Lauriver Chronicles

Chapter 26

Moira was currently in her office at Queen Consolidated when the door opened and Malcolm Merlyn strolled into it.

"Hello Malcolm, I was wondering when you'd stop by. I'm assuming you're the one who put out a hit on Somers after he tried to kill my future daughter-in-law?" Moira asked after making sure her office was clear and soundproofed and she didn't care that Somers was a part of Tempest, she would not risk any threats to her family.

"Actually that wasn't me, since I wouldn't want to intrude or overstep by making a move like that without your permission, though I assume that this is one instance where you wouldn't have minded me calling in my associates." Malcolm said.

"You'd be right. Laurel is my son's fiance and the mother of my granddaughter. Any threat against her must be dealt with accordingly. And that goes for any members of my family." Moira said.

"Does that include the young Helena Wayne?" Malcolm asked, feeling a headache coming on.

"Too soon to tell, since while I know she and Thea love each other, I'm not sure if they're at that stage yet. Besides, your operatives only work here and Thea and Helena are in Central City, attending college." Moira said.

"Still, you know I have the same interest in protecting Thea as you do, since I know that she's my daughter, not Robert's." Malcolm said and Moira sighed.

"I supposed it was too much to hope for, since Thea is the only brunette in this family while Robert, Oliver and I are all blondes." Moira said.

"I have no intentions of involving Thea in this Moira. Mainly because I know you'd kill me if I did." Malcolm said.

"Good, trust that instinct and never bring up that topic again. Thea is better off not knowing about you and I don't want to destroy her memory of Robert, since that man was her father, not you." Moira said and Malcolm nodded.

"Anyways, that's not why I'm here. We need to talk about the person who did take down Somers, since that wasn't my operative." Malcolm said.

"Then who was it?" Moira asked.

"I don't know, but this isn't the first time he's interfered. One of my operatives encountered him while dealing with another problem and he interfered with the operation then too." Malcolm said.

"So what do you intend to do about it?" Moira asked.

"I'm accelerating the timetable of the Undertaking." Malcolm said.

"How, the machine isn't ready yet and are you sure that it's still necessary to destroy the Glades. Especially since Oliver's community center is dead in the middle of it?" Moira asked, only for Malcolm's calm and collected mask dropped as he slammed his fist onto her desk.

"Then he deserves to be buried along with everyone else in that god forsaken hellhole. They all deserve to be buried for Rebecca's sake." Malcolm snapped.

"And what would Rebecca say if she knew what you were doing in her name?" Moira asked as she finally saw the true Malcolm. The same Malcolm who'd put a bomb on the Queen's Gambit.

"Sorry about that." Malcolm said as he regained his composure.

"It's alright. I should've known better than to bring up that issue with you. But I want your word that you won't detonate the device until after my son is out of the Glades. You took him from me once. I won't let you do it again. Promise me or I'm out." Moira said and Malcolm sighed, since while Moira was getting tiresome, he needed to keep her on his side for now.

"I promise. I won't detonate the device until I have confirmation that both Oliver and Laurel are out of the Glades." Malcolm said.

"Thank you. Now if that's all, please get the hell out of my office." Moira said and as Malcolm did exactly that, but after that little display, she couldn't go on in conscience, looking her son or granddaughter in the eye again. So she took one last look around her office, knowing that there was a good chance that it wouldn't be her office for much longer.

But at the same time as this meeting was going on, Oliver was down at the Star City Harbor, watching a freighter pull into the harbor and smiled when he saw its stowaway passenger walk up to him.

"You know, I would've paid for you to fly here first class. You didn't have to take a boat." Oliver said and his contact chuckled.

"Just like you hate boats, you know I hate planes." Tatsu Yamashiro said with a smile.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice Tatsu." Oliver said.

"Of course. It's not like I had much keeping me in Hong Kong anyways besides bad memories and after everything we've been through together, you're family." Tatsu said and Oliver smiled at her.

"Thank you. I hope you know how sorry I am about what happened in Hong Kong." Oliver said.

"It wasn't your fault Oliver. You tried to stop it from happening and you saved a lot of other people from suffering the same loss I did." Tatsu said as she wiped away a tear from her eye.

"That doesn't stop me from feeling guilty about it." Oliver said.

"Don't. You can't save everyone Oliver. You should know that better than most." Tatsu said, not being rude, but honest.

"I know. That doesn't make it any easier to live with." Oliver said.

"I know. But now it's time for us to get down to business." Tatsu said and Oliver nodded.

"I talked to Laurel and she said you can stay in our guest room until you find your own place." Oliver said and Tatsu smiled.

"I'm eager to finally meet the great Laurel Lance you told me so much about her and she is to you what I once was to Maseo." Tatsu said.

"Still no luck with him?" Oliver asked about Tatsu's ex husband.

"No. Unlike you, he chose the coward's way out and ran away, while you at least tried to help me grieve before I sent you away. I haven't heard from him since he left me." Tatsu admitted.

"I respected Maseo once and honestly, if I'd lost my daughter the way you lost Akio, I might've done the same thing." Oliver said, only to have Tatsu shake her head.

"No you wouldn't. You're strong. You'd face your pain and help Laurel get through it." Tatsu said to her.

"I appreciate the vote of confidence, but now let's get down to business." Oliver said and Tatsu nodded.