Undisclosed Location
A man covered by shadows in a buddhist temple was sitting cross-legged, meditating as the many candles burned in the background.
Suddenly, a cell phone rang. The man opened his eyes and pulled out his phone and answered it, while still sitting. "I wasn't expecting a call from you," He said into the phone.
"I know, sensei. However, I am in need of some assistance from you." The man said on the other end.
"This is about your mother." He stated. "You know as well as I do, that you don't need my help."
"Maybe, but I have to be present for the entire trial in order to avoid being tied back to any sabotage of the trial." The man on the other end said.
"You'd manipulate the law in the same manner those poisoning that beloved city of yours have?" The sensei asked with a bit of surprise.
"It's only once. Besides, she's my mother. No matter what wrong she committed, it was still under duress, courtesy of Merlyn. I won't have my only remaining parent sent to jail because of some technicality, and a gung-ho lawyer who sticks his nose where it doesn't belong."
The sensei contemplated for a moment before making up his mind. "I'll be there tomorrow."
Starling City
Next Day
Lyla's replacement guard opened the door of the Mercedes, allowing Nathan to climb out in front of the courthouse. Thea followed right behind, and the trio made their way towards the entrance, pushing past the reporters as they shouted questions at them.
"Mr. Queen, what are your mother's chances?" one asked.
"Is she on suicide watch?" shouted another.
"Mr. Queen, can you give us any comment?" shouted yet another.
"It's not fair." Laurel remarked to Adam Donner as they watched them approach from the top of the stairs. "They're not the ones on trial."
"That won't stop Jean Loring from using them as props to drum up sympathy." Donner pointed out crassly.
"You don't seem overly concerned." Laurel noted.
Donner smirked. "She confessed to being an accomplice on live television."
"That may be, but she also confessed under duress by the Arrow. That fact alone makes her admission hold less weight." Laurel looked at Donner, who was smiling. "You have something, don't you?" she said. "I thought I was your co-counsel, Adam. If you're holding a trump card, don't you think maybe you should share it with me?"
"It's going to be a good trial." Donner said confidently and vaguely at the same time. "Come on, let's get inside." Donner moved to the door.
Laurel turned to follow, but paused as she saw Nathan walk up the steps. Nathan looked over at her, his expression closed off.
Flashback
Five years ago
Nathan looked at the plane, his expression closed off. His hands were bound in front of him and he was being led by a large group of men, along with Ivo, Sara, and the Pirate captain. "Don't do this." He told Sara.
"Ivo says we have to." Sara replied. "Your friends are a danger to his men."
"Go." The captain ordered his men. "Quick and quiet."
Nathan was having none of that. "Slade! Shado! Run!" he yelled. For his effort, he got a punch in the jaw that sent him to the ground. The pirates opened fired on the plane, spraying bullets into the fuselage. After a few seconds they stopped. One of the men approached the fuselage and looked inside.
"There's no one here." He called out.
"They must have moved on from their position." Ivo deduced. He pulled a black device out of his pocket. On it was a digital clock that read 4:30. "Charges are placed. Here's the detonator." He handed it to the pirate. "Make sure they have no place to return to. Go." The man ran back to the plane and threw the device into the fuselage.
"And you." Ivo snarled at Nathan. "Now you're going to take us to the graves." He looked to the captain. "Let's go. Get him up." The black man hauled Nathan to his feet. "Let's get clear." The group walked off into the jungle.
In the fuselage, Shado quickly got out of their hiding place. She found the detonator and disarmed it with only seconds to spare.
"Did you find the detonator?" Slade rasped, pulling himself out.
"Yes." She tossed the deactivated device down on the table. "We were lucky." She said.
"I was lucky. You were good." Slade replied, sitting down on a crate.
"Either way- they have Nathan." She said, gathering up her bow, quiver and hood. "I'm going after him."
"Not alone." Slade said.
"You can barely walk." Shado told the man.
"All the more reason not to stay here." Slade countered. "Give them another chance at blowing me up." He limped out of the plane, leaving Shado to follow.
Flashback End
Present
A short time later, Moira Queen was led into the courtroom and escorted over to the defendants table. She looked at the front row that contained Nathan, Thea and Roy- in a suit, no less- and allowed the officer to remove the cuffs. Donner smirked at the display as Moira sat down and turned to face her family, smiling reassuringly before the trial began.
'-Malcolm is planning to level the Glades!.' Donner stood next to the flat screen TV as Moira's televised forced confession played. He paused the playback and turned to the jury. "And it nearly worked." He began. "The Glades were almost destroyed. Homes and lives were still lost. All because of her actions. True, she had second thoughts." He offered, then turned to face Moira. "But on behalf of the lives lost in the evacuation that day, I say, Moira Queen, your remorse comes too late." He said dramatically.
'-his decisions left me vulnerable to Malcolm, and I had no choice. I had to protect my family and my children—' "Why wouldn't let those threats silence her?" Jean asked as she paused the playback. "Why wouldn't Moira Queen be terrified? Malcolm Merlyn killed her first husband, abducted her second, not to mention, caused the events that led to her eldest son's death and her youngest son being stranded on his own for 5 years, struggling day to day just to survive." She pointed out. "Why wouldn't she fear for her life? For the life of her remaining family? What would you do? If it were your children or your spouse in the crosshairs of a mad man's rage?" she asked the jury.
QC
Skye's Desk in IT
Skye was watching the news broadcast as she did her daily work. '-S.T.A.R. Lab's particle accelerator will be turned on right on schedule.' The news broadcast was saying.
'In other news, we have just received word that both sides have now completed their opening statements in the Moira Queen trial.' She looked up to see Lyla enter the office. "Don't take this the wrong way, but you don't looking so hot right now." She said worriedly.
"Yeah, well, I don't feel great, Skye. I just got back from a tiresome mission with Argus." Lyla said, sitting in the chair for the desk opposite of her. She paused and looked at her. "Is there a right way to take that?"
"You should go home. Rest up" She said as she rose from her seat.
"I'm going to." Lyla said. "But I'd like to just sit for a few minutes."
Skye put the tv on mute and turned to Lyla. "So, I believe back in Russia you and Lyla promised you would explain that…thing I walked in on." Lyla groaned inwardly, since it now fell to her to explain Nathan's rather complex love life.
Courthouse
Nathan was back in the visitors' gallery, watching as his sister gave her testimony to Adam Donner.
"When was the first time you heard about this so-called Undertaking?" Donner asked Thea.
She leaned in close to the microphone. "When everyone else did, when my mother's confession was aired on live TV." She replied nervously.
"Doesn't seem like you took it too well." Donner noted. Nathan looked back behind him and saw Helena. They mouthed 'I love you's' before turning around.
"I was shocked." Thea replied. "Who wouldn't be?" she looked at him, expecting his next question right away. Instead, Donner looked flustered.
Donner cleared his throat. "Uh, your mother was, um, immediately taken into custody, but I assume you went down to the precinct to see her?" he asked, hesitantly at first then building up strength.
"Um, actually I didn't see her until she was moved." Thea admitted.
"To the prison." Donner clarified. "Do you remember when you visited her?" he asked.
"Uh, not the exact date." She hedged.
"It's ok, I have the visitor log here." Donner picked the log up from his table and looked at the marked page. "October ninth." He said loudly. "Five months later." Donner set the book back down on the table, but suddenly his strength wavered. He leaned heavily against the table. "Why so long?" he asked in a halting voice.
"Um, I—I…" Thea looked at the D.A., concerned despite what he was doing. "Are you ok?" she asked as murmurs started from the visitors.
"An answer, please." Donner said loudly, forcing himself back up and turning to face Thea. "Why did it take you five months to visit your mother?" he asked forcefully.
"Your Honor, if I—" Jean started to object.
The judge held up his hand to stop her. "No. I want to hear this." He said.
"I needed time." Thea finally said. "I was angry."
"So angry, perhaps, that it took you five months to forgive her?" Donner supposed.
"It was complicated." Thea argued.
"No. It's very simple." Donner countered. "You blamed your mother for what she had done." He looked to the jury. "So why shouldn't the jury?" Donner moved back to his table. "Your Honor, we have no further questions for the…witness." Suddenly, Donner leaned heavily against the table as the world around him started going in and out of focus. Laurel looked up at him in concern. Then he dropped to the floor and started convulsing.
"Adam!" Laurel shouted, jumping up from her chair as worried murmurs started growing louder in the audience. Nathan jumped up to check on him.
But secretly, he wasn't concerned at all.
Flashback
Five years ago
Nathan led the small party into the cave, and Ivo immediately dropped to the ground and started looking through the skeletons of the soldiers.
"Where is it?" he demanded to no one as he searched the skeletons. "Come on, where is it?!" Ivo rounded on Nathan. "The Hosen, where is it?" he demanded.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Nathan asked in confusion.
"The arrowhead." He explained hotly. "Every report said it was with these bodies. You said you and your friends were here. Now, where is it?" Nathan said nothing. "Take him outside." He told the captain. "Make him show you where his friends are hiding."
The captain dragged Nathan outside the cave and threw him a good five feet to the ground, where he landed hard. "Take us to them." The Captain demanded.
"I don't even know where they are, you fool." Nathan argued.
The captain growled and withdrew his luger, pressing it to Nathan's hand. "Tell me, or you lose your hand."
"Let us suggest another option." Everyone looked up to see Shado and Slade standing there. Shado had her bow primed and aimed right at the captain, while Slade trained his MP5 on the others.
"You hand the kid over to us, and we don't kill you all." Slade threatened. A moment later, Ivo exited the cave and Slade moved his submachine gun onto him.
Flashback End
Present
Donner was being wheeled out of the courtroom on a gurney. He was confused and fiddling with his I.V. line as the paramedic tried to keep him still as they made their way to the ambulance.
Nathan watched him go, and then moved over to his sister. "Hey, are you ok?" he asked her.
"Don't worry about me. I can take it." She said with false confidence.
Out in the ambulance, the D.A. was loaded and the doors were closed.
Back in the courthouse, Moira followed Jean into a side chamber to confer.
"Was that as bad as it seemed?" Moira asked.
"Thea's testimony?" Jean asked to clarify. She nodded. "It was a set-back. We were counting on her to-"
"Humanize me."
Jean looked back at Moira. "Frankly, yes." She admitted. "And now we're going to have to go another way."
"No." Moira said at once. "No, I told you, I won't testify."
"I know you did." Jean said. "But now you have to."
"She's right, Mom." They looked up to see Nathan standing in the door. "Jean, could I have a moment with my mother?" he asked.
"Yeah." She agreed, walking out of the room.
"I know what you're going to say." Moira said. "But if I testify, it will destroy our family."
"And if your lawyer's right, you don't have a choice." Nathan countered. "Mom, secrets are what put you in this situation. Secrets and lies." He sighed. "And now it is time to let the truth into the light."
QC
Lyla was sitting across from Daisy, who was basically in shock.
"Wait, say that again." Daisy said as she brought her hand to her face.
'This is why I didn't want to explain this. Helena or Chien would be better suited for this.' Lyla mentally cursed.
She backpedaled and said, "Nathan has a complex yet loving relationship with Helena Bertinelli, Chien Na Wei, a woman named Talia, and myself. At the same time."
"Y-You're all having sex with him!?" Daisy asked in shock.
"Not just sex, although I will admit, the sex with him alone is a truly unique and rewarding experience." Lyla sighed pleasurably in remembrance.
Hey, what can she say? Nathan is the best when it comes to his skill in bed.
"And you're also in a relationship with him? Everyone of you?" Daisy asked.
"With Nathan, it's not just friends with benefits. It's not meaningless to him, it's a…real relationship." Lyla tried to explain. "Listen I know it doesn't make any sense. How can a man possibly love multiple women at once? Well, Nathan is just unique in that regard. Nathan is a man who loves easily. You don't have to be okay with it, just understand that we all love him. Ever since we've met him, we have never felt more fulfilled or happy than when we are with him. It would break his heart to have to choose between any of us. And this way, he doesn't have to."
Daisy sat back in her chair, overwhelmed by the whole ordeal.
DA's Office
At the District Attorney's office, District Attorney Kate Spencer was talking with Sebastian Blood and Laurel.
"This city is turning into one of junkies." Blood said, pacing the room. " ADA Donner's medical report came back. He apparently suffered an overdose on methamphetamine, but he appears to not know how, under the claim that he as never taken it. So what do we do know?"
"Hmm. As cold as it sounds, I've got other concerns." Spencer said. She looked to the younger lawyer. "Laurel?"
"Adam's trial notes are very thorough." She told her boss.
"They better be." Spencer said. "You're lead counsel now."
Laurel looked up, alarmed. "Ms. Spencer, you're the district attorney." She pointed out.
"Yes, but you're the one that the jury knows." She countered. "You'll do fine, Laurel." She assured her, mistaking one concern for another.
"I know." She said, looking at the file. "I just found Adam's trump card."
Verdant
Thea was sitting at the bar of the closed club, lost in thought when Roy walked up to her. She started slightly.
"Sorry, I didn't hear you walk up." She muttered softly. "I just want to be left alone."
"Well, too bad that's not an option for you." Roy said. "But maybe I know something that is." He dropped a pair of red boxing gloves onto the bar top that Thea looked at incredulously. "Hit me."
"What?"
Roy looked at his girlfriend. "You wonder why I used to go out at night looking to throw down with bad guys." He started. "Part of it was to help the city. And the other part was to help me."
"Getting tuned up by street thugs helped you?" she asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, well, I gave as good as I got." Roy replied, strapping her hands into the gloves. "There we go." He said as he finished. "When I would throw a punch, I'd be so angry. I'd feel this heat rising inside of me, in my jaw. In my chest. And my fists. But it needed somewhere to go. Come on." He tugged her out onto the empty dance floor. "Thea, you're angry. At your mother, the D.A., yourself, maybe." He explained. "But that anger is going to chew up your insides if you don't let it out."
"I'm not going to hit you, Roy." Thea protested.
"Try." Roy dared. "Try!" he said again, an edge to his voice. Thea took a lackadaisical swing, hitting him softly in the arm. "I said hit me, right?" he mocked. "'Cause that felt like- that didn't really feel like anything." She hit him again, this time putting more effort into it. "Better." He said. "But keep your wrists straight. Don't just use your arm. Put your entire body into it." She hit him again. "Come on, again." He stood there as she started throwing hard punches, one after the other. With each punch, the careful control of her emotions began to slip until finally she collapsed into Roy's arms, crying.
Iron Heights
Moira was led into the visitor's area, but stopped cold when she saw Laurel standing there.
"You shouldn't be here." Moira told her coldly. "My attorney needs—"
"Moira." Laurel cut her off. "I know I could be disbarred for speaking with you, but this isn't something for lawyers. This is a family matter." She said significantly.
Moira reluctantly came to the table, and the two women sat. "Jean told me she's calling you to the stand tomorrow." Laurel began.
"Yes." Moira replied tersely.
"You can't testify." Laurel stated bluntly.
Moira sat back. "Well. The fact that you don't want me to, Laurel, is a good indication that I should."
"If you take the stand, I'll have to cross examine you, and I'll have to do it to the best of my ability." Laurel continued.
"Yes, I understand." Moira said off-handedly.
"No, I don't think you do." Laurel opened her folder, then turned it and slid it to Moira so she could read what was inside- Donner's trump card. "Forget about what this will do to Nathan and Thea. It also could undermine your entire case. So, Moira, please." She placed her hands on Moira's. "Please. Don't make me use this." She begged. "Everything is at stake for you. And I don't want to be the one to take it all away."
Moira pulled her hands away, a look of dread on her face.
Courthouse
Next day
Moira, Nathan, Thea and Jan were in chambers, where Moira was about to reveal part of a devastating truth.
"But you said you didn't want to testify." Thea said after her mother told them she was taking the stand. She sighed "But you have to. Because of me.' She dropped into her chair, dejected.
Moira shook her head. "No."
"You have to do damage control." Thea continued.
"None of this is your fault." She said to Thea sternly. "We're here because of what I did." She sighed. "Now, you both know the truth, but you don't know all of it. Laurel does."
"What does she have on you?" Nathan demanded, tired of the secrets.
"You shouldn't have to find this out in court." Moira said after a moment.
"Find out what?" Thea asked.
Moira paused again, summoning the courage to speak. "Years ago- it was many yes ago, your father was engaging in his- his extramarital activities." She said delicately. "And I had a moment of weakness. I cheated on him." She paused. "With Malcolm Merlyn."
Nathan looked disgusted. Thea shook her head in denial. "No." she said. "No, I- I asked you about this. Last year. You said that there was nothing between you two!" she exclaimed.
"There wasn't." Moira said at once. "Sweetheart, it wasn't an affair. It was very brief, and a long time ago."
Courtroom
Laurel had just revealed the same thing to the jury. "And despite it, you remained friends with Mr. Merlyn." she said as she cross-examined Moira. "In fact, he frequently attended parties at your home."
"He was my husband's best friend until Malcolm killed him." Moira pointed out.
"And this is why you claimed to feel as though you were in fear for your life and the lives of your children?" Laurel asked.
"Well, I think it's a fairly compelling reason." Moira said defensively.
"Last year, your second husband, Walter Steel, was abducted by Mr. Merlyn, is that correct?" Laurel asked.
"Yes. So you see—"
"Why didn't Merlyn kill Walter, the same as your first husband?" Laurel asked at once.
Moira sighed. "I convinced Malcolm not to." She admitted.
"And Malcolm listened to you." Laurel pointed out for the jury. "Your friend spared Walter's life, and yet, you'd have this jury believing that you and your children were in danger?" she asked, her voice full of incredulity.
"We were." Moira said, again on the defensive. "I was afraid—"
"Afraid of getting caught." Laurel said, cutting her off.
"Despite whatever youthful mistakes I might have made, Malcolm Merlyn was a dangerous man." Moira tried.
"To other people." Laurel stated. "But the only person who truly posed a danger to Moira Queen and her family was Moira Queen."
Later on, Nathan and Thea sat outside while the court was in recess. Nathan got up and started to pace, stopping when he saw Laurel emerge. The lawyer froze, then immediately turned and started walking the opposite way. Concerned, Nathan walked around, meeting her before she reached the stairs.
"Hey." He said.
"Ok, if you want to attack me, go right ahead." Laurel said in a rush. "But you should know that you're not going to say anything that I haven't already said to myself."
"Whoa, whoa, calm down." Nathan said, cutting her rant short. "I know that that was difficult for you, and I just want to make sure that you're ok." He reached out to her, but she jumped back as if hit.
"No, no. I don't understand how you can forgive me after what I just did in there." She said, confused. "I don't understand how anyone could." She walked rapidly away, leaving Nathan standing alone.
Flashback
Five years ago
Ivo looked at the new arrivals in frustration. "So, obviously you three took the Hosen out of this cave." He deduced. He looked to the captain. "Lift him up." He ordered. The pirate did so. "Now I know he doesn't have it, which means one of you two does. Give it to me, and we'll discuss an exchange." He offered.
"We don't know what you're talking about." Shado said. "Give us Nathan, and we'll leave you alone to look for it."
One of the pirates went to make a move, only to be shot in the foot by Slade "Anybody else want to be stupid?" he asked as the pirate cried out in pain.
"Hey. Hey!" Ivo shouted. He huffed in annoyance. "Fine. Take 'em. Cut him loose." He said to the captain. The black man pulled out a knife and cut his bonds, and Nathan stood there for a moment, rubbing his wrists. His eyes met with Shado's and she gave a subtle nod.
Then, with sudden speed and precision, Nathan pulled the luger from the captain out of his hands and shot him in the stomach. Nathan fired at several pirate guards, killing them. As the pirates started to recover, Nathan grabbed Sara's hand and pulled her along with him as he began to run.
"What are you doing?!" she asked in confusion as they ran, Slade laying down covering fire.
"We have to keep moving, they're following us!" Nathan yelled as the four castaways ran out of the thick jungle into a small clearing. As they crossed it, Shado took out the detonator and re-activated it.
"Not for long." she said, tossing it on the ground as she ran. A few moments later the Captain and one of his men ran into the clearing- just as the detonator exploded, sending both men flying.
Flashback End
Court house
Nathan and Thea were standing at the rail at the top floor, leaning against it and waiting for news.
"Thea?" the two looked over to see Jean walking towards them.
"Can we call it a night?" Thea asked.
"The jury just signaled that they could have a verdict." Jean told them. "The judge will not send them home. He wants to get this over with."
"Line forms behind me." Thea said sarcastically.
"A verdict that quickly is bad, isn't it?" Nathan said in dread.
Jean sighed. "I think the two of you should prepare for the worst."
Jean walked off, and then Nathan's phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and saw Henri's name on the screen. "Excuse me." He told his sister, moving off before picking up the call. "Sensei. What is it?"
"Nathaniel." Henri Ducard said.
"You needn't worry about this verdict. I've taken care of it." He said.
"I see," Nathan briefed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, sensei." He hung up the phone. Helena walked up to him.
"Hey," she said as they embraced each other. "I'm sorry. It's not looking good for her."
"I have a feeling," Nathan said as they shared a kiss, "That everything is going to work out."
"Nate, what did you do?" Helena asked in concern.
"I did nothing." Nathan said. "Look, she's my mother. I can't let her go to jail for something like this."
"I know," Helena said as they shared one final kiss. "I'll see you after."
He walked around the waiting area, stopping next to his sister.
Jean walked up to them. "Hey. Jury's back."
"Come on." Thea told Nathan, and they headed back in.
Moments later, the judge restarted the proceedings. "I have received a note that the jury has arrived at a verdict." He said, turning to the bailiff. "Please publish the verdict."
"In the superior court of Star county state versus Moira Queen verdict." She began. "On one count of conspiracy in the first degree, the defendant is found not guilty." Nathan's face showed joy. "On the many counts of murder in the first degree, the defendant is found- Not guilty." Moira sagged in relief and she hugged Jean. Nathan smiled as the courtroom exploded into pandemonium. Even Thea sat in shock. Finally, Moira let go of Jean and moved over to her children.
"Mom." Nathan said, rising to give his mother a hug. Soon Thea was pulled in as well.
"I love you both so much." She told them tearfully. Nathan looked up and caught Laurel's eye. Her face was blank, revealing nothing, and she calmly made her way out of the courtroom.
Arrowcave
'A stunning result, as Moira Queen is acquitted of all charges.' The tv in the Lair later that night, where once again Skye had on the news. 'In a day that's provided a week's worth of shocks and legal twists, many had pronounced this case a done deal…'
"Congratulations." She told Nathan as he walked in. She sat in her chair with a blanket over her shoulders. He had taken off his coat and sat down.
"So, how are you holding up?" Nathan asked Skye. Skye was confused. "Lyla told me that you walked on a intimate moment between her and Helena, and then she had to try to explain everything to you today."
"Look, I have no issue with you sleeping with the others." Skye assured. "I just don't understand how you can have an actual relationship with two of them, let alone all four. One of whom I haven't even met yet."
"Yeah, Talia's a bit of a nomad. She has certain duties that make it so she can't stay for long periods of time." Nathan smiled.
"I'm sure you know how I was like before the island. A party boy who cared for only himself and the next girl he could bring into his bed." Naruto said.
"Yeah, its pretty easy To see what you were like thanks to the tabloids and Internet videos." Skye said.
"When I was on the island, doing a complete 180 just to stay alive something in me changed, going from a pathetic playboy to a ruthless, coldblooded killer. I met a woman on the island, named Shado, and despite the fact that the two of us, and our other friend, Slade, were struggling to survive everyday, I was happy."
"I was happy because I had forged a bond of brotherhood with Slade, and I fell in love with Shado. For the 1st time in my life, I actually cared about someone who wasn't my family. Back before the island, that was lost on me."
"I also lost those two. Shado, because she died saving me, and Slade betrayed me." Naruto said as he clenched his hands. Skye, felling sympathetic, placed a hand on his.
"I think that's why I allow myself to love so easily. I lost too much before coming back to Starling and missed out on so many chances to have a better life before the island, that now I try to live life to the fullest, and I am most fulfilled when I am with the women that I love." Nathan said.
Nathan sighed and said to Skye, "So, have I lost you?"
Skye smiles and says, "You can't get rid of me that easily, AC. See ya tomorrow." Skye says as they smile at each other and leave.
Flashback
Five years ago
After what seemed like eternity, the four castaways stopped running to catch their breath.
"Why did you do that?!" Sara demanded.
"Because you're my oldest friend and you stopped the captain from killing me." Nathan replied. He looked up at Shado. "Thank you for coming. Shado," Nathan and Shado shared a quick kiss before he looked over at Slade, who was gasping for breath harder than the rest of them combined. "He doesn't look too good."
"He's not." She admitted. She looked at the blonde. "Who's this?"
"This is Sara. The girl I told you about." Nathan informed quickly, to which Shado nodded. "That Hosen thing they're looking for is back on the plane."
"No, I've got it." Shado said, pulling it out from under her shirt where it had hung from her neck. "It has a Buddhist inscription on one side. It reminded me of my father."
"I'm pretty sure they aren't interested in Buddhism." Slade gasped.
"What's on the other side?" Nathan asked.
Shado turned it over. "30-30-147-12."
"Wait, that sounds like…" Nathan began.
"Latitude and Longitude coordinates." Shado realized. "To what?"
"A Kairyu-class Japanese submarine which ran aground here during World War II." Sara revealed.
"What do these guys want with a 70 year old sub?" Slade asked.
"The sub isn't important, but what's on it-" she looked up at Nathan. "It'll save the human race."
Nathan looked at the grievously injured Slade. "Will it save him?" he asked.
At the clearing, the captain was crawling away while clutching his bleeding stomach when Ivo and another pirate walked up.
"Well, you survived your own stupidity for the moment, congratulations." Ivo said sarcastically. He knelt down and yanked the captain's gun from its holster. "You know I needed you to deal with any resistance that I encountered on the island." He stood and pointed the gun at the captain's head. "I got to say, you've done a fairly lousy job of that." He fired once, killing the man. He then handed the pistol to his companion. "Congratulations. You're the new captain." He said dryly before stalking off, leaving the stunned Captain behind.
Flashback end
Dark Alleyway
"So, you wish me to bring this up at congress," said a man in a suit.
"These two laws violate the Free Exercise Clause. And infringes upon the social and intrapersonal rights of the American population and even insults the very foundations of American democracy in the first place, Senator." Nathaniel said.
"I know you plan to make this into an Amendment. But I can't promise anything." The senator said.
"I'm sure you'll be able to get it done. And if not, refer the senators to me." Naruto said as they shook hands.
Alderman Blood's office
Sebastien Blood was watching the news with a scowl on his face when Officer Daley walked in.
"Sir, there's been a development." The cop said. Blood went to an ornate wooden cabinet behind his desk and opened it to reveal the leather skull mask.
Minutes later he walked into his lab. A line of men sat bound to chairs, all with bloody tears, all dead- all except the last.
"Brother Cyrus How do you feel?" Brother Blood asked the man.
"Stronger." Cyrus replied.
"Good. Then you're ready." Brother Blood said.
Court House
Moira was being released. She moved through the crowd of reporters with Jean at her side, heading towards a waiting limo.
"Mrs. Queen, how does it feel to get away with murder?" a reporter called out.
"Once you go out back, there's a car waiting for you." Jean told her client softly as they pushed through the reporters.
"Did you kill your first husband?" another reporter shouted.
"Just keep going." Jean told her, then spun back to the reporters. "Obviously, Mrs. Queen is overjoyed that the jury has ruled that she was acting under terrible duress."
"Can you give us anything else?"
"This way, Mrs. Queen." The driver said, opening the door to the limo. Moira climbed in and sighed in relief as the door closed, dimming the sound of the vultures outside. She sat in the back, looking out at the city for the first time in months as it streamed past the windows. "The freeway will be quicker." She told the driver when he turned onto a side street.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Queen. I was instructed to make a stop first before I take you home." The driver informed her. Moira looked on in increasing alarm as the driver pulled into an abandoned parking lot on the outskirts of downtown.
He climbed out, then opened the door for Moira.
"Where are we?" she asked nervously. "I-I don't know this place."
The driver stepped back and looked over her shoulder. "I've brought her, my lord." He said. He stood aside, and assumed what is called an "At Ease" stance for soldiers.
Spinning around, she saw the man the driver had addressed. It was an man who appeared to be in his late 40'/ early 50's, were a black suit with a scarf draped across his neck, walking with a cane, yet carrying himself in something of a regal manner and his lips having a mild smirk.
"Hello, Mrs. Queen." Malcolm said, stopping a respectful distance from the frightened woman and nod his head as a sign of respect.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I am Henri Ducard. A friend of your son's." Henri introduced with a bow. "He asked me to come because you needed help."
"Help?" she asked, baffled.
"With your trial." He explained to her growing horror. "You didn't think that Donner just happened to suffer a drug overdose and the jury acquitted you without a little persuasion, did you?"
She breathed. "What is it that you want with me, Mr. Ducard?"
He moved closer. "Nothing much, I'd simply like to talk about your daughter, Thea Queen. Though perhaps I should call her by her real name, Thea Merlyn." Moira's fear skyrocketed when she heard that. He knew the truth. And only God knows what he will do with it.