UGA Arc 2 Chapter 14: Roots of Corruption

[adrini]

Green Arrow Arc 2 Ch. 14
Roots of Corruption

"I can't talk right now, we're swamped again." Roy said as he and Oliver got out of the car and walked to the owners entrance. "Press wants a story."

Oliver stoically walked ahead of him, he could hear Di in his ear as well but he had gotten increasingly closed off. Both Mia and Thea were still recovering, though Thea had needed a stint in the critical condition ward and was farther behind. Adrien had recovered slightly, though the family was still being told not to get too optimistic. Di had managed to keep herself and the still unborn Robby safe, and Roy was fairly sure that was the last grip his friend was holding to. Di was the only person he seemed to be willing to speak to as of late, and he shadowed her to make sure she was safe whenever he could.

I can't blame them, there is a story here and it's their job to get it. Just stick to the plan and we'll get out alright. And look after my lug of a husband, he's going to worry himself to pieces. I'll call in if anything happens on my end.

The 'lug' smiled at the teasing as they got inside, even the few words helped his muscles loosened a little. They rode the elevator to the executive offices and settled in for the days work, starting with a meeting on a rather large merger. A meeting that would come to them, it seems.

"Mr. Queen, a word, if you please." The door had opened to a show of force from the government office, a pair of generals in tow. Oliver nodded and sat down, motioning to the chairs by his desk.

"By all means gentlemen, how can I help you today?" He leaned in as Roy put a cup of brew nearby and the guests, well aware of the routine, motioned for mugs as well. "Whatever you like, we're all waking up still I think. I believe there's a box of sweets as well."

"Yes, thank you. I'm afraid this is a fairly serious matter, Mr. Queen." The first agent took a cup. "King's company is under investigation, it isn't open for sale."

"The personal could have criminal and possibly terrorist ties." The General was very stern, almost upset. "We have clear intelligence that King has ties to a number of paramilitary and underworld groups."

"It's imperative that a search be completed to find all information for the security and safety of the city and the country, this isn't a matter of business." The second General was in agreement. "Mr. King is still at large, this is a highly dangerous and intrusive into our work,"

"Ah, I can see your concern." Oliver nodded and took a slow sip of coffee. "However I would argue it is both a security and a business issue. Allow me to explain."

The men got their cups as he pulled out papers. Oliver gave them a minute to look over the information.

"King's employs over 20,000 in their main hire offices alone, add secondary hires and it is easily 7-10 percent of employment in four of the main wards in Star City. Your investigation would close or put on hold each of these positions. You're numbers people, what would be the effect of that be?"

"Economic disaster. The ripple effect would be highly notable, you're trying to save the areas." The head agent nodded. "What's your plan?"

The generals looked shocked and were shut down by the a simply dressed agent standing in the back.

"Mr. Queen has earned our trust, if he has a plan hear it out." The man nodded. "He knows more then you know."

"You're very flattering." Oliver looked up, unsure how to take the last part. "All Queen areas are under our investigation, if you are willing to come up with a co-plan working together you can even use the company as a cover."

"You'll trust me to plan the contacts." The General said stiffly. "I'll be in touch."

>--)->

"Just a little more and-" Cissie adjusted Mia's pillow. "There, perfect."

Mia was propped up on at least five pillows, grinning slightly at her friend's attention. On the next bed over Thea was still too hooked up to move much but was far better then she had been, Rose was replacing the hospital blanket with her favorite one from home to cheer her up.

"How's it been at home?" Thea said softly, still weak from her injuries. She was drifting in and out with the pain medications. "What's the news?"

"You were better off here." Rose sat down and put a silver necklace on her friend, from Thea's mother. She had an eye patch over one eye to protect the healing injury, it was still a far way from recovered. "Big battle, centers had to fight a hacking, and the house got breached - they got into a safe place in time!"

"So the baby is okay?" Mia leaned back on pillows and tried to relax after starting at the news. "Di is okay?"

"Ollie's kinda shaken, but Mom and kid are fine." Cissie refilled the water glass.

"A little shaken?" Rose looked over, with a raised eyebrow. "He's almost a ghoul."

"He's a man trying to protect his loved ones, when you have families of your own you'll understand." Bowstring walked into the room. "He's well and truly terrified, and rightly so. His family means everything to him, and Merlyn knows it."

"Have they found him yet?" Mia asked, hopeful the rouge archer would be caught.

"No, and it's been a week, he's regrouping by now." Bowstring sighed and put a hand on Cissie's shoulder. "We haven't seen the last of him."

"Mrs. Queen is active again, in the situation room." Rose said, filling the details in. "But in her chair. She's careful."

"Don't forget Tuesday." Bowstring said softly to his daughter . "I'll pick you up."

"My mom wants to see me and prison visiting hours are on Tuesdays." Cissie explained at Mia and Thea's confusion.

"Good luck." Thea said simply, understanding.

"I need to run a few PR missions. Won't be long." Bowstring didn't have to go far for the press to show themselves. There were a few in the waiting room, and they quickly called more. Giving into the inevitable he motioned for them to take a seat while he filled them in. The room was full within minutes, several dozen reporters coming until the room was standing room only.

"Okay, don't have too long but you need a story so I'll give you what I have so far, there's a lot of information we don't have yet. Can't give what I don't have." He smiled and a few light laughs were heard. "From the top. For reasons still under investigation Queen properties were attacked, the current theory is some kind of economic terrorism. The outreach and tower had a hacking attempt that was easily stopped. The house was attacked more directly, but the family that was home found safety and waited out the storm. Damage to the house was mild, and no one was hurt." He gave them a moment to write their lines. "Two members were out grabbing groceries and when made aware of the situation were put under the custody of the police. Members at the hospital at the time were not targeted."

"Auther King is being named in the attack, is that correct?" A journalist quickly asked, the rumor that the former owner and well loved citizen was behind the attacks was still shaking the city.

"it is one theory, but not the only one. However he is currently being pursued, and we hope he will be caught quickly." Bowstring saw two hands go up. "But as this is an on going investigation I'm not permitted to say more on the subject."

"How is the family doing, with so many of it's members hurt or with complications?" A fair question, and her knew the writer. She was from the life and human interest page, and she never did small spreads.

"Tired, scared, worried, more then a little jumpy, it's been rough. They're human, and ready for this to end and just be at home safe again. We would be to." She nodded. "However for the moment things are looking as well as can be expected. Both of the teens are expected to make full recoveries, Ms. Rivers has been encouraging and Mrs. Queen continues to be well. It's not ideal but they are taking it a day at a time."

"With Mr. King still on the run they have to be terrified. Are they doing anything to stay safe?" One young woman asked, new. "And is the company being affected."

"The company is fine, and seems to be weathering the storm. Mr. Queen and Mr. Harper are continuing to work and improve it and the city they love every day, and that does not look likely to change anytime soon." The reporters looked torn, half relieved and half dissipointed that they didn't have some breaking news about Queen Industries. "The family was able to find safety, but they're investing into all kinds of new ideas. Mr. Queen is doing everything he can to keep his family safe, and Mrs. Queen is keeping spirits up as best she can. " Bowstring smiled. "She's quite the woman."

>--)->

"Okay, so the ports are blocked, the connectors are sealed and I've dedicated the internal lines. Am I forgetting anything?" Di typed quickly. "There are the ties to the other locations as well."

"I'm working with Jax for those, got it covered. Your focus on keeping that family of yours safe. I want a picture of that kid as soon as he's cleaned up for this." Bab's voice rang over the line. "I'll watch the lines for Merlyn to, see if I can't catch anything."

"You and everyone else. Good, that's set then. I'll send anything I find here." She closed the coding program. "Thanks for the help, let me know if you need us in the future."

Diggle was at the door and waving, she waved him in as the call ended. The man motioned behind him and a small crowd of people walked in after.

"The man of mystery opens up." She smiled.

"I waited until I dropped off the guys, I need a favor." He looked at the women who came with him. "My mother Ann, my sister Natalie and her daughter Amelia. This is Mrs. Queen, or Dinah as we call her. I might be jumping the gun but I wanted to get them somewhere safe until this blows over. Marlyn is aiming for families."

"I'm honored to meet the women in Diggle's life. A pleasure to have you." She smiled and offered a hand. Ann politely shook it, but Natalie and Amelia seemed to be too busy looking at her. Diggle's sister was thin, and seemed very worried. Amelia was maybe three, still a baby really, and hiding behind her mother's legs. Within seconds she was picked up and hid her face. The whole family was scared. "They could stay here, I just updated the security systems. We'd be happy to look after them, and I wouldn't mind a couple Moms to learn from."

"Oh, could we John?" Ann looked at her son, she was about sixty, thin, and very animated. Diggle must have taken after his father, but he had his mother's eyes. She was scared, but was handling it better. "We live in a town house, this would be better then that. And to help Mrs. Queen, she doesn't have too long."

"I was here when the house was breached, is there somewhere else to hide them?" Di could see the fear in his eyes, the same that her husband had when he thought she wasn't looking.

"Of course." She nodded and pulled out a file from the desk. "We have a house in Gateway City, in the historic district. My mother-in-law used it for family vacations. It's very much off the grid, and they can stay as long as they need to." She was tempted to join them. She was tired, tired of feeling like a whale, of fear, of watching loved ones get hurt, and at that moment tired of how dour life had become. "But I want something in return."

"Do you, Mrs. Queen." Diggle knew the sparkle in those eyes by now. "What service is that?"

"When this is done I want a chance to actually meet these mysterious people. If they're family to you then they are to us as well. I'll even cook, once I can get out of the chair anyway." Di grinned and winked at them. "I'm told I'm quite good."

"That's mixing professional and personal-" He tried to object.

"That line got run over years ago." Ann looked at her son before looking at her, her eyes also sparkled. "All those years ago, when your husband was taken, John here was almost broken. Didn't eat, didn't sleep, blamed himself for the loss. We should have come a long time ago. I'll see that changes."

"I'll call ahead and tell them to expect you, and feel free to use the Arrow V to get there." She pulled out the form and keys, handing them over. "But I want all the little stories about our favorite protector as payment for rent, agreed? I'm only sorry I won't have as many for you."

John sighed, his mother and sister were smirking at each other, he was doomed. Amelia was smiling, though. Di had cheered her up.

"I'll be back by dinner, thank you Di. If anything happens-" She waved her hands to stop him.

"Shut it down, I know. Go, get them safe." He grinned and led his family out.

She waited until the door closed and smiled at the green closet door, the one that was scratching from the inside.

"It's safe, come in." The door opened and Zatana's black haired head poked out. "Long time, no see. Thanks for coming."

"Holy." The woman walked into the room and looked at her old friend. Zatara Zatana was tall, thin, with black hair and bright blue eyes, she had been an honorary member of the birds. "You don't waste time, that's for sure."

"I'm not running an aide office in africa, it's normal to gain a few pounds." She laughed, it had taken some time but she had come to terms with the years events.

"Or a kid or two. But hey, I get it. If you find him, run with it." Di sighed with a smile, everyone assumed Robby was planned. "You need me?"

"I need all of you. Can they come in?" She looked at the closet door, once again filled with Ollie's work pants.

"Absolutely, one sec." Zatana closed the door and when it opened again there was a hallway. she waved and waited a few seconds, before leaning back. "Fate said he'd rather you come in, that okay?"

"If it's okay with him, sure." She moved her chair for a moment before Zatana took over and pushed her into the hallway. She had a very rare connection to realms she would have told her family about, if she thought it wouldn't end up with a trip to the psyco ward.

"You're it, you know." She said as she wheeled Di into the hall. "Last of the Birds to become a Mom. Fate is super excited about that for some reason, the large pieces of some puzzle or something."

"That's..unsettling." She hugged her roundness for a moment. "I'm not sure I want to pass this life on."

"Now where have I heard that before?" Zatana teased, smirking.

"There's a two foot scar on my leg that says Mom might have been on to something." She smiled at the spell caster. "If my son ends up battling nothing more then board meetings and shareholders it'll be fine by me."

"Considering his parentage I think not, Lady Bird." She was at the door way. "You'll get him ready in time."

The Hall was the 1940's style her mother had told her it would be, and she saw the two gentleman she had seen in faded photographs. The Tower of Fate was always a puzzle, and has secrets she would never understand. However, for close friends he had a more 'normal' living area for meeting and entertaining.

"The splitting image." The elder magician stood and looked at her. He was quite old, looking at least eighty, worry lines were etched deeply in his face. However as she came closer he smiled kindly. "Even down to the bedrest, welcome, Little Bird."

"How-" That name was barely remembered anymore. Visions of her mother flashed in her mind and she collected herself before she spoke again. "Mom called me that."

"Because you chirped as a baby, she almost hated when you learned to talk instead." Dr. Fate himself, Hector Hall, stood up with his cane and smiled. "We are here for you child, and you're line is of the family of Fate itself. How may we be of service?"

"We need help. Please, I know we're facing more then we know."

>--)->

"You're faster then this Mama, pick it up." Jade leaped back, easily missing Kate's left hook. "Do I have to teach you the seven count? I really thought you were beyond that by now."

"You-" Kate cursed and tried to attack with a left swing kick only to find that the strength wasn't there anymore. She regained her footing and used an easier core attack instead. "You know what I'm fighting, stop it."

"Wish I could but there isn't time." Jade hit with a full combo, at full force, and Kate clenched her gut in pain as she fell to the ground. She hissed in near agony. "It sucks, and I'm being a bitch. You can hate me all you want later. But we're going to loose everything if we don't step it up. Vacation is over."

"Vaca-" Kate's face was now full of pain and rage. "Gage is five weeks old, she's not even sleeping yet! I can't shower most days!"

"This is how it it, Kate." Jade leaned over and pressed her foot on the red head's neck. She was cold, sharply serious. "We're fighting the RFG, Merlyn, snipers, the Aryans, Vertigo and whatever he brings with him. We're down two teen fighters, our central control, our 'leader' is almost shot-"

"And we have to do this without Di." Kate sighed and pushed herself up, removing the foot. "They've breached the house once and will do it again. When they do-"

"Without pushing like this we're toast. Tommy with his head smashed in, Rose and Cissie will fight but they aren't ready yet, Di is doomed, Robby more so. Gage can't even move yet, do you think they'll-"

"Okay!" Kate stopped her before she could say more. "Okay, I get it. We'll force it. I thought this place was different."

"To be fair it is." Jade was already in formation. She gave Kate time to be the same. " Haven this would be weekly, maybe more. Here, if we can knock this out we should be solid for awhile, maybe longer."

"Stop talking and fight." Kate moved into old forms, rusty for the lack of use but still not terrible. It wasn't hard to understand, if it meant the kids got a chance they were going to give it everything they had.

>--)->

"Right, ten minutes. No touching and keep voices down. The guard will be here when times up." The guard roughly pulled two chairs over and slammed a red button. "King, Bonnie."

Cissie looked at her father and put the chairs in position. He sighed, knowing this was going to be rough. He had once held his ex-wife as everything, now he had no idea what would happen. Some irrational part of him wanted everything they had before, to just be allowed to go back to being able to hold his wife every night. But he also knew it would be hard to forget what she had done, no matter under whose influence.

Bonnie wasn't so glamorous in prison orange, and she looked broken as she turned the corner and saw them. Vertigo leaving her behind wasn't that surprising, wealthy men tended to use women to their advantage. But that her brother had willingly left her to be taken and imprisoned, and Bonnie had always idealized her brother. To have that kind of faith betrayed was terrible and he knew it.

She nodded and sat down, avoid his gaze and Cissie's as well. It took a minute for anyone to speak.

"I didn't expect you to come, I mean, I wouldn't have blamed you." She swallowed. "Thank you."

"We're still family, it's the least we could do." Cissie said, trying to be patient, she had severe misgivings about the visit.

"I know it's, well, is there anything we can do?" Like an idiot Bowstring saw how destroyed she was and old habits resurfaced, he couldn't seem to fight them. She still played him, setting him up and- but she didn't this time. She looked up briefly, honestly surprised, really glad to see him.

"Most of it is up to the lawyers, but I could use basics, I guess. I think you can ask the guard, they keep a list. You don't have to though, it's fine." She looked down again, but looked less miserable.

Watching, Cissie shook her head. No matter how messed up her mother was Dad couldn't let her go. She had a heavy suspicion they'd be going shopping rather often for supplies. And it seemed that this time her Mom might even appreciate them.

>--)->

"Nancy, I'm fine. I'm just sitting at a desk doing paperwork. I can't strain myself." Anderson smiled as his wife warned him of doctor's orders for the fourth time.Renee arrived at the door and waved. "Have to go, I'll see you at dinner."

"DIdn't mean to interrupt, chief." Renee stood at half attention. "You seemed eager to see these."

"Just the wife worrying." He motioned her her to close the door. "Gather that goes both ways for you."

"Right now, especially, yes." Renee nodded, thinking of the two she left at home each day. "Kate isn't healed yet and Gage is having some minor issues."

"It's a gift. Nancy and I, we tried for years. Wasn't meant to happen. Dinah being born was the best thing that ever happened to us." He put his desk into order, someone had been messing with it.

"Jade mentioned you knew her family." Renee smiled.

"Lance and I grew up together, we were brothers in all but name. I'm the only reason he got a shot with the rather attractive blonde at the other side of the bar." He grinned a little and opened the file. "He knew how hard it had been for us, so when Dinah was born he made sure we were the first ones to see her. Told us we had to be family to her from day one, not optional."

"Such a terrible thing to ask." She grinned as she sat down and waited. "You loved it."

"Best thing in the world, and we got to share it with the best friends we ever had." The grin turned sad. She knew the story. "Just wish it could have lasted longer. But you benefited in a way, so it wasn't all bad."

"Di introduced me to Kate, changed everything." She nodded. "Gave me my family."

"Now you need to keep it. Who isn't benched?" He circled several items in the file.

"Not many. Why?" She didn't like the tone of the question.

"This just exploded, and we'll need help. I need teams, fighter and infiltrator pairs, tonight." He turned the file to face her. "This just got bigger."

Renee looked over the file and felt her gut sink. Merlyn's funding lines had ties in major areas all over the city. Now that his records were open to them they had the big picture they had been looking for.

"There's no way." He shook his head and looked unsurprised.

"There's every way, this force has been corrupt since the 20's in these parts. King just tapped into what was already there. Hate when they're smart."

"So what do we do?" She could feel her eyes going wide. The problem was total, all areas, all departments.

"We send in team Arrow, if we tried to use the force, well-"

"The crooked cops would know within minutes." Renee sighed and nodded, at least her detecting had worked.She opened the door again, they could once again be heard. "Seeing as my better half is still recovering and Gage isn't doing as well as she should be, sir. If I'm not needed."

"Take the day Detective Montoya, and congrats on the new arrival."

>--)->

The warehouse, on paper abanded, was light and full of voices. Shado crawled along the the high bars and hooked the microphones to the key spots to capture the voices, she had planted the cameras already.

"Feeds will be up in a second." She heard behind her. Oliver was in bad shape, as bad as she had seen on the island. At least on the island he had the prospect of getting back to his loved ones to lean on, and the ever present picture burned into his mind of 'her'. At present even those things were in danger.

She was shocked he had even contacted her to go on the mission, but once she thought about the logistics of it it made sense. The mysterious 'her', who it turned out did actually exist, was unable to take her place. As such a suitable replacement had to be found.

Feeds online team alpha, getting information now. I have the information on a two hour delay so we can sort out any unwanted any information before I send it. How does it look in there?

Shado tried not to flinch as she saw her companion relax at the voice. How she had hated that memory on the island, and now it was in her ear. Yet she couldn't blame him, he had made his position clear. She just didn't want to believe it. She focused and looked carefully into the room from above.

"Has to be about 30 of your finest, they're even in uniform. There's some kind of loot being split. All the normal suspects are here from the gangs." She said softly, inspecting. "It's cash, a pay out?"

I'm seeing it now, it's the case in the other locations as well. Setting up the location modulators for sound now.

New sounds filtered into the earphones and they listened into the conversations below, it was just hard to see exactly what was happening from the rafters.

"Help yourself boys, least we can do." It seemed to be the leader. "After you fixed everything up so nice."

The officers laughed and grabbed the bills and prepaid cards. After a time booze glasses were heard and they settled in the old fifties furniture. The junior officers left and the older ones pulled into a circle with the bosses and the leader.

"Where are we?" It was the officer in charge of evidence, Oliver had met him at the Police ball a few months before.

"Almost there. You've planted you're parts. We've planted the seeds in the papers and once they loose Uncle Sam's funding they're toast."

"Buildings are ready?" The leader again.

"Dust as soon as you say so, except for the house." A third voice. "Only the gardens and ballroom are ready."

"We'll work on it." Glasses clinking. "The house has to go, it's orders. With the bitch in it. Only way we get paid."

"Di." Ollie said, focused, sweat suddenly on his forehead. This was bad, very bad.

Two steps ahead of you. I have the officers tagged and sent to Renee and Anderson already. I'll try to find some one we can trust to find the devices. We just have to do this right. Soon as we make a move.

"I know." Ollie was tagged out. Shado could see it. The facade was failing. "They make theirs."

"We have enough. It's time to go," Sighing, she nodded and they made their way out, letting the former heir down first. She finally felt the old ties loosen, she had a place but it wasn't that. "You need your wife."

He looked surprised before nodding and making a bee line to the motorcycle they had arrived on. Shado heard a new beep in her peice. The line had been changed.

Thank you.