[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/rlyp4kH.jpg?1[/img][/center]
[sub][hr][/sub][COLOR=seagreen][indent][sub][B]Location:[/B] [COLOR=#bbbbbb][i] The Triangle At Dusk, Two Weeks Later-Storefront Rooftop[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]Queen's Heir Epilogue: Inheritance Pt. 1[/b] [COLOR=#bbbbbb][I][/I][/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][/color][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][color=seagreen][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [COLOR=#bbbbbb][I]None[/I][/COLOR][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4906732][COLOR=#bbbbbb][I]Queen's Heir #1.06: Nock, Draw, Aim, Loose [/I][/COLOR][/url][/right][/SUP][/color][/indent]

[center][sup]"...by letting go of yourself, leaving yourself and everything yours behind you so decisively that nothing more is left of you...”[/sup][/center]

Connor had been waiting on this rooftop a long time. Once again he could count the rats skittering away from the overfilled dumpster below, fewer this time than the last. But even in a dingy side-street Star City felt weirdly pretty and peaceful at this time of day. Besides at least now he wasn't bored. Now he had company. Well, more company than scurrying rats and his own thoughts, anyways.

[color=seagreen]"Okay, so you were right and The Force is definitely a ton like Chi and I know I asked this the other night during the stream, but if Obi-Wan knew Vader was Luke's dad, how come he didn't tell him?"[/color]

It wasn't like they had anything better to talk about while they waited, nothing that wouldn't leave Connor an anxious mess anyways. Besides, his mind was only half-committed to the conversation. He used to think that once Brick was in prison crime rates would drop, but it seemed like the whole criminal underworld just flared up to try and take his place instead. 

Since Overwatch had apparently spent a lot of energy promoting some edited version of his fight with Brick online, Connor was noticing some changes from the city's criminals. For one, a couple times in the last week some lower level street thugs actually tried to run. But more important than that, he'd already had to interrupt two skirmishes between some seriously bizarre gangs that Brick used to keep under his big rocky thumb. According to some chatter Overwatch picked up over the last week, tonight the major heads of Star City's criminal groups would meet here in the Triangle to discuss a compromise to avoid all-out-war. 

First there were The White Hair Triad and the remnants of Brick's gang, both pretty conventional criminal outfits even though Connor was pretty sure he'd heard China White's name mentioned in martial arts circles before. Then you had the Death Throws. From what Connor knew, they were a weird circus-themed group and all their members were trained with throwing weapons, trained up by some obscure early enemy of Oliver's with a major grudge. even Star's premiere big-scary-metahuman gang, The Berserkers, were supposed to attend. The only group they hadn't heard any word on was the Yakuza and-

Connor had totally spaced on the actual conversation. 

[color=silver]"...or it was part of a plan to trick him into taking out Vader, depending on how you interpret things."[/color]

[color=seagreen]"Yeah, yeah that's pretty messed up..."[/color]

[color=silver]"You okay? You sound out of it..."[/color]

Before Connor could answer a blur flicked toward him out of the corner of his eye and he snatched at it. Mosquitoes sure were getting huge and...

Arrow shaped. Huge and arrow shaped and softly beeping in his fist.

[color=seagreen][i]Huh. I caught a beeping arrow. 

Crap![/i][/color]

Connor tried to throw it as far away from him as possible but it was almost too late. The black arrow exploded in a bang and a blast of force that threw him from the rooftop. Acting more on reflex and terror than anything, Connor twisted and curled to land in a blessedly overfull dumpster. The world was spinning, his ears were ringing and everything hurt but he was still alive. Alive thanks to luck, hunted by an archer he hadn't sensed or seen.

[color=seagreen]"Oww..."[/color]

[color=silver]"Connor! Are you okay? Was that an explosion?!"[/color]

[color=seagreen]"Yeah...I think some mystery archer...shot an exploding arrow at me. I...kinda caught it...then fell in a dumpster."[/color]

[color=silver]"I haven't heard anything about this on the web. Maybe it's Merlyn? I mean, he could've seen the video and decided to act on it..."[/color]

Connor shifted off of some old tin cans, silently grateful he hadn't crushed any rats. [color=seagreen]"Yeah maybe. Either way, I'm gonna try and find out more."[/color]

[color=silver]"Okay but be careful, run if you have to."[/color]

[color=seagreen]"Alright, I will."[/color]  Or at least he would if he got the chance.

He did his best to readjust his quiver, snatch up his bow and dig himself out of the garbage agonizingly cautious and slow, pulse pounding, sounds and sights hyper-focused and overstimulating as he tried to find any sign of his assailant from street level.

Nothing. He crept his way down the narrow side street to the entrance closest to the arrow's flight path, his own nocked and half-drawn as he hugged the corner.

[color=seagreen]"Nothing yet, maybe he left but I'm gonna get a better look."[/color]

After peeking around the corner he saw a hooded figure all in black against the orange-purple skyline. He drew back his arrow, turned the corner and snapped off a shot.  Somehow the figure was faster and fired three arrows at once. One black arrow intercepted Connor's green one right as two more flew right at him. The young vigilante ducked back around the corner but not fast enough to stop the broadheads from slicing his shoulder and side as they passed.

Connor froze up for a second at the searing line of pain and the scent and feel of blood. Apart from Brick he hadn't been seriously injured by an opponent yet, and for all his durability and power even Brick didn't land too many hits. He was already running off nothing but panicked adrenaline and the first wounds paralyzed him.

[color=silver]"Connor?![/color]

[color=seagreen]"I...I'm fine, he just grazed me and I got spooked. I don't think I can beat him at range but I have a plan to draw him in. Stay quiet or-"[/color]

Just then an arrow pin-balled off the entrance to the alleyway, ricocheted off a corner and flew right at him. He actually caught it left-handed, amazed at himself until he noticed the stream of blood trickling from the slice down his palm. Shaken, he stumbled down the alleyway and slumped against the dumpster, clutching the bloodied arrow close to his chest. He willed his vitals to slow and hoped the little crimson trails added to the realism as he closed his eyes in real pain.

He heard a whirring thunk at the end of the alleyway and an odd metallic hissing noise, followed by two heavy boots clomping down on the asphalt. He tracked the left-right stomping of each footstep, surprisingly light, until he could feel the dark archer looming over him.

Connor sprang up and launched himself at the would-be assassin, planning on closing and throwing him hard against the metal surface of the dumpster. Maybe he was outmatched in an archery duel but he was sure he could take anyone on hand-to-hand. He'd hurt Brick, he could do this!

That thought lasted right up til a compound bow's metal limb cracked him across the face. The Dark Archer followed up immediately, driving the tip of the compound into Connor's stomach, leaving him slumped over and gasping for air before the hard edge smashed into the side of his head.

Connor's world turned into a little galaxy of spinning, burning stars while his lungs spasmed and screamed for air. He was suddenly on the ground as a booted foot stomped down on his chest and an arrow pointed right at his face. Beyond it, he finally saw that his adversary's face was completely covered by a hood and a black cloth mask, even the eyes shadowed. He'd die without even knowing his killer.

[color=seagreen][i]Sorry Overwatch. Oliver. I guess maybe I wasn't good enough...[/i][/color]

Before the world faded out Connor thought he heard a gunshot and then the weight suddenly lifted off his chest.

But being saved was so tiring, maybe he'd just take a little nap...