dinner, roses, the botanical gardens you like. We can do that later, but for now." He pulled out a red ring case and opened it with a deep breath. Inside was a gold ring with a pure jade stone. "Jade Grant, I love you, I need you. I'm no owner or CEO, but I swear-" Jade stole kiss of her own.
"This offer include my son?" She swallowed.
"Of course." He smiled. "I'd be honored, if you would have me."
"Yes, a hundred times yes."