Post by adrini on Nov 4, 2015 19:54:20 GMT -5
Arc 3 Chapter 5
Recently on Green Arrow…
Roulette, newly arrived in Star City, gets a visit from the one woman she was hoping to avoid. Charged by Lady Shiva with an unrefusable mission she must now provide continual distraction for the already tired team so that her Mistress can better go unnoticed.
At the Manor Oliver and Dinah have discovered that the villains of the city have finally found the secret weapon the team always had – the forgotten tunnels. Leading all over the city and into the house itself they set up a detection system to announce an attack but have no idea how to proceed from there. It’s a tool they need, but have limited means to protect.
Adrien, continued to track Shiva’s actions in hope of guessing and thwarting her plans. Narrowed down to the once haven based team she now stand as the cornerstone of intel between both the darkness of haven and the fear of the island. But if the family is going to survive they must defeat both.
Newly given the secret history of Shiva and Roulette the team must try to mindfully play their hand against the two. Though they have to be careful as the same information that might save them could just as easily bring everything down.
Newly returned from her European adventure Thea’s return is welcomed, with the whole house breathing easier for her assumed safety there. Only she knows that there’s a new weakness that could play into any of their well laid plans – her growing addiction to pills and alcohol. Born of the continual danger the family has found itself in she hides it to spare her loved ones one more concern.
Meanwhile, away from old haven ties, Oliver, Roy, Adrien and Dinah are working to defuse the problems with ARGIUS, kidnappers, and keeping the company they depend on stable.
Green Arrow Arch 3 Chapter 5: Shifting Sands
Wendsay night, The Quiver, Queen Manor
The Quiver was quiet and Oliver was working on the intel for the island. He was tracking movements when a contact popped up, but a welcome one. The great Oracle herself smiled down at him.
“I never know how to address you, oh husband of my best friend. One wrong move according to you and I’m in the dog house.” Barbra appeared with a grin, Oliver smiled smugly and leaned back in this chair. He hadn't known the woman long, but he could see why his wife was so close to her.
“You talk to me carefully, or I ‘Lance’ your supply.” He said as Babs winced at the pun. “How’s Gotham holding up?”
“Barely, it’s good to be home. I wanted to let you know that the accounts are set up, just in case.” Hiding away money wasn’t something he even thought about normally, but there wasn’t much choice right now. In this whole tower of cards fell down they needed to survive. “I gathered the Roulette information as well, but I sent it to Kate. She took lead on that last time, and Di said you had your own history to see to. No easy times for your guys.”
“I actually had a favor to ask about that. Things could get hot around here.” He leaned forward. “This is our battle, I know that. But Robby didn’t sign up for this, none of the young ones did.”
“Agreed, but I couldn’t risk them coming here. No one is safe. Let me brainstorm.” Barbra nodded, clearly concerned as well. She loved the little members of the family almost as much as they did. “I’ll find something. Oracle out.”
“Didn’t know it would be like this, did you?” Diggle’s voice rang out from the back of the cave where he had waited till after the call to announce himself. Diggle had gotten progressively worried about his charge. The new father had brought up the same concern with Adrien, Ted, him and now Babs. His main concern was clear.“World changes.”
“Ya.” Oliver said, looking at the man briefly before looking at the small frame; his son and the woman he wasn’t couldn’t see his life without anymore. “You up for some recon, Digs? I want this done. I have the plane gassed up.”
“Oorah.” Digs said and turned to the door where Roy and Di were already standing. He got the idea at once and smiled. “Nice team.”
“My team. My baggage, I deal with it.” The man walked off the platform to the others. “Adrien has the place on lock down till we get back.”
The two were carrying gear, going as themselves. No tie to their costumed lives. Carrying a bag of gear himself Oliver tossed one to him. Roy already had his bag packed and Di was carrying a duffle that was clearly full of weapons. Oliver walked over to the elevator leading to the garage. They were heading out immediately.
“Your sisters okay with this?” Digs asked, admittedly surprised that both parents were heading out. She smiled at the question but nodded.
“They will be.” The blonde said simply, clearly focused on her son and family. “They fought haven without me for years, they can do it again for a few days. I don't want anyone hunting my family."
Digs was briefly confused but looking got the message. The people most likely to be taken by the kidnappers were Oliver, Thea, Mia, their son or her. None of whom they were remotely willing to loose. This was personal. Roy, just as focused, was not going stand by and let something happen to the man he called ‘brother’ and the people he cared about. Something had attacked the baseline, they were going to defend it.
“Hit the head if you need to.” Diggle said as he joined them. “War starts now.”
Thursday Morning, Rose and Cream Room (Thea's room). Queen Manor.
“Ollie and Di just headed out.” Mia was standing there, she was more hard-line then before, but it made sense. “They don’t want anyone going out until they get back. Kate is looking up a lead and Jade is, well-“
The screaming from the hall was clear, this was not a healthy mother-daughter relationship. Thea nodded her friend in.
“Who is Shiva?” She asked, her voice hushed. “And what’s going on with Ollie?”
“A-the-she-Shiva is complicated, bad news. Reality is Jade is picking fights with her to keep her occupied while Adrien tries to dig up what’s going on.” Mia looked at her, she wasn’t sure she was wanted as they had also been fighting. It was stupid, there was no point fighting now and Thea smiled to diffuse the pressure. There was way too much going on to add it. “All I know is she keeps wanting at the kids. I’m more worried about Ollie though.”
“I thought he was at work.” Thea had made the bed and put her things away, the remaining boxes were gifts for the others and Mia’s European things.. “Are they coming after him there?”
“Already have, and Robby was with him. They got out. There’s a reason he’s been working from home.” Thea felt a new wave begin to come but fought it back. Mia looked down, looking for words. “He also wants-I’m sorry. You didn’t want to come back to this, and I get that. We don’t even know how bad it is yet.”
“We’re cursed.” Thea said, sitting down. But at least they were talking. “It’s endless. The bank, Mom and Dad, this. What’s the point? Where is Ollie then?”
“He took a team to check out the kidnappers, they know the base. Recon. We’ve been doing a lot of that.” Mia reported, honoring Thea’s right to know about her family. “They should be back by Monday.”
“Recon, that’s actually good.” Getting up Thea walked to grab her bottle of water, at least homework had been done. “Would Di be free to have a movie day? I think curling up and vegging would be a good idea right now. And Robby snuggles.”
“She went with them.” Mia said carefully, noting that Thea’s face locked. “Her, Ollie, Roy and Diggle. Kate’s in charge now, Adrien is at the office. It’s why we’re in lock down.”
“But you said-and Shiva’s bad and in the house-“ No longer okay Thea sat on her bed again. “Both of them, what if they don’t make it back. Robby need someone, it’ll fall on me. Like it fell on Ollie-“
“They will come back. You know they will.” Mia could clearly see that her friend was not well, and moved to change the focus. “I’ll set up the movie, all the food. Kate could use a break, why don’t you see about grabbing Robby? All the kids if it’s okay.”
“Right, kids. Movie. Food.” Thea said, getting up and nodding. She was legal now, a beer wasn't out of line. “Something kid friendly, colors, songs. I’ll go see Kate.”
Thursday evening, The Island.
“Touching down soon, buckle in.” Zinda said from the front of the plane. “I’ll come in no more than five minutes from the time you fire that flare so be careful on the timing. Good luck Skipper.”
Seeing his wife nod at the address he, like the rest of the team, now in gear made sure he was ready to go fast when the plane went down. They had opted for the middle jet, more room in case they got the chance to get some people home.
“Move now, if I stay too long I’ll be spotted.” The craft settled for a moment and the four rushed out the cabin and into a small clearing, looking around Oliver had no idea how Zinda had landed in it. Grabbing their gear they hurried off and watched their ride head out.
“Plan A?” Di asked, making sure her belt was stocked. “It’s the closest target.”
“My thoughts exactly, keep to the perimeter. Stay out of sight, we fight after we know what we’re doing.” Putting his tactical mask, like the others, he led off. He and his wife went off as team one, Diggle and Roy split off as team two.
“You know, the circumstances could be better but in a way this isn’t all bad.” She said as they moved in the foliage to keep hidden. “It’s quiet.”
“I know, let’s hope it stays that way.” He relaxed a little, though not completely. “First tower. Can you get in?”
It was a signal tower, communications. Certainly tall but access was more of a concern.
“In, yes. I would prefer not to get shot.” Moving quickly in the shadows he watched his better half climb the tower and zip lined to a close point to keep an eye out. Di quickly got inside to install the bug. He found a shadow himself to stay in and stand guard while she worked.
Thursday Afternoon, Queen Manor.
“Hey, Jade do you want us to-“ Thea said as she looked into the room, she had hoped that the silence meant there was a break in the screaming that she could claim. She was wrong.
“How dare you.” Jade was normally friendly, kind. As devoted her the new family as could be asked. She had reasons but she showed up. At present she was almost shaking with rage. Shiva smirked.
“You forget who you are, you forget where you came from and what made you.” The thin chinese woman was clearly used to being in charge and it was triggering old wounds. Thea only had to think for a moment to know what she was going to do. This was family.
“No, she’s just not a slave to it.” She spoke up, interrupting the two. “Of course she comes from somewhere, we all do. But we can’t let our struggles define us or else we spend our whole lives reacting instead of living. She was there, now she’s here. You’re making more to it then there is. She’s ours now, you know that.”
The woman turned, shocked to be talked to that way, but this was about family. It all was, and Jade was part of hers now as Roy’s wife. Jade, for her part, looked worried but grateful.
“We were going to watch a kid’s film and make a day of it.” She said in the now silence. “Would you mind if Tommy joined us? You can join us to."
Jade, still a little stunned, shook her head.
“He’d love that.” The woman said, shocked. “Thank you.”
“We all need the cuddles.” Thea said lightly before looking at their guest. “And you, Jade is my sister and this is her home. You are only here because she allows it. But if I see or hear of you treating her like this again I will see to is you are not permitted on these grounds. You are old enough to know how to behave as a guest, do it. We are under no obligation to have you here, and we will not have you here if you go after our own. Rules apply to you.”
Stopping briefly to grab Tommy’s blanket, newly laundered, she left. Not long after, in the room, Jade found herself breathing easier. Sandra not so much.
“What was that?” Jade’s mother hissed at the open door. “Does she know who I am?”
“She doesn’t care.” Jade texted her father to get the woman off her hands for a few hours. “Family first, that’s how this place is. How it was when I showed up. You still don’t get that.”
11:45 PM, The Island.
“Last one, hold them off.” Roy sent back from the tower, the last tower. “I’ll be done in about five, you can call the plane if you want.”
Diggle went into a nearby hedge and threw a grenade, it threw the guard in another direction but only for a moment. His timing seemed to be good.
Arrows and more grenades few out of the wood near the guard, Ollie and Di had been there. They were done with their towers. The guard tried to radio in the attack but thanks to the radio blocker was unable to. On the horizon he saw the plane getting close, Zinda had already been called. He spotted the green light blinking the code that extraction was incoming. It also said they had been spotted as well. They needed to go.
The cross attack stayed steady it had to but it also made noise, and that meant reinforcements. If this mission were to work they needed to leave ahead of them. Over him Roy was finishing the job, putting the first of the tools away. In the field the guard was not out of bullets yet, and live fire was something the four didn’t really deal with too much back home.
“Digs, grab the bag!” Roy was quickly climbing down, aware that the plane was incoming. They had to get out fast before it got too hot or two kids were out parents.
He grabbed the bag and grabbed the cord to bring back as well. Roy was mostly on the ground when Digs heard the man hiss in pain and he fell the rest of the way. Now scraped and cut her was holding his arm and in obvious agony, but they didn’t have time. The plane was coming in.
There was no time for patience. As Zinda landed the craft he saw Ollie and Di sprint for the cover, and he did what he had to do.
“Suck it up, we have two clicks and no fucks to give, Go!” The young man was shocked by the directness but it did the job and he moved through the pain. They rushed at breakneck speed to the aircraft and jumped inside. It began taking off before the bay doors even closed.
Oliver grabbed a knife and cut away the fabric and Di pulled out the med kit and started to stabilize the limb. She looked worried.
“Zee, nearest hospital. Now.” She said, wrapping the wounds tightly to Roy’s cries of pain. “He does not have time if he wants to keep this arm.”
“Got it Skipper, I’ll try to keep it smooth. Everyone buckle in!” Ollie and Di helped their friend into his seat before securing their own. Digs, watching, noted that their missions never went smoothly.
Saturday, Early evening. Fish Mooney's Lounge.
Covered in rich oak and blood red satin it was one of the long forgotten bars that had fallen out of favor after the end of prohibition. The 1920’s history was still soaked into the air, though, and the drinks hadn’t changed much under the new management. After all, when you can do something well why do anything else? It didn’t have many employees, fewer people to get underfoot or tell secrets. Which meant that much of the time it was the owner itself who served the drinks, especially to VIP’s.
“One whiskey sour, two rocks.” Fish said, setting the glass down. “I feel like I should remind you that we have other drinks.”
The man she was addressing only smiled and raised the glass, he was fond of his normal.
“But none are nearly so good. I have a guest that should be here soon, she’ll have a French 75, iced.” Smiling at the woman Merlyn was quite happy where he was, if only while the plan was still working.
“Just champagne is fine Fish. Nothing wrong with the classics.” Shiva sat down across from the once mogul. “Merlyn, you said you had news.”
“I did." He sais as Fish went off to get the drink. “Our friends just tried to break into the camp. And failed. The spotters even caused an injury before they ran off.”
“We knew they would try a direct approach, at least they know better now. So we still have our guests then.” The glass arrived, Merlyn agreed.
“Demanding their federal rights and international laws, for what good it will do.” Merlyn was pleased with his progress but it was all to have an effect. “And you’re end?”
“The games are begun, they should figure it out soon.” She was a little perturbed at her lack of progress, but not surprised. “But they assume something is going on, so they’re being careful. You have nothing to add?”
“Sadly not, they’ll have undated from my time. Finding that out was your job.” He was egotistical, but had a point. She had some access to the house, he didn’t.
“I’ll be going, a show. You were curious.” She slid two tickets on the table and finished her drink. “See you around.”
Sunday Evening, Hope and Mercy Hospital. Queen Wing.
“We saved the arm but he’s out of the game. It won’t be an easy road back, the damage was pretty bad.” Jade looked as she pushed the door open, Roy was hooked up and out. The arm covered in wires and tubs. “But he got out, he’s alive.”
Looking Jade could feel her heart tighten. She hadn’t wanted him to go but he had pointed out that the island kidnappers were going to come if they didn’t at least find out what was going on. Now he was like this. Perhaps worst of all she had no idea how to tell her son that his Papa was hurt like this.
Di nodded for her to go on, offering to deal with the little boy herself and give Jade a little time. Walking in Roy barely noticed that his wife was nearby until she reached out and grabbed his good hand, which instantly grabbed hers in a vice like grip. He began to fight to wake up.
“I can’t feel anything, is it gone?” He said carefully, but the words were still slurred. They had him on some pretty heavy pain killers. “I can take it.”
“They saved it, it’s just in bad shape.” Careful to speak softly so Tommy outside wouldn’t hear. “You’re here, that’s all I care about.”
“Have to be, have to keep your mother away.” He seemed to be happier, and the grip wasn’t easing up. “Could you stay? I know you have Tommy at home but I want you to stay.”
Di entered, and hearing the question, motioned that she would ask. Tommy looked steeled but prepared with her. He was placed in his mother’s lap where he looked at his Papa and couldn’t stop from crying before Di left.
“Hey, I’ll be okay Buddy.” The man tried to calm the kid down. “This is awesome for us, guess whose staying home with you for a while. Just Tommy and Papa time, we can raid the cookie jar and no one will stop us.”
Tommy calmed down, a little cheered up. Di came back to the door and flashed an ‘ok’ sign, Jade was clear to spend the night with her husband here if she wanted to. Nodding that she would she soon heard Kate volunteer to run by the house and grab a bag and an orderly be told to bring in a second bed.
Roy faded, he needed rest, and Tommy moved to crash on his leg where it was safe to do so. Watching Jade knew that somehow her mother was behind this, some sick effort for her to give up her family and “come home” to the talons. She had gone too far.
Monday Morning. Baddon Playhouse and Cultural Center. Star City.
It was surreal to be in heels and a business dress, greeting guests and making sure the mimosas were good enough quality.
They were still the face of the city, so while the rest of the family hid in the home and Roy recovered Ollie was at the yearly Queen Industries conference and she was hosting their wives at the regional ladies luncheon. It was another world. One where the once relevant members of high society wore nice things and talked about the little people few of them knew anything about. As the new Mrs. Queen they also played politics trying to gain her favor, while dismissing her poor upbringing behind her back of course.
“It’s a wonder to see you again, dear.” The newest guest floated in, Mrs. Richard Kline. No one of real importance except to herself. “And how is that sweet little boy of yours, he’s what, five months old now?”
“And healthy, which I am endlessly thankful for after being so afraid for him. Though I don’t worry any less.” She had practiced with Ollie, Roy and Digs to learn the skills of her new class and the smile worked. It was no secret that the bulk of the women here had daughters they wanted in her place, she wasn’t liked.
“No mother does, dear. It’s the price we pay, and the gift.” Nodding politely she watched the woman walk off and knew she didn’t hide her relief.
“Not my kind of people either.” She heard a voice behind her, the government woman. “Officer wives aren’t much better. How many can be trusted?”
“Not many, but money does that to people.” Waller was still an unknown, they didn’t have a pulse. “You have an investment in antique building refurbishment?”
“All these causes, little balls and Galas. You dress up in suits and dresses, over order on the Champaign and practice the ceremony of passing off the check to whoever it is this time.” Waller is dressed for the day, the pastel suit and flower really didn’t suit her. “You’re better then all of these idiots, and you know it. None of them would last ten minutes of the life you were thrown into. But then you know how to act whatever uniform you wear.”
“We did what we had to do.” She knew about the island. They assumed they were being watched. She grabbed a glass from the passing waiter and the agent did the same. Neither drank. “And we have a feed on their communications, once we break the code. You wanted help, does it matter from who?”
“I am impressed. And we already cracked it, I left a gift for your office. None of our agents were able to get close, you have our thanks.” Waller waited to hear the response, to see if she was right about the women, she was.
“You have a mole, high up. Likely in the main office. We had to deal with that a couple years ago. A general shuffle will do the trick, see who falls out.” Mrs. Queen raised her glass in greeting to an entering guest.
“Our plan exactly. But I believe in trade, and as you have done well by us I wanted to offer the same.” Di’s phone went off and she saw a new file in her in box, surveillance photos, someone she really wanted to be free of. “You know them. We know him but not her.”
“Too well, but at least that explains a few things. Though that they’re working together is not a good sign. He’s Arthur King, and she’s known as Shiva. Be careful for both of them.” Waller was jogging the information. It was showing some of their hand but federal agents didn’t need to die for this. “She’s an enemy of my mother’s from ‘haven and he’s an old enemy of my husband’s family. Both are quite dangerous.”
“He was behind the island from day one.” Waller said and watched the new information add up in the woman’s head. “And still is. Any idea as to the motive here?”
“For a favor?” Di asked, and Waller nodded. “According to rumor Shiva basically runs the underworld, and my mother was always an activist. They didn’t get along. I came here in part to get away from that.”
“And him?” Waller was noting the new information, she was correct that the family kept secrets.
“From what I’ve been told the two families have been sparring it out in the boardroom since the nineteenth century. In the wars the Queen’s got the fat government war contracts and the King’s didn’t. They both survived but when the recession hit my in-laws had build up a security plan, King hadn’t. It got bad for him. He blamed them.” Waller nodded as she spoke, it made sense. “After he was arrested Oliver bid on what was left of the King’s properties and estates to preserve the local economy and stop jobs from evaporating. We knew that might make things worse. But if we didn’t thousands of people would have lost everything. Wage workers, they didn’t deserve that.”
“Lay low, Mrs. Queen.” Di heard Waller say, obviously preparing to leave. “This isn’t over yet. And let me know when you want that favor.”