These Prison Walls (An Arrow: Season 7 Fanfiction)

Chapter 31: Potential Pathway

Star City. 2040. 

'Well, I'm glad everyone is safe, to say the least,' Felicity said, coming to sit next to Mia. I was standing with the group after my short period of unconsciousness. 'Does anyone need anything? Do we need any water?' she added. 'It's very important to hydrate.' 

'No,' Mia said softly. 'And we don't need any snacks either.'

'According to the information William got on Dale's computer,' Dinah said, 'the Zetas are marching into Star City tonight.' 

'We have to disable ARCHER before they start their mass execution,' William said. 

'That won't be easy,' Rene replied. 'ARCHER doesn't have a server room. Its server is the actual wall outside of the Glades.' 

'Wait, the Zetas use ARCHER to track our DNA. They'll know the second we get anywhere close to that wall,' Connor said. 

'Mom...?' Mia said. 'Why are you making that face?' 

'I am not making a face. This is my face,' Felicity replied. 

'Oh, you're making a face,' I chimed in. 

'I might have put a backdoor into ARCHER that utilises Queen/Smoak DNA so that you wouldn't be in the system,' she said. 

'So you erased me,' Mia scoffed. 'You know, just add that to the list of lies.' 

'I was protecting you.' 

'Wait. Hold on,' William said. 'Yeah, what she did might be overprotective and overbearing...' 

'Yeah.' 

'But it could be the break that we've been waiting for. If ARCHER doesn't recognise Mia's DNA, she could be the key to shutting it down.' 

'You're right. If ARCHER inputs your DNA, it theoretically creates an opening for a virus to be uploaded. I mean, I don't know if it would work.' 

'Well, even if it did,' Alena spoke up, 'ARCHER only inputs DNA to its main server at one location - the checkpoint between Star City and the Glades.' 

'That's where Dale plans to march the Zetas into Star City,' Rene replied. 

'So we go there, scan Mia's DNA, and upload the virus,' Zoe said. 

'Even with the ARCHER blindspots in place, we're way too publicly recognisable to get anywhere near that checkpoint,' Roy said. 

'I mean, you can't, but we can,' William said. 

'No,' Felicity replied sharply. 

'The - the public doesn't even know who we are,' William said. 

'No. It is much too dangerous.' 

'Mom, you've trained me my whole life for this,' Mia said to Felicity. 

'I agree,' I chimed in. 'She's ready for this. If not now, then when?' 

'Trust me,' Mia said. 

'Communications are mission-critical,' Felicity said, poring over a device with a screwdriver in hand. 'The last thing we need is comms failing while we're out there.' 

'While we're out there?' Rene asked. 

'Sounds like you still haven't budged on Mia and William taking the reins,' Dinah remarked. 

'We are about to stop a small army from infiltrating Star City,' Felicity replied. 'I can't be the only one worried about the kids.' 

'Of course, I'm worried,' Rene shot back. 'But I taught Zoe everything she knows about being a hero.' 

'Almost everything,' I chimed in. 

'And now my little girl's a grown-ass woman and one of the Canaries, I know she can handle herself.' 

'And your kids, they're no slouches either, Felicity, like their parents,' Dinah said. 

'This is not the life that Oliver and I wanted for them. They're supposed to be living happy, normal lives right now. That was the only thing that Oliver asked me to do. That is the only thing that I promised him I would do. And I failed. Some mother I turned out to be.' 

'Hey, before the kids come back,' I said, 'I've got to tell you something.' They all looked toward me. 

'Are you okay?' Dinah asked. 

'I can't do this anymore,' I replied. 'I'm grateful for what you've given me over the years, and I'm grateful for the protection and the gracefulness with everything I've been through, but in all honesty, I can't do this anymore.' 

'If this is about what happened with Mia, it's okay,' Felicity replied. 'We forgive you.' 

'No, it's not okay. I could have killed her. And if I keep going, what's to say I won't accidentally kill one of you - for good this time? I'm leaving soon, and I'm not coming back.' 

'Don't say something like that,' Dinah said. 'Whatever it is, we can help you.' 

'No, you can't. Not this time. You and Zoe have sacrificed too much to keep me safe. I should have just ended it the moment the pills stopped working. But I tried. I tried to keep living, to keep fighting one more day for all of you. For the kids, for Oliver's legacy, for the city, all of it. But now I'm a liability, and I can't put the burden on all of you to put me down for good in the field. And if it's alright with you, I'd like to go out by my hands alone.' I pulled out a gun from my bag, as well as a USB drive, and unloaded the gun to the last bullet, then put it away. Turning to Felicity, I gave her the USB drive. 'When Mia and William come back from destroying ARCHER, tell Mia to put this USB on. It's got a video from me, entailing my final wishes to the team and to my family. Please don't tell them until the video later. I'll text you my location so you'll know what to do when you find me.' Felicity stood and hugged me. My arms slowly wrapped around her as I let out a sob. 'I'm so sorry, Felicity. I'm so sorry.' 

'Don't be sorry,' she replied. 'You've fought hard enough. You can rest.' She squeezed me tighter and then stepped back, and I hugged Dinah next. 

'Thank you, Dinah. Truly. For everything,' I said through tears. 'You have no idea how much these past few months have meant to me.' 

'I'm sad to see it end so soon.' I laughed with a choked sob coming through. 

'It was a good run.' I came to Rene next. 'Best of luck in the near future, hotshot. These kids are going to give you guys a run for your money.' 

'I'm gonna miss you, Evelyn,' he replied. 

'So am I. I'm gonna miss all of you. You'll see me again... someday.' 

'It's time,' Roy said, walking into the room with the three younger heroes. I quickly wiped away my tears, trying to be strong for them. 

'Be safe. I love you,' Rene said to his daughter Zoe, hugging her.

'I love you too, Dad.' 

'I'm going to be watching over both of you,' Felicity said sternly to Mia and William. 

'We'll need you,' William said, hugging her. Then Felicity hugged Mia as well. The two turned to me, and I hugged the both of them, kissing them on the temples. 

'I love you both. Never forget that.' I let them go, fresh tears shining in my eyes. 

'Are you okay?' William asked. 

'That's the second time someone's asked me that today. It's okay. I'm just - these are happy tears. I'm proud of you both. You two may have not been my own children, but I damn well raised you like you were my own.' I hugged them again, and then released them. 

'I'll see you soon,' Mia said. 

'You too, kid.' 

'Mia...' Roy said, and she turned to him, holding out Oliver's bow and arrows to her. . 'Thought you might need these.'