Verdant
Morning
The club wasn't open, but Laurel was sitting at the bar drinking a cup of coffee.
"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, and she walks into mine." Nathan said as he walked in from the back.
"This coffee's terrible, Nathan." Laurel said dully.
"That's what you get for ordering coffee in a bar." He replied with a grin. Then he looked at her in concern. "You don't look so well. Too much work?" he asked.
"Too much crying." She said. Then she dropped the bomb. "Tommy broke up with me."
Nathan stilled. He forced himself to remain calm. "What happened?" he asked as he sat down next to her.
"I have no idea." She said. "Things were good. They were… great, and then suddenly he's packing up his things and telling me that it's over." She looked at him in desperation. "Did he say anything to you?" she asked.
"Nothing that made me think he would do this." he said honestly, as he had been certain from their last conversation that Tommy wouldn't do that. "Tommy and I haven't talked as much since he quit." He admitted. "But he'll come around. It's probably just cold feet."
"Like it was with you and Oliver?" Laurel stated bluntly, speaking about that time he was under suspicion of being the vigilante and when Oliver cheated on her. Nathan winced, but Laurel pressed on. "Nathan, you don't push away someone who cares for you unless you're trying to stop a relationship from starting or destroy it."
He nodded in acceptance. "If you still want to be with Tommy, do what you and Oliver should have done. Talk to each other and be honest." He recommended.
After Laurel left, McKenna walked in. "Hey, McKenna. You're back." He said, happy to see his ex girlfriend.
"Yeah, sorry about skipping town like that. I wanted some time off. Went to visit my sister over in Coast City." McKenna apologetically explained.
"Hey, you don't need to apologize. I get it, you missed your sister. Try missing her for 5 years." Nathan said, displaying his understanding.
"But it wasn't just because I wanted to see my sister, I also needed some time to clear my head." McKenna explained as she took a seat and ordered a drink.
"What do you mean?" He said as his bartender served them drinks.
"It's the vigilante. Right before I took a vacation, he came to me, and helped me close one of SCPD's most important unsolved cases, only for that same guy I caught to be killed by the copycat archer. I needed to get away for awhile, because when I helped him, I realized I was slowly starting to agree with him. I had to come to a decision about whether or not I wanted to still be a cop, knowing that I still think he's right."
Nathan sat in silence, absorbing the information McKenna had given him.
Merlyn Global
Afternoon
Laurel walked in to Tommy's office, who's office she had not been in yet, just as two assistants were handing him papers to sign. Despite being dressed impeccably, he looked haggard, and he frowned upon seeing her. The two assistants gathered their things and left.
"Wow, you really look like your father." Laurel said, starting things off. "I never thought so before, but just now I saw him in you."
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"We need to talk." Laurel said.
"I said everything I have to say." He said coldly.
"Well, I haven't." she countered. "Tommy, I love you, and I want to believe you still love me, so whatever problems that you think that we have, I know that if we face them together—"
"You don't understand." Tommy interrupted.
"Then help me understand." She pleaded. "If our relationship is gonna end, at least let it end with honesty."
"Ok, Laurel." Tommy picked up his briefcase and moved to stand in front of her. "Honestly you belong with Nathan."
She was stunned. "Excuse me?"
"He's still in love with you." Tommy said, stunning her further. "I have a meeting." He said, leaving her alone in the office with her thoughts.
Verdant
Nighttime
The people were partying and having fun while Laurel was sitting at the bar all by her lonesome. "Hey." Nathan said. "Are you ok?" he asked concernedly.
"Of course." He looked at her in disbelief as she says that. "I promise you now is not the time."
"It's you and Tommy." He guessed.
"You and me, actually." She remarked. He stared at her curiously. "I talked to Tommy earlier, and the reason he broke up with me is because he thinks that you and I still belong together."
"What did you say?" he asked.
"Nothing." Laurel said. "He walked out on me before I could say anything."
"I just want you to be happy. It's what I've always wanted." Nathan said.
"Then will you please go talk to Tommy for me?" she begged.
"And say what?" Nathan asked.
"Say that you and I are over." She said. "That you're not still in love with me."
Nathan sighed deeply and closed his eyes for a moment before he opened them and spoke. "I can't do that."
"Why not?" she demanded.
"Laurel, I've told a great many lies in my life, but that is one lie I will never tell. Because, just as a part of me will always love and miss Sara, there is a part of me that will always love you." He said, stunning the woman. "I denied my feelings before for Sara and looked at what happened. I resolved after I lost her that I would never again deny or hide how I feel about someone. And if Tommy can't handle that, that is not my problem."
Nathan walked past her, heading up to his office as Laurel stood frozen in her seat.
Unidac Industries
Two Hours later
Two scientists in white coats were walking down the clean, polished floor to the main laboratory. One of the scientists was hoping to get lucky.
"So, I was wondering," the male scientist started, "there's a late night happy hour at Stella's. You know, the place across the street."
"You mean the place that's always playing loud salsa music at all hours when I'm trying to work late?" the female scientist said crossly.
"That-that would be the one, yeah." He replied lamely. "Anyway, I was thinking that, um, maybe, you know, if you wanted to, we could perhaps grab a drink?" he asked nervously a she punched in the code for the door. They passed through decontamination into the main lab.
"How about two?" she called over her shoulder as she took the lead- a lead that stopped when she saw her co-workers dead. "Oh, my God!" She gasped in horror as she saw Prometheus standing over a kneeling Dr. Markov, aiming an arrow at his heart.
"Please. I did everything Mr. Merlyn required of me!" Dr. Markov begged, thinking this guy was working for Malcolm.
"I know," Prometheus said, "I'm not here on Merlyn's behalf." He then nodded to the two workers and two shots rang out, the two bullets piercing the workers heads. Behind them, stood China White.
"Freeze!" Two security guards cried out as they appeared, only to be felled by crossbow bolts from Helena.
"Answer my questions, and I will let you live." Dr. Markov nodded in fright, "Good. Now, how many seismic wave generators did you make for Malcolm Merlyn?'
When the doctor hesitated, he fired an arrow into his knee, causing him to scream in pain, "You're going to want to answer my questions quickly, Doctor Markov. I'm not in a patient mood."
"We-We made 3. A prototype and the t-two finished versions." Markov struggled to say.
"And where are these devices?" Prometheus asked.
"Th-the two completed projects are right there," Markov shakily pointed. Prometheus turned his head to see the two devices on the middle of the room with some panels open.
"And where is the prototype?" Prometheus asked. Markov hesitated and Prometheus fired another arrow. Markov cried out in pain as his other knee had an arrow pierce it. "WHERE IS IT!?"
"It was supposed to be shipped out tomorrow! We had it packaged and were going to ship it Mr. Merlyn's home!" He cried out.
"Thank you for your honesty, Doctor. Now, you may have your reward." The doctors sigh of relief was cut short when Prometheus aimed another arrow at him.
"You-You said you'd let me go." The doctor pleaded.
"I lied." Prometheus as he let the arrow fly, and it struck true, piercing his heart and killing the final member of Merlyn's project. He then placed a small device on the desk and walked towards Talia, who was leaning against one of the two devices, both of which were packed with C4. A second later, the device emitted a shortrange EMP, destroying all evidence of the project, since he had already saved a copy for himself.
"Alright, let's destroy these fucking things once and for all," Nathan said but Talia, with her hood down, placed a hand on his chest, "What is it Talia?"
"Beloved, I understand you are excited but may I recommend an alternate course of action? As opposed to simply blowing it up?" Talia said, as Chien, Helena and several of Talia's shadows gathered around.
"What did you have in mind, Beloved?" Nathan asked.
"You wouldn't want Al Sah-Her to think this was sabotage. If he did, he might become erractic, unhinged and may try to destroy the Glades anyway with a more radical option. If he thinks it's a freak accident, it would allow you to safely carry out your plan to expose him before we kill him."
"Mm, that's one of the reasons I love you Talia," Nate said as he took his mask off and gave her a steamy hot French Kiss. "You're always thinking outside the box. And you always help me stay on track."
He pulled away from her and pulled his mask back on. "But let's get that prototype in here first." Talia gave an order to her Shadows and they swiftly disappeared to find the prototype in the cargo bay.
10 minutes later, they slowly dragged it back in, until Nathan got tired of watching them struggle and lifted the device over his head and placed all three devices on opposite ends of the room.
Everyone then left the building and could be found a few minutes later standing on a building 1 mile away. Nathan had his mask off and was holding a tablet. "Say goodbye to your Undertaking, Merlyn." Nathan said to himself as he pressed a button on the tablet.
Inside the building, the Markov Devices slowly lowered their plates, until they were touching their bases, generating destructive seismic waves.
Outside, the group watched in satisfaction as the building began to break and crumble for a few minutes until it collapsed, crumbling into a pile of rubble.
"Just you wait, Merlyn. You'll be joining that building soon enough." Nathan said to himself.
Verdant
Next Morning
Nathan walked up stairs and was getting ready to head home when he saw Laurel standing in the empty club. "Laurel?" he called out, gaining her attention. "What are you doing here?" he asked, walking over to her. "It's not even 7:00 a.m."
"That's just after closing time, right?" she joked. They both chuckled. "How's business?" she asked.
"Well, it's busy. Busy." He sighed. "It was easier when Tommy was helping run things." He admitted.
"Tommy's a good guy." She said.
"Yeah." Nathan agreed.
"Are you?" she asked suddenly.
He looked at her with a guarded expression. "What do you mean?" he asked cautiously.
"Yesterday, I told you that I wanted to get back with Tommy." She said. "That I needed you to go to him and explain to him that you didn't still have feelings for me. But instead, you told me that you did." She reminded him. "As I'm sure you can probably imagine, I haven't been able to think of much since."
"I know now I shouldn't have said that." Nathan said at once.
"Then why did you?" Laurel asked.
"I did not have an agenda." He said. "I did not intend to make it more difficult for you to fix things with Tommy." He moved to leave.
"But what if you did?" she asked, stopping him. He turned back to face her. "After you and Oliver disappeared- with Sara- I wished we had had never met that day in the mall." Laurel stated. "But now, things have happened that I never thought would. You coming home. My parents being in the same room. And you." She looked at him in hope and trepidation. "What if I'm finally starting to see you for who you really are?" she asked.
"No, Laurel, it's—"
"And maybe Tommy was right." She continued, cutting him off. "Maybe he and I weren't meant to be. Maybe I'm finally ready to admit that that I still have feelings for you, too."
"I'm not doing this again, Laurel." He told her harshly. "I inserted myself into your relationship when it was having problems once before, and now my brother and your sister are dead. I may not be denying my feelings for you, but I'm not going to act on them either. Not when Tommy is still in love with you." She looked at him, crestfallen. "I got to go. Walter's been released from the hospital." Nathan tuned and walked out, leaving Laurel alone and heartbroken once again.
Queen Manor
"Everything's exactly as you left it." Moira was saying as she led Walter into the house. Nathan and Thea were on hand to greet him.
"How are you feeling, Walter?" Nathan asked kindly.
"I'm on the mend, thank you, Nathan."
Thea rushed up and hugged him. "Oh, I'm so glad you're home."
"That makes two of us." He quipped.
"All of us." Moira added happily. "We've prepared a delicious brunch for you. All your favorites." She added.
"Oh, yum, English food." Thea joked lightly.
Walter sighed. "Actually, I'm more tired from the drive than I expected." He said. "So I think I'd like to lie down for a bit."
"Yes, of course." Moira told him. Moira leaned in to kiss him on the lips, but he turned his head at the last second and she kissed his cheek instead. He gave her a stained smile and then headed for the bedroom.
Thea looked on in concern, but a buzzing noise got her attention. She pulled out her phone and saw a text from Roy.
:Meet me tonight:
Thea walked over to Nathan. "Walter doesn't really seem like himself." She noted as they watched Walter slowly make his way up the stairs.
"He's gone through a lot." Nathan said. "It's just going to take a little bit of time."
Thea sighed. "I'm really sick of us all having to go through a lot, you know?" she said in frustration before moving off herself, leaving Nathan alone with their mother.
In the sitting room, Moira was watching a news broadcast in dread.
'Unidac Industries reportedly collapsed last night.' The reporter was saying. 'For those of you that don't know, Unidac Industries is a small company that specializes in seismic infringement and it was purchased by Queen Consolidated a few months back. Right now, spokespersons are saying that heightened seismic activity was picked up last night, leading some analysts to suggest that a freak accident occurred. The rubble won't be cleared away for some time yet, but six employees of Unidac Industries are reported missing, including Doctor Brian Markov. More on that when we return.'
Nathan walked briskly into the room just as the news broadcast was winding down. "Mom, we need to talk." He said brusquely, but Moira was too distracted to notice his tone.
"Oh, uh, later, Nathan." She said, hurrying out of the room.
Nathan looked on in frustration, but then the news broadcast caught his eye. He moved closer to the TV to watch.
'-co-workers, parents and families of all the victims to see how they're coping with their loss.' He smiled as everything was going according to plan.
Flashback
The scene flashed back to the Island. Slade, Shado and Nathan sat in the back of a truck, their hands bound, as it made its way back to the mercenary camp. They drove in right past the missile launcher, which was now fully operational. The soldiers unloaded them and walked them into the command tent.
"Ba!" Shado exclaimed as she saw her dad.
"Shado." He replied sadly.
"You led Fyers right to us, you coward!" Slade spat, straining against the soldier that held him in place.
"Fyers was about to fire bomb the entire forest just to eliminate you." He explained harshly. "This way, you all still have a chance."
"Well, pray I don't get the chance to repay your mercy." Slade said coldly.
That was when Fyers walked in, looking inordinately pleased with himself. "How fitting." He said smugly. "Everyone reunited for the end."
"The end of what?" Nathan asked, exasperated. "What exactly is all this for?"
Suddenly the radio flared to life.
"HKIA, this is Ferris Air flight 637 out of Berlin, nonstop to Hong Kong. We are steady on approach at 33,000 feet and winds at 15 knots. ETA, two hours, 15 minutes, over."
The soldier activated his mic. "Ferris 637, this is HKIA. Adjust course to 0.6 degrees south, 11 minutes. Over." He said as the three prisoners looked on in confusion.
"Roger, HKIA. Why the course change?"
"Nothing to worry about, 637." The soldier replied. "Just looking to make sure you avoid a little turbulence."
"Roger that. Adjusting course now."
The soldier switched off the mic and looked back at Fyers. "They're altering course, sir." He told him. "The plane will be in range of Lian Yu in 26 minutes."
"Good. Keep tracking it." Fyers ordered.
"That's a commercial airliner, Fyers." Nathan said. "It's not like it can land here."
"It won't be landing anywhere, Mr. Queen." Fyers said coldly. "I'm going to destroy it."
Nathan's eyes widened, then he looked outside at the missile launcher in horror.
Flashback End
Unidac Industries
Morning
Lance and Hilton were looking over the sight of the destruction. They were trying to figure out what had happened, though Lance suspected sabotage by the Arrow, since they pulled some arrows from the scene, but was keeping the press on lockdown about that particular part.
Queen Manor
Moira was standing alone in the sitting room, staring out the window when Nathan walked in.
"Hey, Mom."
Moira turned around, a bit startled. She sighed when she saw it was Nathan- in dread or relief, he didn't know. "Walter's upstairs resting." She said. "I think he's doing well, don't you?"
"Who took him?" Nathan asked, deciding to stop beating around the bush and go with the direct approach.
"Well, we don't know yet. But I'm going to make sure all the resources of Queen Consolidated are behind it." She replied automatically.
Nathan gave her a tight grin. "That's the answer that you gave to reporter's yesterday." he reminded her softly. "Tell me the truth."
Moira scoffed. "I don't know what you mean."
"You know precisely what I mean." Nathan said. "A couple months ago, when I showed you dad's notebook, you burned it without hesitating because you know something. Something about our family being in danger." He pressed.
She stared at him with a mixture of outrage and fear. "Are you suggesting that I knew something about my husband's kidnapping?" she demanded.
"I'm just suggesting that maybe you were scared." He offered. "That maybe at first you didn't mean for any of this to happen. But it was harder than you thought. And now you're barely staying afloat. Please, Mom." He pleaded gently. "Let me help you before you drown."
"You need to stop asking these things." She said fearfully "Do you understand? I need you to stop."
"I can't. I have to know." He said.
Suddenly the lights flickered, and then died. Moira looked around in confusion. "Is that a power outage?" she asked.
Nathan looked around warily. "I don't know." He said. There was a sound of breaking glass, and then suddenly a dart whizzed through the air and hit Nathan in the neck. He sank to the floor, knocked out by the 'tranquilizer'.
"Nathan!" Moira exclaimed, falling to the floor to check on her son. "Nathan!" Suddenly, she too was hit with a dart. As the world darkened around her, she saw a shadow of a hooded figure on the wall. As she fell back, all she saw was a dark shape approaching her as she lost consciousness.
When she awoke, she found herself bound to a metal chair in what looked to be an old, abandoned warehouse. Directly across from her, bound in a similar fashion, was Nathan.
"Mom!" he exclaimed groggily, still 'coming out from the tranq'.
"Nathan." She slurred.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
She leaned forward, and the bindings made themselves apparent. "Nathan?" she said, more panicked now that full awareness was returning, "How…how are… we got to get out of here."
"Moira Queen. You have failed this city." She looked up, and though her vision was partially obstructed by the heavy work lights that were pointed directly at her, she couldn't mistake the form of The Arrow- the man she had shot months ago.
Flashback
"It doesn't make any sense!" Nathan exclaimed. "Why do you want to blow up a plane?"
Fyers stood in front of him. "When the New York Stock Exchange reopened after 9-11, the Dow Jones dropped nearly 685 points." He lectured. "Can you imagine what would happen to China, the world's second largest economy, if all air travel in and out of China were to be grounded indefinitely?"
"You want to destabilize China's economy?" Slade guessed.
"It's not what I want, but rather my employer." Fyers said simply. "We have enough missiles here to shoot down any aircraft approaching the mainland." He explained. "And that will decimate China's economy. Especially," he turned to face Yao Fei, "once a rogue element in China's own military claims responsibility." Yao Fei's eyes widened. "You see, inconvenient though you occasionally were, you're always worth more to me alive than dead."
"Then you should have killed me." He said boldly. "Because I won't do it."
"Really?" Fryers asked softly. He turned back to the prisoners, then drew his gun and batted Nathan on the side of the head with the butt of the gun, then shot Slade in the thigh and Shado in the right shoulder.
"Ahh!" she screamed in pain as she fell back to the ground.
"Shado!" Yao Fei screamed in panic, running over to his wounded daughter. "Shado!"
"I said I need you alive, but I can kill everyone you care about." Fryers said, raising his gun at Shado once more.
Flashback End
Unknown Warehouse
The Arrow stood next to the bound Nathan. "This time, Moira Queen, you are going to answer all my questions." He snarled.
"Please! Do not hurt my son." She pleaded.
"Tell me what the Undertaking is and I won't have to." Arrow said; his voice distorted through the voice changer. Moira hesitated, torn between protecting her son now, and protecting him from Malcom overall. The clone looked down at Nathan, who looked up at him and subtly nodded. The clone hauled off and slugged him.
"No!" Moira cried.
"Tell me!" Arrow yelled, punching Nathan again.
"Please! Leave my son alone!" she begged, tears in her eyes.
"What is Malcolm Merlyn planning?!" The Arrow demanded, still facing Nathan.
"I can't tell you! He'll kill me, he'll kill my family." She cried.
"You should be more worried about what I'll do to your son." The Arrow snarled. He hit Nathan hard in the face, knocking him and the chair over. Nathan coughed and gasped in pain.
"No! Malcolm is planning to level the Glades!" Moira finally admitted. "He said so he could rebuild it, but…"
The Arrow stalked over to Moira, carefully keeping his face hidden. "How?" he demanded.
"There's a device."
"What device?!"
"He says that it can cause an earthquake." Moira said.
"How is this possible?" he asked, walking behind her.
"I don't know." Moira said. "It was invented by Unidac Industries. Malcolm used my company's Applied Sciences to turn it into a weapon."
"Why would you get involved in something like this?" The Arrow asked quietly.
"My husband…" Moira said hesitantly as Nathan listened from the floor. "He got involved without my knowing. He was just trying to do some good." She said, more for Nathan's sake than the Hood's. "He was lost. He… his decisions left me vulnerable to Malcolm, and I had no choice. I had to protect my family and my children." She finished, trying to justify her actions.
"This device," The Arrow started, "Where is it?"
"I don't know." She said tearfully.
"If you don't tell me, I can't stop Merlyn!" The Arrow said angrily.
Moira scoffed. "Oh, you can't stop him." She spat. "It's too late."
"You overestimate Malcolm Merlyn, Moira Queen." The Arrow said, pulling out a recording device and shutting it off, saving the recording, before doing the same to the two video camera's he had hidden in the room. "I already did stop Merlyn. Or did you not think it odd that Unidac Industries is currently a pile of rubble, merely two days before the devices were supposed to undergo their final test?"
"What!?" Moria asked in shock, "If you already knew, then why are you doing this?"
"To get a confession from you." The Arrow said, holding up the two camera's and waving them around a bit. Prometheus and Huntress stepped out of the shadows, flanking either side of him. "You have one day to confess your crimes on National Television. If you do not or you try to contact Malcolm during this time, we will air your dirty secrets ourselves and your children will die." Prometheus pulled out his sword and walked towards Nathan.
Moira's eyes widened in panic. "No, no, no, I told you everything!" she cried. She stilled when The Prometheus cut Nathan's wrist free. He then walked back behind Moira and cut the rope holding her to the chair, allowing it to drop free.
Moira ignored the vigilantes, who were walking away, and hurried over to her son. "Nathan!" she cried.
"No!" Nathan gasped in pain- more emotional than physical, pushing her away.
She looked at him sadly. "Oh, sweet- Please, I know what you must be thinking, sweetheart, but I never intended any of this to happen." He coughed, glaring at her. "You know I would never willingly be a part of anything like this." She pleaded.
Nathan staggered to his feet. "I don't know you anymore." He said wearily, limping out of the warehouse- away from his mother.
Flashback
Fyers was moments away from shooting Shado again.
"Stop!" Yao Fei cried. "I'll do it." He said in resignation.
"I knew your good judgment could be counted on." Fyers said, lowering his weapon. "Come along now. We need to get you back into uniform."
Slade started squirming, trying to get back up, and the guards turned their attention on him- as did Fyers who walked over and held his gun at Slade's face, causing him to still. But while everyone was distracted, Yao Fei quickly pulled a small throwing knife from his boot and slipped it into Nathan's hand, much to his surprise. Nathan quickly concealed the small blade in his hands as Yao Fei said something in Chinese to Shado. He helped her sit up, but was then grabbed by two guards and escorted out.
Fyers grabbed a satellite phone and headed out as well. He dialed a number from memory. "It's Fyers. It's happening." He said simply.
On the other end of the line, a bespectacled man walked into an office. "Understood." He said. He hung up the phone and looked at the woman behind the desk. "That was Fyers. Everything is proceeding to your plan."
Flashback End
Queen Manor
Moira had made her way tiredly back to the Manor. As she walked in, she heard Walter speaking with someone.
"It truly is very kind of you to come all the way out here." Walter was saying.
Moira walked into the sitting room. "Walter? Who are you speaking to—" she stopped cold when Malcolm Merlyn rose from the other couch and smiled.
"Moira. How are you?" he asked pleasantly.
"Well." The mask came back on with practiced ease. "Thank you."
"Actually, you look a little bit out of sorts." Walter noted.
"Oh, no, no, I'm fine." She said, fixing her hair slightly and smiling at the two men.
"Malcolm stopped by to check up on his nemesis." Moira looked startled at that. "On the racquetball court." Walter finished with a chuckle.
"I didn't get a chance to talk to Walter at the hospital." Malcolm said, still smiling. "Like everyone, I'm glad he's back where he belongs. With his family." He said with a meaningful look at Moira.
"Yes." She said evenly.
"I'll let you get some rest." Malcolm told Walter.
"Thanks again." He said.
"Uh, I'll walk you out." Moira said, leading him towards the door. Once out in the hall, she spoke quietly. "What do you intend to do, Malcolm? The devices were all destroyed in the accident." She noted.
"5 years spent on Unidac, only for my victory to be ripped from me at the last second. You needn't worry Moira, I am in the process of acquiring another means of completing the Undertaking, but it will take 3 days to finish the arrangement and another 2 to deliver it. And it will still limit any potential exposure for us" Malcolm said easily.
"I see. And does paying Walter a visit just now fall under the same category? You held him for nearly six months. Surely you had him questioned." she asked harshly.
"He was." Malcolm said evenly.
"And I assume that if Walter knew something you'd rather he didn't, agreement be damned, I would be a widow again." She said bitterly. "Am I wrong?"
"Rarely." Malcolm said evenly, his face betraying no emotion whatsoever. He let himself out as Moira stood there, horrified.
Morning
The next morning Nathan, dressed in his good suit, walked into the lobby of Merlyn Global Group. He headed over to the security desk and smiled.
"Hi. Nathan Queen." He said needlessly. "I have an 11:30 with Tommy Merlyn."
The security guard took his ID to run a check.
The guard handed Nathan's ID back to him. "You can go on up now, Mr. Queen." He told Nathan
Tommy's Office
Upstairs, Nathan walked into Tommy's office. He found him standing at the windows, looking over some paperwork.
"Sure beats the office at the club." Nathan said.
"I saw your name in my schedule; I thought it must be a typo." Tommy turned and threw the folder down onto his desk. "Why so serious? he asked coldly.
"It's past time we talked." Nathan replied calmly.
"About what?" Tommy asked. "Me leaving the club? We're not lacking for topics."
"Let's start with Laurel, since I know you're still in love with her." Nathan shot back.
"So are you." Tommy countered.
"I am quite happy with my relationship with Helena. Even if I wasn't, I can never be with her, Tommy." he said.
"So what? I'm her consolation prize?" Tommy scoffed. "I'll pass."
"She's not anyone's property." Nathan replied. "Laurel makes her own decisions. And she chose you. Until you couldn't handle it. You became afraid."
"You've started to push everyone away from you. You leaving the club I could have easily chalked up to you wanting to a better job and forging a stronger relationship with Laurel, which it was. But then you stopped talking to me and we slowly stopped hanging out, and then when things are going great with Laurel, you are suddenly doing every little thing you possibly can to push her away. You know, I remember back before the island that we weren't exactly as close as you and Oliver, but now when I look at you, Thomas Merlyn, I see Oliver right before he started cheating on Laurel."
"Do not compare what I'm doing to what Oliver did to her," Tommy said slowly with anger as he shook his finger at his friend , "I may be pushing you both away, but it was never because I cheated on her. I would never do that to her."
"Then what the hell are you doing Tommy?! If this is some twisted scheme to get me and Laurel together, you can stop yourself now, it's not happening! I refuse to do to you what I did to Oliver!" Nathan shouted in anger, slipping up.
"What you did to Oliver? What are you talking about?" Tommy asked in confusion, to which Nathan rubbed his head.
"I guess Laurel never told you what happened. When I realized that Oliver was cheating on Laurel with several women and actually got one pregnant, I was so pissed that he would do that to Laurel, and I wanted revenge on him. So I slept with Laurel." Nathan revealed, shocking Tommy to the core as he never knew this.
"God, Nate." Tommy said while he continued.
"And I was going to rub it in his face, all just so I could hurt him the way he hurt her, but she made me swear not to tell him, due to her still being in love with the idiot and wanting to repair her relationship with the fool. But Sara found out. And that's why she was on the boat" Nathan said sadly as he dropped another bomb, shocking Tommy further as he continues, "She was sleeping with Oliver to make me jealous so I would finally admit the feelings we both had for each other but that I was too scared to act on. And finding out really pissed me off, and I beat Oliver to a pulp before telling Oliver he was better off dead. And the next time I saw him, there was a pipe sticking out of his chest, and then Sara fell beneath the waves, drowning."
"So you see," Nathan said as he became chocked with emotion, "Whatever stunt you're pulling isn't going to work, because I have already lost two people that I loved because of my selfishness, and I will never be that guy again."
Tommy stared into Nate's hardened expression for several moments before he sighed and finally relented. He poured Nathan and himself a glass of scotch as he sat at a table for meetings. "You're gonna want to sit down for this." He said as they both sat down.
"Do you remember when I came to you seeking advice when I found out Laurel was working with on of the vigilantes?" Tommy said as he took a drink.
"Yeah, I remember." Nathan said as he took a drink.
"Well, you made this joke about how 'Every time you want to talk to me about something and that something concerns Laurel, you look like you're about to tell me you have testicular cancer'?"
"Yeah," Nathan said, feeling on edge, "why?"
"Well, after that day and Laurel was safe, I went to the doctor to get a check up to make sure nothing was wrong. Turns out, something was wrong. I have stage 4 prostate cancer." Tommy said, his voiced choked with emotion.
"Thomas," Nathan said, his eyes wide and hand on his mouth.
"The doctor said I only have four months left to live." Tommy said as the emotions he had been keeping locked up burst forth. Nathan put his drink down and embraced Tommy in a brotherly hug.
"I-Its why I broke up with L-Laurel. I didn't want her to s-suffer the pain of being with a man who is-s doomed to die." Tommy cried.
Nathan just sat there, comforting one of his only remaining male friends.
After Tommy finally stopped crying, Nathan pulled away and grasped both of his friends shoulders. "You can't spare us the pain of losing you, Tommy. Whether you told us or not, we would still feel the pain of losing you. But losing you and finding out that you died from cancer and you didn't tell us? That pain would have been ten times worse."
Nathan got up and made to leave, but he stopped and turned his head to look at Tommy behind him. "I will carry the pain and regret over Oliver and Sara for the rest of my life. And that is my burden to bear. Don't let Laurel's pain be your final regret, Tommy." His final words spoken, he left, leaving Tommy to ponder his friends words.
Queen Manor
Same time
Moira was heading up the stairs and ran into Walter as she reached the landing.
"Oh, good." She said pleasantly. "I was just coming to check on you to see if maybe you'd like some tea, or…" Walter handed her a folded set of papers. "What is this?" she asked, finally noticing that he was wearing his coat. She opened the papers, and then paled. "Walter, please." She said shakily. "Divorce is an extreme reaction."
"Well, considering the circumstances, I find it somewhat reserved." Walter said dryly. He began walking down the stairs to the door. "Or do you think I believe that my abduction on the night you told me that I was getting too close to your conspiracy was a coincidence." He added acidly.
"You…you were in danger." Moira said emotionally. "This arrangement, it saved your life."
Walter scoffed. "Well, that's ironic. Because it feels like you've destroyed it."
"Walter—"
"You know, I read about people in forced captivity." Walter continued, making his way to the first floor. "Some of them said it was a simple thought that got them through the isolation and fear," he chuckled, "Returning to their loved ones. So I don't know really why I'm still alive, Moira, because I didn't have that."
Moira held up her hands to stop him "Walter, please—" she tried to plead, openly crying now.
"What do you think you can say to me to convince me that everything I knew, my whole life hasn't just evaporated?" he asked harshly. He approached the door just as Thea walked in.
Instantly she was alert. "Where are you going?" she asked shakily.
"Come here." He whispered. He pulled her into a hug, then pulled back and looked down at her. He gave her a reassuring smile, and then moved past her to walk out. He didn't look at Moira again.
Flashback
Fyers was setting up the camera to record Yao Fei's 'declaration'. The man in question stood stiffly in front of a grey backdrop to mask the operations behind him. On the floor, still bound sat Slade, Nathan and Shado.
"The uniform suits you, Yao Fei." Fyers complemented. "Any time you're ready."
"To the people of China and citizens of the world," Yao Fei began. "I make this statement voluntarily, taking responsibility for the shooting of Ferris Air flight 637 to protest the People's Republic of China's treatment of me; for betraying and abandoning me to the island of Lian Yu." On the floor, Nathan was desperately cutting at the binding on his hands. "Consider this my righteous delivery of powerful vengeance."
Fyers shut off the camera. "Thank you." He said politely.
Then he pulled out his gun and shot him in the head.
"No!" Nathan screamed.
"Ba! Ba!" Shado sobbed.
"Sir. Plane is within range." The air traffic officer announced. Fyers smirked at Nathan, who stared back him, his eyes burning with righteous hatred and wrath.
Flashback End
Laurel's Apartment
Evening
A short while later, Tommy found himself at Laurel's apartment. He knocked, and a few seconds later she answered.
"Hi." He said. "Can we talk? I know I don't deserve it but please" she stepped aside and let him in. "Thank you."
Laurel closed the door and looked at him, her arms crossed over her chest.
"What did you want to talk about?" she asked flatly.
Tommy chuckled slightly. "Wow, I thought this was going to be easier to say." He started. "But now I'm standing here… looking at you, and it's—"
"Just say what you have to say and go, ok?" she told him sharply.
"Look, ever since I found out I've got cancer, and I'm going to die in 4 months, I've been trying to spare you and Nathan that pain. But after I talked with Nate earlier, I realized how much of an idiot I was being."
"What are you trying to say?" she asked hopefully, putting aside her shock at hearing he has cancer.
"That, if I've only got so long left to live, I want to spend every last moment with you and I don't want to die with the regret of not telling you how much I love you, Laurel Lance."
She crashed into him then, their lips meeting frantically. As they kissed she quickly unbuttoned his shirt, then hopped up onto him, her legs wrapping around his waist.
"Laurel, I-" "Later." she said breathlessly between kisses. "Right now, I just want you to love me."
Tommy carried her back to her bedroom. He stood next to her bed and held her there for several seconds, enjoying her closeness.
Flashback
The scene flashed back to the Island where thousands of feet above, a Ferris Air Line's commercial jet was flying the course it had been given by the air traffic soldier- a course that would take it directly over Lian Yu.
"The plane's holding steady at 33,000 feet." The ATS informed Fyers. "That's the range for missile intercept, sir."
"Lock missile one on target." Fyers said.
On the ground, Slade noticed Nathan cutting through his bonds. Nathan looked at him, then over at Shado.
"Missile one locked on the jet's heat trail." The ATS said.
"Prepare to launch on my mark." Fyers replied.
"Yes, sir."
Nathan broke free, then jumped up and ran at ATS, yelling. He knocked Fyers aside and jammed the knife into the ATS's jugular, before turning and cutting Shado loose.
Her loss and rage numbed the pain in her shoulder as she started beating down the guards in the tent. Slade had leapt up as well, ignoring the pain in his leg and launching himself at Fyers. Another soldier punched Nathan in the face and started to choke him with both hands, while Fyers easily dealt with the wounded and still-bound Slade.
Fyers pulled out his radio as he ran from the tent. "Fire! Fire the missile now!" he ordered. Inside, Shado finished off the last guard and ran over to Nathan. She pulled soldier off of him, grabbing the man in a dragon choke. With a simple movement, she broke his neck. Nathan nodded at her and ran out, just in time to see the missile launcher fire.
Flashback End
Lair
Nighttime
"Her times' up," Nathan said as Talia, Chien, Helena and Lyla stood around, "I gave my mother a chance to confess to her crimes. But she has failed, as she has for 5 years, to take initiative and do the right thing."
"Lyla, please send out the video to every IP address. I want this video on every television, computer and phone." Nathan said tiredly. Lyla pulled up a chair and sent the video. The 4 women gave Nathan a group hug.
"I'm sorry you have to go through this Nate," Helena apologized.
"We know that it can't be easy for you." Chien said.
"Now's not the time. Time for mourning is later." Nathan said as they all pulled apart.
"Tal's, you got that League Smoke, by chance?" Nathan asked.
"I do beloved. Why?" Talia asked.
"I got an idea about how to draw Malcolm out." Nathan said.
Flashback
The scene changed back to the island as Nathan watched the missile fly off towards the plane. He moved towards the launcher, but fell back as the soldiers opened fire. Shado was already there, knocking out one guard and climbing onto the launcher as it began to move.
Slade came out of the command bunker, an Ak-47 in his hands and began firing. He looked at Nathan. "Go kid!" he yelled, laying down covering fire as Nathan bolted for the launcher. He jumped on the back just as Shado knocked another solder down. She knelt down and opened up an access port, pulling out the motherboard. She started working, looking up to see Nathan.
"We need to reprogram the missile!" she said.
"I don't know how to reprogram a god damn missile launcher!" he exclaimed.
Shado pulled out the circuit board. "I do." She worked frantically.
Suddenly the guard she had knocked down got back up and pulled out his pistol "Watch out!" he cried.
Shado grabbed his gun arm and yanked him forward, bouncing his face off the launcher and disarming him. She quickly aimed and fired, shooting the driver in the head. The man slumped forward, jamming the control levers forward and the launcher began to roll. The guard Shado disarmed grabbed her from behind, and the two struggled, falling off the launcher in the process.
"Nathan, put the chip in." she yelled as she continued to fight. Nathan rounded the launchers, but was immediately set upon by another soldier. They fought briefly, with Nathan struggling mightily before he managed to throw the other man off. Nathan looked up and saw the missile nearing the plane, then back down at the launcher. He yank open the access panel once more and grabbed the command chip, jamming it home. The small screen noted 'Target Modification Confirmed'. He looked up to see the missile radically change course, now heading for Fyer's camp.
He pulled the dead driver off of the stick, stopping the launcher, and then leapt off. He took cover behind the corner of the launcher and watched as the missile slammed into the camp. The explosion was enormous, enhanced by all of the munitions' that were now cooking off. He sat down relieved, exhausted, and fearful- what of Slade? What of Shado?
Flashback End
Video
"Good evening, Starling City," came the voice of the Arrow as his face appeared on every video screen in the city, "I imagine many you don't know who I am. Many of you think I am an urban legend. A being that only exists to scare criminals into behaving. Some even believe me to be a villain. But thing is true. I am The Arrow."
Many of the people watching now with trepidation. "I am appearing before you now because I have a message for everyone living in the Glades. Your lives are in mortal danger. Many years ago, a mans wife was murdered in the Glades. Ever since then, he has blamed everyone in the Glades for her death, and has made the conditions of your livelihoods worse in order to validate his own evil agenda: To destroy the Glades and kill every single soul living in it."
"But you don't need to take my word for it," The Arrow moved aside in the video and gestured behind him, "Take the word of his greatest co-conspirator, Moira Queen."
Video
She leaned forward, and the bindings made themselves apparent. "Nathan?" she said, more panicked now that full awareness was returning, "How…how are… we got to get out of here."
"Moira Queen. You have failed this city." She looked up, and though her vision was partially obstructed by the heavy work lights that were pointed directly at her, she couldn't mistake the form of The Arrow- the man she had shot months ago.
The Arrow stood next to the bound Nathan. "This time, Moira Queen, you are going to answer all my questions." He snarled.
"Please! Do not hurt my son." She pleaded.
"Tell me what the Undertaking is and I won't have to." Arrow said; his voice distorted through the voice changer. Moira hesitated, torn between protecting her son now, and protecting him from Malcom overall. The clone looked down at Nathan, who looked up at him and subtly nodded. The clone hauled off and slugged him.
"No!" Moira cried.
"Tell me!" Arrow yelled, punching Nathan again.
"Please! Leave my son alone!" she begged, tears in her eyes.
"What is Malcolm Merlyn planning?!" The Arrow demanded, still facing Nathan.
"I can't tell you! He'll kill me, he'll kill my family." She cried.
"You should be more worried about what I will do to your son." The Arrow snarled. He hit Nathan hard in the face, knocking him and the chair over. Nathan coughed and gasped in pain.
Merlyn Global
At Merlyn Global, Malcolm was watching the broadcast on his laptop. '"No! Malcolm is planning to level the Glades!" Moira finally admitted. "He said so he could rebuild it, but…"
"No!" he screamed in rage, slamming the lid of the computer and punching his desk, shattering the glass.
Video
The Arrow stalked over to Moira, carefully keeping his face hidden. "How?" he demanded.
"There's a device."
"What device?!"
"He says that it can cause an earthquake." Moira said.
"How is this possible?" he asked, walking behind her.
"I don't know." Moira said. "It was invented by Unidac Industries. Malcolm used my company's Applied Sciences to turn it into a weapon."
"Why would you get involved in something like this?" The Arrow asked quietly.
"My husband…" Moira said hesitantly as Nathan listened from the floor. "He got involved without my knowing. He was just trying to do some good." She said, more for Nathan's sake than the Hood's. "He was lost. He… his decisions left me vulnerable to Malcolm, and I had no choice. I had to protect my family and my children." She finished, trying to justify her actions.
"This device," The Arrow started, "Where is it?"
"I don't know." She said tearfully.
"If you don't tell me, I can't stop Merlyn!" The Arrow said angrily.
Moira scoffed. "Oh, you can't stop him." She spat. "It's too late."
"As you can see, Malcolm wants to kill you all. I urge everyone in Glades. Evacuate, now. Save yourselves."
Queen Manor
Moira was with Thea as they both watched the news. "I don't understand." Thea said in shock.
"I'm sorry." Moira said, crying. "I love you."
"I love Roy." She said, suddenly terrified.
"Roy?"
"He lives in the Glades." She said, tears in her eyes. "I can't leave him there." She spun and ran out of the room, rushing off to save her boyfriend.
"Sweetheart-Thea!" Moira called out. She wanted to go after her but was restrained by a patrol officer as McKenna Hall and several officers burst into the Manor and McKenna began reading her rights. "Moira Queen, you're under arrest for conspiracy to commit mass murder, and aiding and abetting a terrorist. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney."
Merlyn Global
"Freeze!" Malcolm looked over to see three S.W.A.T. officers rush in, weapons aimed at him. "Malcolm Merlyn, you are under arrest." The leader said. Malcolm ducked into his armory, and the cops opened fire, missing him. They moved cautiously to the doorway-
But Malcolm came out with a broadsword.
Malcolm slit the first officer's throat, and then impaled the second., and decapitated the third.. All three cops were now dead.
Before Malcolm could make a break for it, someone dropped to the floor. Malcolm turned sharply only to see it was a member of the League.
"Al Sah-Her," the guy said, his Arabic accent shining through, "Ra's al Ghul orders you to appear before him immediately. He also mentions that it would be unwise to run. You would not make it out of this city alive."
His piece spoken, the League member vanished. Looking outside his window, Malcolm saw the smoke coming from a nearby rooftop. Ra's had somehow learned of his plans. He could not hope to run away now. His plans were crumbling around him. There was one way he could turn this around though. He who kills Ra's becomes Ra's, after all.
Flashback
Night had fallen, and Nathan finally made his way into the burned out ruins of the camp. "Shado! Slade!" he called out, searching for his friends. He spotted a case lying in the middle of the road. Curious, he toed the lid off, and then knelt down to pick up Yao Fei's recurve bow. He looked at it, felt the weight of it in his hand, then picked up an arrow and nocked it. Suddenly he heard laughing, and he stood up and saw Slade, sitting with his back to some crates.
"Boy, I should have figured." He laughed and pulled himself to his feet. "You couldn't save the day without making a mess."
"Where's Shado?" Nathan asked.
"I thought she was with you." Slade said.
"Actually, she's with me." They both looked to see Fyers moving towards them, dragging Shado with him.
He held his gun to her head.
"Let her go!" Slade yelled. He limped forward, but fell to his knees. "It's over, Fyers!"
Nathan calmly lifted the bow and drew back the string. "Let her go." He said calmly.
"Amazing." Fyers said. "A two year operation undone because a young playboy happened to wash up on the shore, and now here you are- a killer." He chuckled. "You wanted nothing more than to leave this island, and now you can. I can call in a rescue ship, you can go home!" He yanked Shado closer. "Tell me, Mr. Queen. Are you prepared to sacrifice your freedom?" he pushed Shado forward slightly. "For her?"
Nathan looked to Shado. She nodded imperceptibly. So he breathed, aimed-
And fired.
Fyers lurched back, releasing Shado. He gurgled slightly, then fell over, dead, with and arrow sticking out the center of his throat.
Nathan tilted his head slightly, staring at his work. "I am." He said coldly. Slade looked at him in disbelief, but Shado looked at him and grinned slightly. She nodded, and then looked back at Fyer's corpse. Her father had been avenged.
Flashback End
Malcolm appeared on the rooftop, patiently waiting for Ra's to show up. Sensing a presence and realizing he had been played, he notched an arrow and fired behind him, missing The Arrow, who moved his head out of the way.
"I admit, using my history with the League to draw me out. That was clever of you. But you were foolish to think I wouldn't realize I had been played. So tell me," Malcolm said from under his hood, "are you ready to die?"
"The only one dying this night is you, AL Sah-her!" The Arrow shouted back.
The two archers began sending arrow after arrow at each other. Both were running low, and then soon enough Malcolm was out. They ran towards each other, and as they came together Malcolm swung his bow at The Arrow's head. The Arrow dropped to his knees, sliding under the blow, then raised his bow up to block the follow up. They began trading blows furiously, expertly wielding their bows like bo staffs. The Arrow spun away and fired another arrow- which Malcolm caught inches from his face- which then exploded, sending him sprawling.
"You never learn, do you?" The Arrow asked rhetorically.
Malcolm got back up, tossing his bow aside and drawing his sword. They were fighting in close, with The Arrow blocking the sword with his bow. Finally he kicked it away, then kicked Malcolm, sending him sprawling. He staggered to his feet just as The Arrow jumped at him. The Arrow wrapped his legs around Malcolm's head and did a hurricanrana, landing Malcolm back to the ground on his back as The Arrow landed on top. Malcolm slid away and got up jumping at The Arrow and spinning from an arm bar to a reverse choke. He reared back, cutting off The Arrow's air. He reached back and ripped off Malcolm's hood, trying to find something to hit, but he couldn't.
"Don't struggle. It's over." Malcolm said as the two sank to their knees. The Arrow was trying desperately to get air, but Malcolm was just too damn strong. "There was never any doubt in the outcome." Malcolm said. "Don't worry. Your precious scum in the Glades will join you in death." He snarled as he snapped his nemesis' neck.
Malcolm, after taking a breather, pulled the Arrow's hood back to reveal spiky golden blonde hair. Fearing the worst, as he only knew one person with this kind of hair, he pulled off the face mask and eye goggles to reveal Nathaniel Queen's face, the light having gone out in his eyes.
"Oh no," Malcolm uttered in self-loathing. He had killed the only other boy he had cared for as a son.
"Don't worry," came the modulated voice of Prometheus as he stood next to Helena on the sidelines. He handed her his bow and arrows. And walked until he was facing opposite of Malcolm. He pulled back his hood and pulled off his mask to reveal Nathan's face, to Malcolm's shock, "You didn't kill me."
"How!?" Malcolm asked in shock, only to see the form of the Arrow fade into red mist. "Magic." Merlyn grounded out, having encountered the Lazarus Pits and a few mages over his lifetime made him a believer of magic.
"Not quite but close enough," Nathan said, holding his mask to his side, "And now you will join that clone of me in death."
"Don't you see what I'm doing? I'm trying to save this city! It's needs the Undertaking to happen to save it from the people poisoning it!" Malcolm shouted.
"Ha! That's laughable Malcolm, because you're the one doing the most poisoning. You've known about all the one's that were poisoning this city, yet you did nothing to stop them!" Nathaniel argued.
"I've tried your way before, Nathaniel. It doesn't work!" Malcolm shouted in rage.
"No you didn't. You and my dad tried to coerce them into saving this city, I'm taking them off the board! And while we're on the subject, you already killed the bastard who killed Aunt Rebecca. Because that is really why you're doing this. You could have helped her had you just picked up the phone. You really think that killing them all will alleviate your own guilt?" Nathan said.
"YES! THEY ALL DESERVE TO DIE! THE SAME WAY SHE DID!" Malcolm shouted in rage and grief.
"You really have become blinded by your rage and grief, Malcolm. The time for talking is done. You die now." Nathaniel said as he put his mask back on and walked forward.
Malcolm picked his sword and walked forward, noting "You're unarmed, nephew. Are you really in that much of a hurry to die?"
"I'll take your sword from you when you're done with it." Nathan said as he walked forward. Malcolm attempted an overhead strike, but Nate stepped aside and delivered a strong backhand to Malcolm's face.
Nathan crossed his arms behind his back and Malcolm regained his footing. Malcolm swung to decapitate Nathan but he maneuvered his head out of the way. Malcolm swung again at Nate's chest but Nate leaned back to avoid the blow. Malcolm gripped his scimitar with both hands and swung at Nate's head, but Nate ducked under strike and stepped across Malcolm's left side, delivering a harsh jab to his stomach, causing Malcolm to fall to his knee in pain as Nate circled him.
Malcolm rushed at Nathan and swung at him with a running overhead strike but Nate merely sidestepped and jabbed Malcolm in the face with his right hand, causing Malcolm to fall to the ground. Malcolm grinded his teeth together and got back up. He was at a severe disadvantage in this fight. He realized now that Nate had seriously held back in their last duel. That fact, combined with the fact that he was feeling the fatigue from his fight with Nate's clone, as well as Nate's mention of Rebecca angering him, was making him desperate and causing him to make stupid mistakes.
Malcolm stabbed at Nate with his sword and Nate maneuvered his body out of the way without taking a step. Malcolm tired to punch him but Nate swiftly grasped Malcolm's wrist, appearing behind Malcolm with his arm and squeezed until Malcolm's wrist began to crack, causing Malcolm to groan as Nate kicked him in the back, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Nate pulled out one of his chokuto just as Malcolm returned to his knees and sliced at Nate's knees, which was parried away. Malcolm stabbed at Nathan from his kneeling position, which was parried and then attempted an overhead strike as he rose, which made Nate spin pivot on his feet and parry away. As Nate returned to his original position, his free hand grasped Malcolm's sword wrist to his body, locking out the arm and delivering a blow with the butt of his sword to Malcolm's lower rib before letting him go, causing him to stumble away.
Nate swung at Malcolm's neck but missed. They both swung at each other and their swords clashed for a moment. They then traded strikes for several moments , neither able to get a clean shot. Finally, Nate was able to parry Malcolm's overreaching blow away and kicked out his knee. Malcolm tried to rise but Nate delivered a fierce blade kick to Malcolm's face, causing him to fall back further.
Malcolm, in his rage, roared at Nathan and rushed him, swinging wildly for a moment until Nathan grabbed Malcolm's wrist when he threw a punch, locking the arm out and jabbed him in the stomach with the butt of his sword and then kicked his shoulder causing him to stumble away.
While Malcolm could not see it, Nathan was smirking underneath the mask. Nathan pointed his word at Malcolm and tauntingly walked toward him. Enraged Malcolm knocked the blade away, elbowing Nathan in the face, twisting his arm and forcing him to his knee's. Helena stepped forward in fear her boyfriend, and Malcolm grinned evilly at the 'mistake' Nathan made. He swung downward to decapitate Nate, but Nathan pulled is arm out of Malcolm's grasp and pivoted away. Malcolm repeated the same strike and Nathan caught Malcolm's wrist his left hand, while his chokuto flew back into Nathan's right hand. Without wasting a movement, he fluidly brought his chokuto in an upward swing, slicing Malcolm's sword arm off at the elbow, and taking Malcolm's scimitar from the now useless appendage. Malcolm grunted and gritted his teeth to prevent himself from crying out in pain.
Nathan then sliced Malcolm's chest several times with the scimitar before impaling Malcolm all the way through in the stomach with it, clipping his spine in the process, causing him to cough up blood and fall to his knees and he grasped the sword with his remaining hand.
"It's over Malcolm." Nathan said and he lifted Malcolm chin up to look at him, "This world will be safer without you in it." In that moment, Malcolm saw the shadow of a man he had once served as his horseman. In that moment, he saw, not Nathaniel Queen, but Ra's al Ghul.
Malcolm was brought out of his thought's when Nathan plunged his chokuto into the center of Malcolm's chest, piercing his heart. As Nathan pulled out his blade, he began saying a prayer for Malcolm that was in Arabic. "Forgive and have mercy upon him…"
Robert Queen, his old friend that he had murdered to advance his plan, flashed in his mind.
"Excuse him and pardon him…"
Malcolm remembered Frank Chen, another friend he had murdered when Frank's continued existence had threatened the Undertaking.
"Make honorable his reception…"
Malcolm remembered Moira, a woman who had been his friend and lover once, whom he had manipulated and threatened for 5 years.
"Protect him from the punishment of the grave…"
Malcolm remembered playing with an 8 year old Tommy before Rebecca died, back when he treated Tommy like an actual son.
"…And the torment of the Fire."
Malcolm's final memory would be of Rebecca, holding her closely and kissing her on their wedding day.
"Rebecca." Malcolm whispered her name, as she had been who he, in his twisted mind, had committed their heinous acts for. It would also be the last thing he ever said, as Nathan cut his head off, letting the body fall to the ground.
Helena walked forward to her boyfriend as he pulled his mask off and breathed. She hugged him and he hugged her.
"Hey, you gonna okay?" She asked her lover.
"I will be, with you and the rest of the girls." He smiled at her.
"What was that you were saying? It sounded like Arabic." Helena asked.
"It was a prayer," Nathan explained, "Shado and Henri taught me that when a man challenges Ra's al Ghul and they lose, he says a prayer for them, for their souls to be judged fairly when they pass on. I thought it was fitting, being that he was Ra's Horseman once upon a time."
"Are you going to just leave him there?" Helena asked.
"No, I'm not," Nathan said as he stepped forward.
Incinerator
Later
Nathan slowly watched from the outside of the furnace as Malcolm's body and head slowly burned to ash.
The docks
Later that night
Nathan was in his civilian clothes, holding the urn that contained Malcolm's ashes.
"I know that I'm being a bit selfish here, not giving Tommy the opportunity to bury you. But to be honest, he is busy at the moment."
Laurel's Apartment
Laurel and Tommy were kissing each other as they cuddled together, basking in the afterglow of their sex.
Docks
"Besides, his last moments on this earth should be filled with happiness. Your own son was dying and you would rather kill thousands of innocent people." Nathan said as he tossed some ashes into the water.
"I can understand your point of view, uncle. Rebecca's death shattered you and it twisted and shaped you into something else. I know what grief can do to you. After I lost Yao Fei, Shado, Akio, and Taina, I was consumed with grief. And then the Red Death broke me. If it wasn't for Talia and Henri, I would have ended my own life to end my misery. I'm just saying, I get it." He tossed some more ashes into the water.
He then grasped the rest of the urn. "You made mistakes Malcolm. You and my Dad tired to coerce the bad guys into helping to save this city. When that didn't work, you let it get worse, just so you could validate your vendetta."
Nathan sighed as he continued, "But I made mistakes as well, Uncle. I gave some of them a chance to redeem themselves. But I realize now that I have been too restrained. I can't hope to save this city if I let them live, because they haven't changed. And they never will. So, I wanted to thank you uncle, for showing me the error of my ways." He finished and poured the rest of his Uncles ashes into the dark waters, letting the ashes scatter and float away.
Next Night
"Good evening, Starling City. I come bearing a most grievous message. Last night, The Arrow died stopping Malcolm Merlyn's plan for Glades. But what my master stood for did not die," Everyone looked to see Prometheus on the screen, "It lives on through me. To all the criminals of Starling City, sleep with one eye open from now on, because I'm coming for all of you. I am Prometheus and none of you are safe."
Two Nights later
Harold Backman, underworld accountant, was setting banded stacks of $100 bills into a metal briefcase as he talked on his speakerphone.
"Call Cayman Fidelity." He said as two bodyguards stood watch. "Tell them their favorite accountant is flying in to make a special deposit for a special client." He grinned at the implication. He loved the power his position offered him, and loved taking advantage of every benefit.
The smile fell off his face, however, when he heard the elevator ding.
"That elevator's supposed to be on a key." He said aloud. He looked up at his guards. "Go. Check it out." He ordered. One of the men grabbed the briefcase, and both drew their guns as they headed to the elevator. They looked on in confusion as the door to the elevator opened, then closed partially, then opened again.
Prometheus dropped down, slicing both of the guards heads off.
Harold tried to make a run for it , but Prometheus threw a ninja star as his knee, causing Harold to fall to the ground. Harold cried out in pain as he turned around, only to see an arrow aimed at his heart.
"Harold Backman, you have failed this city!" Prometheus shouted as he let the arrow fly, silencing Harold's cry's for mercy.
Journal Entry #47
Year 2045
The death of Malcolm Merlyn marked the end of the Arrow and his more restrained ways. It gave rise to my fathers more brutal methods, eliminating criminals completely and offering no second chances. Harold Backman's death is credited with being the start of my father's 2 year war on crime where he took no prisoners, and truly cleaned up the city in a way as The Arrow , he never could. More on that in my next entry.
Signed,
Henry Queen, The Green Arrow and son of Nathaniel Queen.
End Journal Entry #47