[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/rlyp4kH.jpg?1[/img][/center] [sub][hr][/sub][COLOR=seagreen][indent][sub][B]Location:[/B] [COLOR=#bbbbbb][i] Star City, Underneath the Queen Estate[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]Crisis! Part 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/4909449][COLOR=#bbbbbb][I]Queen's Heir Epilogue: Sweet Child O' Mine [/I][/COLOR][/url][/right][/SUP][/color][/indent] [color=seagreen]"Look Stanley, all I'm saying is 'The Quiver' sounds way cooler than 'The Arrow-Cave'. I mean, I get it, this is literally a bunch of caves and I'm the Arrow but arrows rest in quivers, not caves."[/color] It didn't really feel much like a cave network anymore, now that Connor was used to being down here. The walls and floor were worn down and polished smooth to the touch, the air was usually fresh with a mix of ozone and air freshner scents from filtration systems, and Connor hadn't heard any creepy skittering even once. Nothing but humming from the fluorescent lighting that made target practice easier. Good thing too, considering that target practice made up most of Connor's day for who knew how long since his hand finished healing. He'd just finished his tenth bullseye of ten and sat down at the big computer when Stanley started lecturing him about needing to leave the cave more. Again. The tangent was just a handy distraction. [color=lightgray]"Well, you're free to take that up with Speedy the next time he comes back, since the name was his idea. It hardly changes the fact that apart from going out to fight crime you haven't left the estate once!"[/color] [color=violet]"I agree! Connor needs to get a social life and maybe a better civilian identity!"[/color] Connor and Stanley both whirled around in shock as the screens of the Cave's computer lit up one-by-one. She had a new voice distorter, but it was definitely: [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/oD7Q3kt.jpg?2[/img][/center] Stanley spluttered for a second before putting that same warm, unshakeable mask back on. [color=lightgray]"And just how long have you had access to our computer systems Miss..."[/color] [color=violet]"It's Overwatch, and I've been poking around in here since Connor turned his phone back on in the cave for movie night. This thing is [b]definitely[/b] better than my old rig."[/color] Stanley glanced over at Connor, eyebrow raised, but he just shrugged. He had no idea how Overwatch did anything she did. [color=lightgray]"In any case she's right, you need to expand your horizons beyond just vigilantism and training. You've been put in my care and it's become blatantly obvious that you need a life, friends, a chance to be young-"[/color] [color=seagreen]"Look I appreciate what you're trying to do but what I need is to train enough to beat that Dark Archer and keep the city stable. Things might have calmed a little for now but open war could break out any day and I've gotta-"[/color] [color=lightgray]"Got to what? Run yourself ragged being Green Arrow every moment of the day? Doing nothing but training here and patrolling? When was the last time you saw daylight without stopping a robbery? You've hardly been up to the estate either. You may have been living in a monastery before but-"[/color] [color=seagreen]"But what? Because I don't think that-"[/color] [color=violet][b]guys![/b][/color] The young vigilante and bristling butler turned back toward Overwatch and the monitors, startled out of their argument by the worry still clear through her modified voice. [color=violet]"You're both...really gonna need to see this"[/color] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/j32UPAs.png[/img][/center] "The time of Men has come to an end." Weird pointy bucket helmet or not, it was clear to Connor that whatever this guy wanted, it was the exact opposite of good. "You sit atop your ivory towers and in your arrogance believe yourselves to be the superior people. You think your government, your armies, your heroes can keep you safe- that they will protect you from people like me. You're all fools. I am called Stryfe, and we are the Metahuman Supremacy Front. We will show America- and humanity- humility. We will tear down your palaces, put to the pyre your precious law and order. We will show you how truly vulnerable your nation really is. Safety is an illusion." Yeah, definitely not good. Brick had liked his ominous speeches about power and ideals too but this was a whole new level of criminal. "This is your reckoning." [color=seagreen]"Can you trace this creep?"[/color] the words were already halfway out of his mouth before Stryfe finished his crazy speech [color=violet]"I'm already on it but I don't know what we can do for New York except-[/color] [color=lightgray]"No wait! Look!"[/color] Star City locations were flashing up on the screen along with the New York ones. [color=lightgray]"One in front of the Grell Museum, one in front of City Hall in Orchid Bay, a third in Avalon Park and another in the heart of the Glades. They've even got one up at the tower capping Star Bridge, must've disguised it as maintenance on the big star installation."[/color] As Stanley mentioned each one, Overwatch brought up a video feed of the location on one of the computer's many screens and held it there. Oddly enough, as each one came up any people visible on screen paused to look at their phones. After a second even Connor's Arrow-Phone pinged loudly and flashed, and he realized Overwatch must've hacked into the city's emergency alert system. People started to hurry away from the art installations, clearly frightened. Still this changed things. Changed everything. Connor was already dashing up and fitting himself into the suit and gear before Stanley finished listing off the locations. Oliver's more high-tech style of quiver and arrows was heavier on his back but he'd already had plenty of practice moving with them and the actual armoring was light and mobile so he shouldn't have any problems. [color=lightgray]"Oh, my God."[/color] Connor turned his head to check what caused Stanley's outburst and froze, his jaw slacked in awe and terror. Clouds of tiny robots had swarmed over everyone around, on every screen. Overwatch's warning was clearing the area but not fast enough, and the odd weapon found a horrifying amount of victims... ...only for them to rise unharmed and start attacking. [color=violet]"Okay, we've got zombies. Like, 28 Days Later fast-zombies."[/color] Connor was still frozen, his shaking hands the only part of him that could move. This was so far beyond anything he'd ever dealt with. This was crazy, impossible, way too much. How could he really help, how could anyone- He jolted as a hand came down on his shoulder and then Stanley was face to face with him, pressing Oliver's bow into his hands. He took it, shakes dying down as the Queen family butler gave him a grim little smile and straightened the costume out, adjusted the quiver, then adhered the green mask firmly to Connor's face. [color=lightgray]"You're the new Green Arrow, and this is your city now. This is what it means. Time to save the day."[/color] [color=seagreen]"Right. Thanks."[/color] Stanley clapped him on the shoulder again. [color=lightgray]"You'll do us all proud. Now, take the car. You'll need the extra protection, speed and firepower. Don't worry about driving it, the onboard computer will manage and for the trickier maneuvers it has remote capabilities. Set it for the bridge first. At this time of day it's bound to be loaded with civilians."[/color] [color=violet]"Hate to interrupt but the signal for these things must be coming from somewhere in the city. No way they have the infrastructure to set up and launch something this complex from New York alone. So while you do that, I'll work on finding whoever's in charge so you can shut them down, maybe seeing if I can hack the bugs. Time to really test what this new toy can do!"[/color] [color=seagreen]"Again thanks, both of you. Right um...time to save the day!"[/color] he did his best to grin while he said it, trying to seem more confident than he felt. With all that decided on Connor rushed toward the vehicle bay and the exit tunnels. It was time to make Oliver proud.