Chapter 34

Various members of the Team and the League turned up. Felicity sat in the front with Thea. The executor of Oliver's estatement, a Mr. Bowman, appeared. Funny, how Oliver's executor of estate was named Mr. Bowman and Felicity was pretty sure Oliver searched far and wide to find a person which such an ironic names.

"Thank you all for coming," Mr. Bowman said. "I understand this tape Mr. Queen has given you has some sensitive information, which I am not privy to. Some of the information, he's told me. He put this tape in my possession on the night of January 2nd, 2011."

Right before Oliver left for his eighteen month odyssey to find his sister, which ended up to his demise by her hands. Bruce, Diana, and Claire all exchanged dark looks. Donna, Harry, Helena, Rebecca, and Barbara sat beside close by as well.

"Discretion is important in my career, and I believe after this event, Oliver insisted that I meet with a Mr….John Jones, to deal with any...information which might be used against you," Mr. Bowman said. "That being said, I'll just let the man himself talk."

A very worn looking Oliver Queen, from eighteen months ago, appeared on the screen.

"I thank you all for coming, and yes, Bruce, you were right, I was entirely reckless going on this mission alone without League backup," Oliver said. "Especially given none of you are watching this video unless I'm dead...or maybe someone found it buried deep inside of a box fifty years from now, just after I died while on top of twin Norwegian supermodels."

"Oh, Ollie," Thea said, with a roll of her eyes and a good natured smile.

"But, to be serious, if I may," Oliver said. "I'm going to track her down if it's the last thing I do. And if she's there right back, if she's back, hopefully as well. I would like to address...Red Arrow. I hope you understand that I'm not blaming you for anything. You were used as a tool by the Light, and...well I don't know what the future holds. I hope you're well, and I hope you do well...and if I'm gone….I can't think of anyone more worthy to take up the mantle than you. I'm sorry Artemis, if you're offended."

Oh, Artemis was not offended. She kind of wanted to do her own thing and she could see Thea's mouth wide open.

"I really hope that you just watch out after...well after yourself," Oliver said. "After Speedy, rather, because I don't know what these people have done to her. I should have recognized it, but I was so relieved that you came home safe, that I didn't ask the questions I should have. There should have been alarm bells in my head."

Oliver took in a deep breath.

"Dinah, you were right. You're always right. And...for as much as I've accomplished as a hero, I still put my foot in my mouth too often regarding personal matters. You had no choice, and I should have backed you up. But, we can't change what happened there, and…best of luck to you, and to...well best of you to you, because I know you deserve better. You have gotten better with...Harry."

Oliver let the tone hang for a second. Dinah just leaned back. What happened between her and Oliver was, what it was. Dinah harbored no bitterness towards what happened because she did do okay for herself.

"And Mr. Hadrian Kent, since I brought up your name, I believe I have a few things to say about you," Oliver said. "We didn't get off on the right foot. For many reasons, but the biggest problem is, I saw a lot of myself in you...well that's not entirely accurate. I saw a lot of what I thought I could be when I was younger, but never managed to pull off. And...I jumped to the wrong conclusions a lot of time. The entire incident with Felicity, that was out of line, and for that, I apologize to you. Take good care of them all...although to be fair, if you don't, anything they can do to you, will be far more dangerous than anything I could have ever done to you."

Harry just looked forward not reacting to anything Oliver was saying.

"Seriously, I know Thea, Dinah...Felicity, they'll be in good hands with you around," Oliver said. "And remember, keep your friends close and never push them away for anything."

He paused long enough to draw breath and kept going.

"Speedy, if you're there, I know Dinah, Harry, Felicity, and...your older sister, will take really good care of you," Oliver said. "And for that, I'm sorry for everything….I'm saying that a lot, but I truly I am sorry for everything that happened, especially to you, Felicity."

Felicity's ears perked up.

"No, Oliver, I'm sorry," Felicity muttered.

No one had the heart to tell Felicity it was a recording.

"I don't...really know what to say," Oliver said. "I guess you should just relax and not get too...wound up up things. If I know you, I know you're taking this entire thing with Thea personally, but please don't. Don't because you deserve to move on, have something better with your life. And we tried this five times...six times, I can't even keep count anymore. Hopefully you didn't try and track me either because...well I left this way for a reason. Because, I don't want anyone to be dragged down with me, not this time."

Dinah put her arm around Felicity and pulled her on in. Sara did the same from the other end.

"Bruce, J'onn, Claire, Diana, John, and Shayera...good luck finding out what happened last night...hopefully you have by now," Oliver said.

They have not and it had been one mystery which vexed them.

"Iris, Barry would be proud, I cannot say that enough," Oliver said. "Hopefully, I'll get a chance to say hi to him, but there's a pretty good chance we might not be going to the same place in the afterlife."

Some people just groaned at Oliver and he seemed to realize they would.

"What, too soon?" Oliver asked. "Okay, that was a bit much, but seriously, you are not a replacement, you are a hero. You and Whitney have taken up the fight well and Central City is a better place because of you."

Iris wiped a tear from her eye. Oliver had been very supportive of her taking up the mantle of Flash, even before the rest of the team warmed up to her and welcomed her into the League as a full blown member.

"And now, Thea, I need to talk to you in private, alongside Lena, Karen, and Harry, and Mr. Bowman, I would like you to pause the tape right now," Oliver said.

Mr. Bowman paused the tape and took the tape out. He moved to another secondary office where Harry, Lena, Karen, and Thea followed him inside. He put the tape into the secondary player.

"Thea, you have your shares of Queen Industries, and I'm certain Lena and Karen have been purchasing what I've sold off," Oliver said somberly. "And I'm willing the remaining shares, if there are any left, to you three, along with Harry. It's of the utmost importance that you do not allow that company to fall into Lex Luthor's hands, under any circumstances. There are several sensitive projects and at least a quarter of the League's network is run through Queen Industries networks."

Karen, Lena, and Harry all nodded. As Oliver said, Lena and Karen had been buying up shares just as Oliver sold them off, so in a sense, they helped fund Oliver's suicide mission to locate the original Thea.

"Felicity and I have been collecting information from all of the chief members of the Board of Directors, which can be used to leverage them if they cause any trouble," Oliver said. "Do what you want to the company, merge it, keep it running as is, but Lex can't have it."

"Don't worry, Lex won't have it," Thea said.

The tape ended and Mr. Bowman left the office. J'onn appeared in front of him to greet the executor of the estate.

"I believe, Mr. Queen said we have matters to discuss," J'onn said.

"Oh, yes of course."

While Oliver coded a lot of what he was saying, best to keep the information in the closed circle. Mr. Bowman nodded, understanding what he was getting into when Oliver hired him for the job.

The quarter of Lena, Thea, Karen, and Harry re-joined the group. They would have to hash out their plans later.

Rumman Harjavti made his way outside of the place of Quarac, to his personal limo. He had been on the phone.

"Noor, I appreciate your concern, but those women are guilty of political espionage," Rumaan said. "You might want to keep your head down as well….."

Rumaan realized his phone had been cut off due to some poor reception. The Network in this area, there would need to be improvements. The Quarac President stepped into the limo.

The second he did so, the limo exploded. Throwing himself out of the side, but badly injured. Rumaan crawled around on the ground, only to come face to face with the one and only Deathstroke. Deathstroke stood a top of Rumaan, eyes shifting over with malice.

"What are you doing?" Rumaan asked.

"Mr. President," Deathstroke said. "Nothing personal."

The President received a sword through the chest with blood splattering everywhere. Rumaan may have perished in the hospital, but Slade Wilson had been sympathetic and put the man out of his misery.

Deathstroke came outside where one of the guards in the palace stepped towards him. The man, at odds with Rumaan's more progressive regime and the views of his daughter, had been the perfect man on the inside.

"She's not there, Deathstroke."

Slade pressed a button on his communication. Clear as day, his voice came in.

"The daughter was not there," Deathstroke said.

"Don't worry about it," the distorted voice said. "Once news of her father's demise reaches her, I know exactly where Noor'll go."

Deathstroke cast one final glance and turned around to stab the guard in the throat without even blinking. The man fell to the ground, dead instantly.

Without any evidence Slade had been here, and the bombing making it look like it was the act of Extremist groups who moved against the President, Deathstroke was able to slip back undetected.

Paula Crock pounded on a punching bag and then jumped up to do a flip over a bar and land on her feet. The cure had not been a magical one, but nevertheless fixed the damage enough to allow Paula to rebuild her strength. She had been stronger than ever, and her heart rate had been perfect.

"Impressive."

Paula turned around to come face to face with Harry who slipped into the room right next to her.

"Just got back, Queen Industries is now under our control," Harry said.

"Good," Paula said. "I've been feeling really good lately. I feel better than I did in my prime."

"Just don't overextend yourself," Harry said.

Paula smiled and she gazed into Harry's eyes. She could tell Harry's eyes fell upon her breasts, her tight stomach, and her nice hips as well. Paula flicked a strand of black hair and licked her lips when moving closer.

"I have the durability of a younger woman, along with the wisdom of an older one," Paula commented. "But, there's one thing that I've been wanting to do for a long time...and I cannot tell you how much I've appreciated what you've done for my daughters."

"Speaking of which, did Jade sent you the pictures?" Harry asked her.

"Yes, she did," Paula said, moving a bit closer to Harry when she spoke. "She has her father's eyes...although her circumstances...are interesting. You certain that won't have a problem for her development?"

"Caitlin, Karen, Lena, and I are monitoring Lian closely," Harry said. "She'll stop when she's a teenager, if Lena's calculations are correct."

Paula just smiled and leaned closer towards Harry.

"I'm ready for the final step of my rehab," Paula said.

She leaned in and met Harry's lips with a long and passionate kiss. Harry put his hand underneath Paula's waist and pulled the gorgeous women in very close to him.

It had been a long time, but Paula was sure she still had what it took to bring a man of Harry's caliber all of the pleasure she ever deserved.