Oliver runs through the forest of Lian Yu and lights a signal fire to gain the attention of a passing ship.
The Monitor talks about how the greatest of heroes are the Echelons, and they are the hope of all Creation.
Back in Starling City, Oliver looks out of his hospital room window. His mother Moira comes in and greets her son, and they hug. The next day, Moira takes Oliver to the Queen manor and her husband Malcolm greets him. When Oliver wonders where Walter is, Moira explains that he sold his shares in Queen Industries when the Gambit went down. Tommy down and greets Oliver, and wonders why Oliver is staring him at like he was the one who was gone for ten years. When Oliver asks where Thea was, Moira says that she took Oliver's apparent death hard. She finally says that Thea died of an overdose when she was 18.
Over dinner, Oliver about how the chicken marsala is like he made for William. Malcolm asks how Oliver managed to survive, and Oliver tells him that it's a long story. Tommy says that he got married and divorced twice while Oliver is gone, and their parents got married. Moira says that it's complicated and Oliver goes to his bedroom, saying that he's tired.
In his bedroom, Oliver looks around. Moira comes in and says that it wasn't easy for him being alone on the island. Oliver figures that it wasn't easy being there, and his mother suggests that he's changed for the better. He asks her if she would have left them to protect him and Thea, and Moira says that all she's ever done is protect her children. Moira tells Oliver that he'll understand when he has children. Oliver breaks into tears and says that he's sorry. As they hug, Moira tells him that he's home and safe, and everything's all right.
That night in a lab at Queen-Merlyn, Arrow breaks in and opens a sealed door. There are guards inside, shot dead with arrows, and the Hood drops down behind Arrow and says that he has failed the city. The two men fight, and then Black Canary arrives, interrupts the struggle, and asks Arrow what he's doing on her Earth. The Hood removes his mask to reveal that he's... Adrian.
Later at the bunker, Adrian exercises and Laurel explains that she and Adrian are working together. She wonders why he's pretended to be on Lian Yu, and Oliver says that he was sent to Lian Yu. Adrian asks why Oliver is running around in his costume, and Oliver says that he needed an identity to work under. The DA says that he's analyzing Oliver's arrows against those that were used. They confirm the arrows belong to Dark Archer, and Oliver figures that Malcolm is doing the same thing and leaves to talk to his stepfather.
The4 next day, Oliver goes to Malcolm's office and finds the Monitor there. The Monitor reminds Oliver that he wasn't supposed to interfere, and says that he didn't bring Oliver to confront Malcolm. Oliver says that he went to get the dark-matter particles at the Monitor's request, and asks why the Monitor wants them. The Monitor refuses to answer and asks Oliver if he's having second thoughts about their mission.
Star City, 2040
William in his disguise as Harris says that Harris Consolidated sees the wall coming down as a chance to reunite the city. When one guest notes that there's been an increase in cave, Vasquez says that they have the vigilantes to thank for the overall decrease in crime. Connor and Zoe are there in disguise, and meet up with Mia who is heading outside to check movement. Meanwhile "Harris" listens in via earbud and complains that they're not listening. Connor and Zoe tell the disguised William that Mia is ignoring him again.
Outside, a guard confronts Mia. The guard sues a scrambler to block any comms in the area and takes her back in...leaving a dead man hidden behind him.
Now
When Malcolm arrives, he tells Oliver that they've set up an underground server farm. Oliver asks if the incident the other night had anything to do with the dwarf star project. He claims that he researched it on the Internet, and Malcolm insists that it's just an alternate-energy project. Oliver asks to see the bathroom, and instead of going there he approaches a worker at a cubicle. She says that Felicity wouldn't slum it in the IT department, and directs Oliver to Curtis' office. Oliver hacks the computer and finds a file on Malcolm.
That night, Arrow breaks into Malcolm's office and says that he's failed the city. Dark Archer arrives and attacks Arrow, and the two men fight. When Arrow knocks down Dark Archer and removes his mask, he discovers that it's... his counterpart. Dark Archer recovers and makes his escape.
The next day, Malcolm meets with Dinah and tells her what happened. She figures that it's not a coincidence, and Tommy says that someone is targeting Malcolm's company. Dinah points out that the Hood doesn't usually go after the bad guys. Rene comes in, points out that he's Malcolm's attorney, and Dinah has done enough questioning. Once Dinah leaves, Tommy wonders if they should cancel Oliver's welcome-home party but Oliver insists.
Later, Moira introduces Oliver to his new bodyguard: Diggle. Oliver insists that he doesn't need a babysitter, but Moira says that it's something she needs. As Diggle drives Oliver away, Diggle reveals that he's Oliver's Diggle. They stop and Diggle says that Felicity figured out that Oliver went to another Earth. He used one of Cisco's breaching devices to travel there. Oliver says that he can't talk about why he's there, and says that it's bigger and he's not going to ask Diggle to take the risk involved. Diggle tells Oliver that he doesn't have to ask, and knows about the Monitor. Oliver explains about the Crisis and he's seen what happens... and the Monitor has watched her die.
2040
As the guard escorts Mia back in, armed Deathstrokes attack the party and the "guard" draws a gun on Mia. She disarms him, and William warns the others that the Deathstrokes are a distraction. Mia, Zoe, and Connor ignore him and keep fighting, and the guard knocks out Mia and escapes. They realize that the guard escaped and took Vasquez, and Connor says that the "guard" is his brother JJ.
Now
At Verdant, everyone is partying. Laurel joins Tommy and they share a toast. A guard summons Tommy away, and Oliver follows him. Diggle confronts him and suggests that what happens to Oliver in the Crisis is because Oliver pushes his friends away. Oliver says that he can't prevent whatever is happening to him, and won't put other people at risk. Diggle refuses to let him do it, and Oliver offers his hand. When they shake, Oliver takes Diggle out.
Tommy goes to the parking garage and realizes that Oliver is in the shadows. Oliver steps out and Tommy figures that he's Arrow. Oliver figures that Tommy is Dark Archer, and Rene steps out and shoots Oliver with a tranq dart.
Later, Oliver wakes up tied to the rafters. Rene wakes him up with a bucket of water, and leaves on Tommy's orders. Tommy tells Oliver that he figures Oliver was really on Lian Yu. He says that Arrow can't save Starling City, and Oliver doesn't understand the cancer that has taken the city over. Oliver realizes that it's the Undertaking, and Tommy stole the dwarf star particles to destroy the Glades and get vengeance for Thea. Tommy explains that the city rotted while Oliver was gone, and insists that it can't be saved. Oliver says that he's seen Starling City--and Tommy--can be redeemed. Tommy explains that Thea died on a dirty floor and he swore vengeance on the Glades for what it did to Thea.
2040
The team return to the bunker and Zoe blames Mia for abandoning her post. Zoe then asks Connor when they're going to talk about JJ, but Connor refuses. William reports that the Deathstroke gang have amassed power and territory since the wall came down. William has used satellite imaging to discover the Deathstrokes are using the old Galaxy One HQ, and Connor orders everyone to suit up. William asks Mia to follow Connor's lead one time. He figures that fate brought the four of them together, and now it's their turn to save the city.
Now
Oliver frees himself by breaking the pipe he's chained to, and takes out a guard when he comes in. As another guard comes in, Diggle shoots him and explains that he followed Oliver. Oliver explains what Tommy is doing, and says that he knows that he's going to die. If he lets Diggle help him then Diggle will die. When he says that the Earth they're on is better because he wasn't there, and Diggle notes that Thea is dead while Rene and Dinah are helping Tommy. Diggle says that the world is worse because Oliver wasn't in it. Oliver figures he can't talk Diggle out of helping and says that he'd better have a good plan.
The two men go to the bunker and introduce Diggle to Laurel and Adrian. Oliver explains Tommy's plan, and Adrian works out the optimal location for the dwarf star explosion. Oliver figures that Tommy will go to the place where Thea died, and Adrian tells everyone to suit up.
Arrow, Black Canary, Spartan, and Adrian enter the building and Tommy's men attack them. The heroes take them out and Arrow spots Dark Archer moving away. Arrow goes after him, and Dinah and Rene confront him. He knocks them both out and reaches the roof, and finds Dark Archer waiting for him. Arrow insists that it isn't what Thea would have wanted, but Dark Archer reaches for the controls. The two men fight and Arrow finally knocks Dark Archer down.
Tommy says that Arrow can't stop the device because it's encrypted with his personal code. Arrow says that Dark Archer can, and says that he's lost people close to him. He asks Tommy to make the right choice, and asks if he's going to kill thousands of innocent people or be the man he knows he is. After a moment, Tommy goes to the device and disarms it.
Later, Adrian and Laurel give Oliver the container with the dwarf star particles. Adrian realizes that Oliver and Diggle are from a parallel universe, and Oliver advises him to change his name to "Green Arrow". Laurel figures that they'll be leaving, and Diggle says that they have to get back to their Earth. Oliver tells Laurel that Starling City is lucky to have him, and Laurel tells him to take care of himself. As they go, Oliver tells Diggle that he's alive and warns that it's a temporary thing. Diggle insists that no one's fate is sealed and that they can prevent Oliver's death, and tells him that he's not alone. Oliver thanks him for having his back, and says that there's one more thing he has to do.
2040
Connor, Mia, and Zoe attack the Deathstrokes while William monitors the situation from the bunker. As they head for Vasquez, Connor tells Mia and Zoe that he'll use himself as bait while they rescue Vasquez.
JJ beats Vasquez and demands the codes. Vasquez enters them into a tablet, and Connor comes up in the elevator and takes out JJ's men. Mia emerges from the elevator to help Connor, and JJ knocks her down. He deflects her arrow with his sword and says that he owns the city now. JJ then leaps over the balcony and makes good his escape. Connor apologizes to Mia from underestimating JJ, and she says that from now on they're going to do things her way.
Now
Oliver goes to the police station where Tommy is locked up. Tommy says that he can't shake the feeling that Thea would still be alive if Oliver had been there. As Oliver admits that he made his own mistakes, Moira and Malcolm come in and promise to get Tommy out. Tommy tells them that he's sorry and Oliver says that he has to go. He leaves with Moira, and out in the hallway he hugs his mother and says that he loves her. Moira says that she'll see him at the house, and Oliver walks away. As they go, Rene and Dinah are taken away in handcuffs. The computers go down, and Laurel arrives to tell Oliver that the city is under stack. A wave of antimatter sweeps over the city, and Diggle activates the breaching device. Moira and Tommy come out and are disintegrated as well, and Oliver takes Laurel through the breach.
Written by Gadfly on Oct 16, 2019