Arrow ~ Collision Course ~ Part Three

***

Laurel paced the living area of the cabin anxiously, already feeling adrenaline pump through her veins. She had never fought former allies before. She didn't count Prometheus, as she hadn't actually fought him. That had been all Kara. But this was Rene, Curtis, and Dinah, the people she, Malcolm, and Slade had replaced on Oliver's team. They were also the trio who thought of Evelyn one way and refused to see any other way, and they had just tried to disable a piece of technology that would hinder another teammate just so they could find out where they were.

That made this much easier.

"Relax," a voice cut through her anxiety, and Laurel spun on her heel to see Malcolm sitting at the table, examining an arrowhead. "We don't have anything to worry about."

"I admire your confidence," Laurel muttered.

Malcolm looked up from his work, raising an eyebrow. "You don't have any?"

"I do," Laurel assured him. "That doesn't make me less restless."

"Touché," he conceded.

Laurel got another look at the arrowhead. "Sonic dampener arrow?"

"Yeah," Malcolm nodded, standing up and twirling the arrow around in his hand. "From Oliver's quiver. I don't think he ever thought it would be used against Dinah, though."

"Six months ago, I never would have thought so, either," Laurel shook her head.

Malcolm looked up at her. "You'll be fine if I use this, right?"

Laurel gave him a dubious look. "This isn't a Worldkiller, Malcolm."

Malcolm held up his hands placatingly. "I'm simply looking out for you," he said.

"I'm not worried about Dinah," Laurel shook her head. "We're matched evenly. It's getting hit by another bullet that's my main concern right now."

"And that's why the mercenary with the bulletproof armor is going to be facing Rene," Malcolm smirked. "If Rene gets past Slade, I'll eat my sword."

Laurel snorted. "That's a pretty image. So you can handle Curtis?"

"Don't worry about me," Malcolm told her. "Worry about yourself first."

Laurel licked her lips. "I can't help it."

Malcolm quirked an eyebrow. "So the Siren has feelings after all."

Laurel ground her teeth together. "Oh, why did I bother?" she huffed, turning to go.

Malcolm's cybernetic hand reached out and grabbed her wrist, stopping her. "Hey," he said quietly, and Laurel turned to look up at him, her green eyes meeting his blue ones. "Curtis isn't going to be a match for me. It's you I'm more worried about, too."

Laurel bit her lip. "I'll watch your back if you watch mine?"

Malcolm smirked. "Just like always, right?"

Laurel grinned back. "Just like always."

***

Oliver watched Kara speak quietly with Evelyn, explaining how the breaches worked, then shook his head. "I don't like this."

"What part, kid?" Slade asked as he checked his gun over. "Not fighting these three, or leaving and not knowing what'll happen?"

Oliver huffed. "Yes."

Slade clicked the magazine in place, then pushed off the wall. "Kid, if anyone deserves to go up against these three, it's you," he said. "But all circumstances considered, someone Evelyn is comfortable with needs to be with her on Earth-38. Right now, that's you and Kara." He smirked. "Not the three of when we're way north of pissed off."

Oliver nodded absently. "Something just feels . . . wrong."

"I feel it, too," Dig admitted.

"About what we're about to do?" Slade raised an eyebrow. "Or the small detail that the three we're up against are Curtis, Dinah, and Rene?"

"I don't know," Dig huffed. "I just can't help but wonder . . . would we be doing this if the person they were after didn't look like Evelyn?"

"That depends," Slade shrugged.

"On what?" Dig challenged.

"If the person who didn't look like Evelyn had done anything that could lead to her having a second chance," Slade answered at once.

"I think all three of us can agree these circumstances aren't exactly ideal," Oliver interrupted the two of them. "But these are the circumstances we've been dealt. If anyone has a better alternative idea, I'm listening."

Dig sighed. "Man, I would back any call you make, Oliver, always have, always will . . . but we should acknowledge the fact that going after our former teammates is maybe a line we can never uncross."

"I agree," Oliver nodded.

"I suppose it's good that the wizard, Siren, and I are crossing it for you," Slade mused, taking the safety off his gun and sliding it into its holster. "But John . . . I consider that line crossed when they attempted to hack into your implant."

Dig's gaze lowered, then heels clicked on the floor. "Oliver," Kara's tense voice said.

The one name made everyone else stiffen to attention as the blonde stood and looked at the archer. "Less than a minute."

Slade was the first to respond. "Positions," he told Malcolm and Laurel.

They nodded, Malcolm grabbing his bow from the table as Laurel went over to Evelyn. "See you in National City," she told her.

"Promise?" Evelyn asked quietly.

"Promise," Laurel winked. She gave Evelyn a quick hug, then Kara, then walked up to Oliver. "Take care of her," she said quietly.

"I won't stop now," Oliver nodded.

Laurel nodded back. "Good."

"Good luck," Quentin wished.

Laurel smiled, then vanished out the door without a sound. "Don't do anything too stupid," Thea muttered, giving her father a glare with no heat behind it.

Malcolm smirked. "I don't think I could be anywhere near as stupid as them, but request noted."

Thea gave him a quick hug, and Malcolm kissed the top of her head, doing the same to Kara. "Make sure Curtis knows not to try that again," Felicity requested.

Malcolm gave her a small salute, heading out the door. Oliver took a deep breath, turning to look at Slade. "Thank you," he said quietly.

"Thank us when these three are dealt with," Slade shook his head.

Oliver smiled despite the tense situation. "Take care, Slade."

Slade nodded, clasping Oliver's hand. "I will. You, too, kid."