#1 - Wake Up Call

#1 - Wake Up Call

Well where do you want me to start? When I was born? How I grew up? My time with Green Arrow? On second thought…let’s skip that. I’ll just start with the D.E.O. That’s as good a place as any.

When Arrow and I went our separate ways, I wasn’t sure what to do. I thought about being Speedy on my own, but it didn't feel right. I needed to get away from anything to do with him. So I did what I thought most “normal” nineteen year olds were doing. I went to college.

H-Hey! Stop laughing! Yes I, Roy Harper, was a college man. Though little of my time was spent in class, as you can imagine. Parties and women were able to hold my interest more than books and lectures. I spent two years living it up, trying to forget about crime fighting, super villains, and anything to do with archery. About ten months ago that changed



“Oooooh…hi-de-dy-de-dy-de-dy-de-dy-de-dy-de-dy!”

The four friends sang as they stumbled along the street toward their college dorm. Another night of wine, women, and song was coming to an end. They walked shoulder to shoulder, occasionally having to help each other along, sometimes having to stop while one of them emptied their stomachs.

“Ah…Ah juss wan yoo gahyz to know…Ah luv yoo!” Roy mumbled as they reached their dorm. “This hass ben tha best time of mah lifes…”

Roy stumbled into his room and shut the door. His roommate wasn't in his bed, probably staying with his girlfriend. That was a novel idea. Girlfriend.

When his clothes proved more troublesome than they should, Roy gave up trying to take them off and fell onto his bed. His already empty stomach attempted to empty itself again. He spit a little into the waste basket beside his desk, then tried to wipe some of it out of the fine ginger stubble on his chin. When that was through, sleep started to take Roy.

“Is this really all you want from life, Mr. Harper?”

Despite his inebriation, Roy immediately jumped to action at the sound of an unknown voice. His hand fell upon the knife under his pillow as he rolled off his bed and into a fighting stance. He faced the shadowy figure sitting in the chair at his roommate's desk, then he fell back onto his ass.

“Really Mr. Harper, you are in no condition to put up a fight. Nor am I here to give you one. I only came to offer you an opportunity, but it would appear that our conversation would be best left till morning.”

Roy fought as hard as he could against the darkness. Sliding down onto his back, staring at the ceiling, he could do nothing to stop his falling eyelids. He managed to let out three words before he fell unconscious.

“Fuck...ing...shotsss..."



The light hit his eyes like a freight train. His forehead pounded. His body ached. He sat up, kicking against the sheets and blanket covering him. That's when he noticed they were not his own. His eyes darted around the bright, sun drenched room. It appeared to be an expensive hotel suite. The large, clear windows revealed they were in a rather tall building.

“Where am I?” Roy yelled. He regretted that right away. He ran a hand over his forehead, pushing his almost jaw length hair out of his face.

“No need to worry Mr. Harper, we’re still in Boston. I had you brought here last night. Much more discreet than having me hang around your dorm room."

The same voice Roy remembered from last night now came from a black man sitting at a table across the room. He was dressed in a fine black suit. Roy guessed he was in his mid thirties, his short cropped haircut and neat facial hair showed barely any signs of gray.

“Would you care for some breakfast?” he asked, gesturing at the table covered with various breakfast foods. He clicked off an iPad and placed it down beside him.

Roy put on a black bathrobe that lay at the foot of the bed. Despite the previous night, his stomach growled with hunger. “I’ve had enough hang overs to know that I shouldn’t feel this hungry.”

“Yes I had my associate give you some medication while you were sleeping. It isn’t enough to completely clear your head, considering your blood-alcohol level last night, but it still works wonders.”

Roy took a seat across the table from his host. He looked over the various foods and chose some blueberry pancakes. His host poured some coffee and handed it to him.

“If you wanted me dead I would be,” Roy stated the obvious before stuffing a pancake into his mouth. “So what is it you want with me?”

“To make you an offer. That’s all.”

“You could have done that back at BU.”

“Not this kind of offer.”

Roy continued eating as he mulled over his situation. He took a long drink of his coffee and continued his questioning. “Who are you?”

“My name is John Stewart. I am the Deputy Director of a government organization that could use someone like you.”

“Me? What could a college slacker do for the U.S. government?”

“Nothing,” Stewart said as he took a drink of his own coffee. “We could however use someone like Speedy.”

Roy stopped in mid chew and looked up at Stewart. There was a small smirk on his face as he waited for Roy’s response. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh please,” Stewart said, placing his cup down on the table. “Oliver Queen is many things, but discreet is not one of them. He's made plenty of mistakes over the years. Many trails for those who knew where to look. Unfortunately for you, his indiscretion is your problem as well.”

“So that’s what you guys do?” Roy said with attitude. “Investigate heroes?”

“Not exactly, though we do keep an eye on things. The D.E.O. is designed to investigate and handle metahuman and alien threats."

"Bigfoot too?" Roy interrupted.

Stewart ignored the question. "Our eyes have landed on Green Arrow before though. Your old mentor has had, shall we say, questionable motives from time to time.”

Roy scoffed at that, taking a long sip of his coffee. "So, D.E.O.?"

“The Department of Extranormal Operations. We're public but not well known yet. We were created in response to the growing number of...unusual threats, both from within and without. I’d like to have you on as one of our field operatives. As you can imagine, someone of your skills would be most useful in detaining dangerous metahumans.”

“Okay then,” Roy said as he put his silverware down. He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Sell it.”

“Excuse me?”

“Give me your sales pitch. Explain why I should give up my promising college life and chance at normality in order to join this D.E.O."

“You have spent the last two years living it up at BU. Despite what you say, I know you want to get back out there and help people.”

“I can do that on my own.”

“Your country needs you.”

“I pay my taxes.”

Stewart reached into his coat pocket and pulled out an envelope, sliding it over toward Roy. Inside was a government check issued to Roy Harper. His eyes widened when he saw the number of zeroes.

“As you can see, our field operatives make quite a bit of hazard pay,” Stewart said. When he saw that Roy was unable to voice his answer, he smiled. “You should see the dental plan.”



Washington DC

"Hoo boy," Roy said, adding a whistle for emphasis. He walked along side John Stewart into D.E.O. headquarters. It wasn't the stuffy, government operation he had expected. Not quite at least.

True, everyone they passed wore suits. Even the ladies, though he did spy an occasional tight skirt. But the people were young for the most part. The energy was electric. This wasn't some old timey organization that were set in their ways and routines. This was new.

"I feel like I came to the ball in my pajamas," Roy chuckled, straightening his wrinkled Vampire Weekend t-shirt.

"All the people you see are professionals," Stewart explained while finishing a text on his phone. He navigated the halls without even glancing upwards, confident in his surroundings. "They've spent their lives dedicated to serving others and their country. Military, law enforcement, advanced science and technology, they're the best of the best."

Roy's gaze turned as a cute blond in glasses walked by, cradling a laptop to her chest. He turned all the way around to watch her go, walking backwards. "So what am I doing here, again?"

A hand in Roy's back stopped him in his tracks. He turned to see Stewart had stopped him from walking into a corner. "Keep it up and I might start to ask myself that again."

"I can't help if I have a thing for the modern working ladies."

Stewart just shook his head. He reached out to a panel next to a door and pressed his thumb against it. A chime went off and he pushed the door open.

They entered a meeting room with a large table. Each seat had a touchscreen built into the table in front of it. The far wall had a screen that covered the entire upper half, the D.E.O. symbol, a stylized triangle eagle with the letters D.E.O. in the center, displayed on it.

As soon as they stepped inside, the only other occupant jumped to his feet. He was a young, well built black man dressed in, of course, a black suit.

"Harper, this is Agent John Diggle," Stewart introduced them. "Diggle, this is Roy Harper."

"Nice to meet you," Diggle smiled politely.

"Back at ya, Dig," Roy smiled and slapped the man on the arm as he walked around the room. He finally sat down in one of the chair, resting his leg over the side of the arm. He started idly pressing buttons on the touchscreen. "Nice place? Does this thing order food?"

Stewart and Diggle shared a look before sitting down as well. "Thank you for joining us Diggle," Stewart said. "I know you've been waiting for answers since pulling you out of Star City. I didn't want to reveal anything until I was sure he'd play ball."

"He?" Diggle asked. "You mean Mr. Harper?"

"Call me Roy, Dig," Roy smiled. Diggle's eyes narrowed.

"Yes. Roy here is your new assignment. He's going to be our newest Special Agent."

The look that came over Diggle's face was priceless. Roy could tell this was a man who heavily guarded his emotions. He smelled of military. Yet that one sentence from Stewart had left knocked him for a loop.

"W-With all due respect sir..." Diggle started before being cut off.

"I get it, John," Stewart said in a calm voice. "Roy here is immature, ill mannered, irresponsible..."

"Okay I think we get it," Roy interjected.

"But he's one of the world's best marksmen. He's got over five years of real, on the ground experience in combat and outside the box problem solving."

Diggle actually laughed at that. "This kid? What is he, some kind of super hero?"

"Former," Roy smiled at Diggle. "Been retired for two years now." That same priceless look came to Diggle's face.

"There's a lot you need to be briefed on," Stewart explained. "The both of you. But Roy has more potential than you might think, and he needs a partner who can bring him up to speed and whip him into shape. You have the experience on both sides to get him there, Diggle. I need you on this."

"Partners?" Roy extended his hand across the table. "Can I be Agent R?"

Diggle looked down at the hand and turned back toward Stewart. "If this is what you want, sir."

"So what's our first mission, chief?" Roy asked.

"Training," Stewart barked as he stood up. "And it starts now."

Suddenly the door opened behind him. "Someone ordered the steak and cheese?"



Johnny “Four Fingers” Jackson ran for his life. He flew through the dark alleys of Bludhaven as though Hell itself were behind him. Tonight, it very well could be.

Johnny heard the sound of crashes behind him. He didn't dare look back, he knew they were close. For the first time in thirteen years, Johnny prayed.

“Not so fast Johnny!”

Looking up, he saw a platinum blond woman in a skintight, dark blue outfit. She rode the wind down and landed right in front of him. Johnny tried to turn in time, to run another way, but a gust of wind knocked him to the ground. When he raised himself back up to his knees, he felt a large presence behind him.

“You try to run?" the gigantic man asked. He was at least eight feet tall and had limbs the size of tree trunks. "No run."

“Cyclone, Brawn please!” Johnny begged. He looked up at them with tears in his eyes. “I swear I never betrayed Franco! I swear!”

“I’m afraid Mr. Bertinelli doesn’t believe you,” a cold, even voice came from the darkness. Johnny heard the sound of electricity crackling and had to cover his eyes against the light.

“Voltage…please man…I swear…AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGH!!!!!”

-To Be Continued-