Chapter 8: The Queen's Gambit and the Crown of Gravitas
Starling City was a war zone. Slade Wilson, fueled by Mirakuru and a burning desire for vengeance, had unleashed an army of super-soldiers upon the city. Buildings crumbled, explosions rocked the streets, and the screams of civilians filled the air. Arrow S02E23: "Unthinkable." This was the endgame of Season 2, and Adam, for all his sarcasm, felt the weight of it.
"Okay, this is officially worse than any zombie apocalypse movie I've ever seen," Adam muttered, watching the chaos unfold on Felicity's monitors in the makeshift command center. "At least in those, the zombies are slow. These guys are like super-fast, super-strong, super-angry zombies who also happen to be wearing tactical gear. Someone needs to tell Slade that 'subtlety' is a thing."
Felicity was a whirlwind of motion, her fingers flying across the keyboard, trying to coordinate rescue efforts and provide tactical support. Oliver, Diggle, Thea, Roy, and even Nyssa al Ghul were out there, fighting a losing battle against an overwhelming force.
"We're being overrun!" Diggle's voice crackled over the comms, strained with effort. "These Mirakuru soldiers are relentless!"
"Oliver, we need a new approach!" Felicity yelled, her voice tight with worry. "They're too many, too strong!"
Adam took a deep breath. This was it. Time to pull out the big guns. Or, rather, the big crown. He reached into his Storage Ring and pulled out the Crown of Gravitas. It shimmered faintly in his hand, a subtle hum of power emanating from it.
"Felicity, my dear, prepare to be amazed," Adam said, placing the crown on his head. It felt surprisingly light, almost like it belonged there. "I've got another 'prototype' for you. A gravitational field generator. Think of it as a localized black hole, but without the 'sucking everything into oblivion' part. Mostly."
[CROWN OF GRAVITAS USED. COST: 50 NON-PLP (TEMPORARY, SMALL AREA EFFECT).]
"Fifty LP for this? Better be worth it. I don't want to go into LP debt just to make some super-soldiers trip over their own feet."
He focused, picturing a small area on the street below, where a group of Mirakuru soldiers were closing in on Oliver and Thea. He felt a strange pull, a subtle shift in the air around him. On the monitor, the soldiers suddenly stumbled, their movements becoming sluggish, as if they were wading through thick mud. They grunted, confused, trying to push through the invisible force.
"What the hell was that?!" Oliver's voice came over the comms, a mix of shock and confusion.
"Gravitational field generator, Oliver! Still in its experimental phase!" Adam yelled, a triumphant grin on his face. "It's like a really aggressive speed bump! Use the opening!"
Oliver, never one to waste an opportunity, sprang into action, taking down the disoriented soldiers with brutal efficiency. Thea, equally quick, followed his lead.
Adam (POV): This was exhilarating. Terrifying, but exhilarating. He was actually making a difference, not just with witty remarks, but with real, tangible power. The Crown felt surprisingly natural, almost an extension of his will. It was a strange feeling, being able to manipulate the very fabric of reality, even in such a small way. But it was also incredibly stressful. He was responsible for this. He was responsible for helping save the city. No pressure, right? Just the fate of Starling City resting on his ability to make gravity go 'boop'.
Felicity, watching the monitors, gasped. "Adam! You just... you just slowed them down! How did you do that?!"
"Like I said, gravitational field generator! It's very advanced! And very, very secret!" Adam said, trying to sound casual, though his forehead was beaded with sweat. "Don't worry about the how, just focus on the 'they're not punching holes in buildings anymore' part!"
The battle raged on, but Adam continued to use the Crown, creating small, localized gravity wells that disrupted the Mirakuru soldiers, giving Team Arrow crucial openings. He and Felicity worked in tandem, a chaotic but effective tactical duo. She fed him information, he provided the "gravitational assistance," and Oliver and the others did the heavy lifting.
As the last of Slade's forces were defeated, and Slade himself was finally subdued, a wave of exhaustion washed over Adam. He took off the Crown, feeling the subtle drain on his LP. But also, a profound sense of accomplishment.
[MISSION COMPLETE: UNTHINKABLE. REWARD: 750 NON-PLP.]
"Seven hundred and fifty LP! That's a good haul! And I didn't even have to get punched in the face! This hero business is starting to look up. Though, my head still hurts from all the concentration. Being a god is exhausting."
Felicity rushed over to him, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and concern. "Adam, that was... incredible. But also, what was that? You can't just keep pulling these things out of thin air!"
Felicity (POV): She trusted Adam, she really did. He was funny, he was loyal, and he genuinely cared. But these "prototypes" of his were getting crazier and crazier. A pen that drew things to life? A sword that slashed from a distance? And now, a crown that manipulated gravity? It was almost too much. She worried about him. She worried about the secrets he was keeping, and the power he was wielding. It was a lot for one person to handle, even Adam.
"Relax, Smoak. It's all part of the plan," Adam said, forcing a weary smile. "Just a few more 'prototypes' to perfect, and then I'll be able to, like, conjure us a lifetime supply of pizza. Priorities, you know."
Oliver walked over, his face still grim, but his eyes held a new, grudging respect. "Whatever that was, Adam... thank you. You saved the city."
"Just doing my part, Oliver. Someone has to keep you from getting yourself killed," Adam said, a hint of his usual sarcasm returning. "Besides, I figured if the city went down, my favorite coffee shop would too. And that, my friend, is a tragedy I simply cannot allow."
System Status After Chapter: Non-PLP: 908. PLP: 2.
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