Green Arrow #14: Curtain Call

On the way to the fairgrounds, we compare notes on Red Dart and everything else that's happened recently. I mention Tempest, but she doesn't seem to know much more about them than I do. Nothing on who hired my sister to kill me either. Damnit. Guess I'll just have to get some answers myself soon enough.

 

We finally arrive at the fairgrounds, with pretty bird parking the bike near the entrance. I get off, and draw my bow, following behind as she leads the way. It isn't hard to figure out where they are, considering the big top is the only well-lit area of the fairgrounds. Even the ferris wheel's lights are turned off.

 

It doesn't take long after entering the big top to notice Tommy's tied to a pole in the center of the ring. Thea notices the two of us walk in, and grins. I have my bow trained on her.

 

"Let him go." I say in a deepened tone, after nocking and firing an arrow right above her head. The arrowhead embeds itself in the stands behind her.

 

"Look at who finally decided to show up! Oh, and he came with quite the backup too. The Black Canary ! Yeah, I know who you are. Guess I should've realized this would happen sooner or later. Ollie has a thing for blondes you know." She teases, still pacing around the ring, without a care in the world.

 

"Let him go, now!" I repeat, my bow still trained on her.

 

"She's going to regret that." Canary mutters, as she starts to run towards Thea, unleashing her Canary Cry. Thea gets sent flying, eventually crashing into the highest row in the stands.

 

"Jeez, I was going to let him go. I've already told him everything he needed to know. Gave him a newfound sense of clarity." She says in between groans, as she pulls herself out of the debris. I'm able to shoot the rope that's tying Tommy's hands together rather easily, which frees him from the pole. I run towards Tommy, as Canary's dodging the barrage of darts being shot at her. Canary's kicking Thea's ass with ease, using a combination of fighting styles to combat what seems like an endless wave of darts. This, plus her Canary Cry. Man, I wouldn't want to get on her bad side. Thea manages to get a few lucky hits off, punching Canary right in the jaw.

 

"Oliver!?" Is all Tommy says, and I just nod in response, seeing it rather pointless to try to convince him otherwise.

 

"Yeah, Tommy, it's me. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I thought it was better this way, to protect you. Obviously, you ended up in this situation anyway. I'll explain everything, but later. Right now, you gotta get out of here. Please."

 

"Sure Oliver.." He mutters, still clearly angry at me for lying to him all this time. Can't really blame the guy... Anyways, he starts running towards the exit. Moments later, he collapses. I look over, and sure enough, one of Thea's darts is in Tommy's back.

 

"Curare's a bitch." She sneers, coughing up blood, as she narrowly avoids Canary's leg sweep.

 

"Canary!!" I yell. Canary glances over, and sees Tommy on the ground, dart stuck in his back.

 

"On it! She's not killing anyone else tonight. You better kick her ass." She lets loose one more Canary Cry, sending Thea back into the stands, before rushing over, and scooping Tommy up into her arms.

 

"Please save him." I whisper, before turning to face Thea, who is somehow still smiling.

 

"Looks like it's just me and you now, brother !"

 

"You didn't have to do that! He was innocent ! Had absolutely nothing to do with any of this. You've been given so many chances, to turn this around. To be a better person, Thea. But you've completely wasted it. I really wanted to believe there was good in you.. I didn't want to believe my sister could do such cruel things to another human being. First killing dad, going after me, and then Tommy. Who even hired you to kill me anyway?"

 

" Half-sister!" She glares, before continuing "Heroic speeches won't fix this broken city, Oliver. At this point, who hired me doesn't even really matter. There's so much more going on than you realize. Tempest is just one part of that circle. Though, you won't live long enough to see the full truth." Her voice seethes in anger, as she unloads dart after dart, with me just barely avoiding them. I shoot arrow after arrow at her, but she's able to duck and weave through them, closing the gap between us with every step. Her gauntlets make a clicking sound. Phew, she's out.. . Though this doesn't dissuade her at all. Drawing a knife from a side holster, she lunges towards me, going for my shoulder. She's slower than the last time we fought. Exhausted from already fighting Canary probably. As such, she's somewhat predictable in her movements. I'm able to block her from stabbing me with my bow, while raising the palm of my right hand to her wrist of the left arm holding the knife to disarm her. As soon as the knife lands on the ground, I kick it away from us. Unfortunately focusing on that leads to Thea landing a few punches on my face. Which, I won't lie, did hurt more than I was expecting. Not that I'll admit it to anyone else if they ask.

 

With each hit she lands, I hit three times as much. Using the variety of throws, blocks, strikes, and whatever else I learned while on the island to give myself the upper hand. She goes to sweep my legs, but I'm able to slam my bow upwards, sweeping her stationary leg from under her. This causes her to fall backwards, crashing up against the pole. After one more hit with the bow, she's out like a light. Backing up, I draw a bola arrow, and fire, tying her to the pole. I give an anonymous call to the police, giving them this location, and leaving. Of course, since Canary's taken the bike, I have to walk.

 

I made a promise that I would find the one responsible for the death of my father. And I did. Red Dart also known as Thea King-Queen, my half-sister, who is responsible for so many deaths, will face justice for her crimes. But I can't stop thinking about the fact I might lose Tommy in the process. He's on the brink of death, and only the pretty bird can save him now.

Done