PREVIOUSLY: Connor Hawke was kidnapped by strange men in Aztec leopard armour. These Leopard Warriors serve their high priest, the Academic, and his false avatar, Teoyaomqui. Connor was flown to the Academic's headquarters, in Star City, where Connor eventually escaped. He now roams free within the building, while the Leopard Warriors and the Academic's mechanical slave, Abacus, search for him. Unknown to all of them, Black Canary and the remaining Challengers of the Unknown (Brenda Ruskin was also abducted) have also located the building. They prepare their assault. The Academic prepares for his Ritual of the Moon, and Teoyamqui (the Grey Man) prepares for his ascension, while Oliver Queen dreams...

Early evening.

Plesa Park, Star City.

The twelve floor of the newly completed Kurland Industries skyscraper.

It is located directly across the street from the Celene Foundation. A motley group has settled into this floor. They hope to find the answers to a few questions. They are the Challengers of the Unknown who have teamed up with Black Canary as they search for the missing Brenda Ruskin. The trail has lead them to the Celene Foundation...

"You sure this is the right place?" asks Clay Brody. He watches the building, through his set of binoculars, from an opened window.

"This is the place. My contact traced the ownership of the Celene Foundation to a Dr. Julian S. Silvo. His record reveals that he is also known as the Academic. The airplane that left Metropolis was also traced to the same person. This Academic has had a major grudge against the original Green Arrow for many years. It appears he is up to something again." Black Canary hopes they find the answers to the greater mystery that has surrounded them for the last few days.

"Everything seems normal... Wait a minute, something's up." Brody passes the binoculars to the Black Canary.

"You're right." She watches three vans with the Celene Foundation crest drive towards the underground parking lot. With the aid of the binoculars, she can also get a good view of the drivers. "I don't think their drivers wear leopard skins for the hell of it. I think it is time we give this Celene Foundation a visit."

"What do we do? Just walk in the front door and introduce ourselves?" asks Kenn Kawa.

Black Canary ignores Kenn's sarcasm and then smiles. "That sounds like the perfect plan." She turns from the Challengers of the Unknown. She whispers to her partner, Oracle. "Can you fix their security systems, Oracle?"

The answer is only audible to the Black Canary. "Already working on it. It is an impressive system. Very advanced. This may take a little time."

"Time is something we are short on." mutters Black Canary. She turns to the remaining Challengers. "Okay. Here is the plan..."

The Temple of the Moon at the apex of the Celene Foundation.

Smoke bellows out from the lit braziers. It obscures the altar area of the Aztec step pyramid - a pyramid hidden in the top three floors of the Celene Foundation. It is home to the secret cult of Teoyaomqui, the Aztec god of warriors. A man in traditional Aztec garb strolls towards the sacrificial altar in the middle of the pyramid.

The naked body of a bald man rests silently on the stone altar. His face is covered in a short blond beard. He looks almost peaceful in his dreams. The smoke obscures his prostrate form. It appears as if he is almost not completely there.

The Academic walks next to the altar. He peers down at the Sacrificial victim who sleeps oblivious to the dangers around him. "Soon the powers hidden in you shall belong to me. With the aid of the Borbonicus Codex, I have tapped the mystical guidance of Coyolxauhqui and the mystical might of Teoyaomqui." He bends over and whispers into Ollie's ear, "How fitting that your death will give me unlimited mystical power." The Academic laughs an evil chuckle.

He stands and surveys the Aztec step pyramid. He picked this location because it is a nexus of several ley lines. Such a place is always a mystical place of power. His research created this Temple of the Moon and his ill-gotten wealth paid for the construction of his temple. An avatar of Teoyaomqui appears...

The avatar is as grey as a rainy day. He is dressed in the stylized Aztec robes, but they are as grey as the wearer. The avatar glides towards the Academic. "Have you recaptured Green Arrow? All must be in place for the ritual."

The Academic bows in respect towards the grey avatar of Teoyaomqui. "I have sent my Abacus to do just that. They should be reporting back in the affirmative any time soon."

Floor fourteen of the Celene Foundation.

Connor Hawke walks silently through the corridor. He is amazed by the number of artefacts that are housed here. It is like this floor is some sort of ancient histories museum or showcase. He walks pass many glass cases with Aztec, Toltec, and Mayan relics. Grotesque statues of animal-like gods and goddesses line the halls. It is the strange case at the end of the hall that catches Connor's eye.

In the glass box, is a manikin dressed in stylized hardwood lamellar armour and a decorated war helmet. A menacing face is painted on the war helm and many multicoloured feathers form a headdress. It holds a short bow in its right hand and half a dozen arrows in the other hand. "What is this thing?" wonders Connor out loud.

"It is the armour of a Tlingit American Indian circa A.D. 1000 - 1800," answers a mechanical voice from behind Connor. "You shouldn't concern yourself with such antiquities. They do not involve you. My master has need of you. You shall return with me."

Connor recognizes that mechanical voice as belonging to the robotic construct known as Abacus. He can see its golden reflection in the glass case before him. Its circular lights have begun their hypnotic flashing as the Abacus speaks in its hypnotic voice. "Turn and face me, Connor Hawke. Your destiny awaits."

Connor does what Abacus commands... but not in the way it expected him to. Connor shifts his weight, turns and lashes out towards Abacus. He knows what tricks Abacus can do, so he doesn't give him a chance to try them. Connor grabs the automaton and uses his momentum to throw it into the glass case with a resounding crash. Small artefacts and pieces of glass fly across the hall. The manikin falls to pieces as the Abacus smashes against it.

Connor watches the short bow spin down the hall. He quickly scoops up a couple of arrows as he dives towards the bow. After a few rolls later, Connor stands ready with the bow in one hand and an arrow drawn in the other.

The Abacus struggles with the manikin as it tries to upright itself. It turns to see Connor standing with an arrow cocked and ready. "I was forged by mystical fire and technological science. I am solid Promethium, with circuits etched on a heart of Amazonium. I can easily with stand any assault you may attempt on my person. I recommend that you desist in your hostile actions and come with me peacefully. It would be easier on you this way."

Connor looks past the swirling lights and concentrates. He uses his monastic meditation techniques to protect himself from the hypnotic attack of the Abacus... just long enough for him to set up his shot. "Your metal hide may be impervious to these arrows. That would concern me, if I was aiming at it." Connor releases his bowstring and the arrow flies true to its target.

Sparks flare as the arrow penetrates the center light on the Abacus' chest. The Abacus' voice carries a hint of surprise. "This will not... zzzsk... prevent me from carrying out my... zzzsk... assigned task." The Abacus stumbles forward with its hands reaching out towards Connor. "Internal... zzzsk... repairs have begun."

"Now you see me..." jokes Connor as he fires another arrow. This time it punctures itself into the Abacus' right eye. Sparks explode at impact. "...Now you don't." Connor drops the bow and runs towards the malfunctioning robot. He steps with his weight into Abacus and proceeds to throw it into another glass display case. The crash of the breaking glass echoes throughout the hall.

The Abacus tries to stand but it slumps against the wall and falls to the floor. It tries to speak but instead only bursts of static and jumbled syllables are heard. Its only remaining eye dims as a small explosion rocks its chest. The Abacus lies still.

Connor Hawke scavenges as many arrows as he can find and places them in the ancient Indian quiver that he took from a display manikin. He picks up the short bow and heads towards the elevator. He knows he must find out what is going on here. He doesn't like being in the dark, especially when he is the target. Why did this thing want him so badly?

Ground floor of the Celene Foundation.

Two men walk into the elaborate foyer of the Celene Foundation. They watch their reflections in the smooth marble floor as they walk to the security console in the center of the lobby. A large Faucault's Pendalum swings in constant motion, back and forth, as they walk past it.

"mmmmmm... curious." mutters Kenn Kawa to himself as he spies the pendalum. He can feel the hairs stand up on the back of his neck. 'I wonder if the builders realize the mystical significance of such a pendalum?' thinks Kenn to himself.

Clay Brody speaks first to the security guard. "Can you help us? We seem to be lost."

As the security guard stands up from his post, his video consoles switch to static. "What the f...?!" The guard looks at the blank screens.

Clay takes his moment. He swings a quick punch at the guard and knocks him back. But Clay isn't fast enough to stop the second guard from pulling his pistol, which is aimed at his chest at this very moment. Clay swallows hard as he waits.

After a loud CRACK, Clay watches as the Black Canary kicks the guard in the back of the head, knocking him out. She reaches for his security pass. "Quick! To the elevators. My contact isn't sure how long she can keep the security down."

"Your contact kept the security down long enough for us to get in via the back entrance," adds Marlon.

"But I can't guarantee how long we will be this lucky. I suggest we get going and save the chatting for later." Black Canary makes way for the private elevator.

The Challengers of the Unknown follow the Black Canary as they make a run for it. Black Canary quickly punches their pilfered security pass into the elevator console and waits... Suddenly the lights and security system spring back to life and the elevator doors close.

Black Canary punches the penthouse button as she tries to ignore the terrible muzak. "Lets go right to the top. We are going to get to the bottom of this mystery."

Marlon Corbett grimaces under the bad muzak. "After listening to this music, I'll be ready to take on anything just to get away from it."

Suddenly the lights give out as the top of the pyramid is bathed in the natural glow of the burning torches. The Academic screams for his Abacus first. But there is no reply. He screams for his Leopard Warriors next. He watches as they scramble to obey. "What is going on!? Was that a power failure? A security breach? What is going on?"

A Leopard Warrior enters the small temple located on the top of the pyramid. The temple is crammed with sophisticated computer technology. The whole step pyramid is one giant computer. A computer that is running the esoteric mathematical equations of the Borbonicus Codex. He reports back to the near hysterical Academic. "Someone has hacked into our security grid. They're good, who ever they are. They have bypassed our Black Ice* and has entered our security net with a trojan program. Preparing counter measures..."

[*   Intrusion Countermeasure Electronics (ICE). Shorthand for any computer security system.]

The Academic lets his attention slip from the invisible battle occuring in cyberspace. He turns to the sleeping man on the sacrificial altar. He stares with intense hatred at the oblivious man. "It is your fault this is happening! You mock me even while you just lie there! How dare you!" By now, the Academic has whipped himself up to a full blown rant. "I shall stop your tricks and then your soul and power will belong to me. I shall claim the power of Coyolxauhqui."

Barbara Gordon frantically types at her keyboard. She watches the codes fly by her screen as she bypasses the security of the Celene Foundation. She wasn't about to let anyone who hacked into her system get away with it.*

[*   See Green Arrow #1 for details.]

"Heh... you guys are good," reflects Barbara. "But I'm better." Her fingers fly across her keyboard. Her eyes studies the computer screens infront of her as they display information of all kinds. She looks for any weaknesses and promptly takes advantage of them.

She easily bypasses their counter-measures and institutes her own. She watches as her ICE-breakers do their job on their system. Barbara smiles. Maybe she can't be Batgirl anymore, but she is still making a difference as Oracle.

A tiny spark flares in the Abacus' undamaged left eye. It flashes on, but it shines with a strange green glow. Abacus speaks but its vocal systems are still damaged. That doesn't prevent him from carrying a conversation with someone... or something...

Through the snow ridden image of Abacus' remanding eye, it sees a great emerald shadow before it. It talks with two voices that sound as one. The head area of the dark shadow seems to almost slither about. It calls out to Abacus... "You will not die yet, Abacus. I have use for you. I am Coatlicue*. Your pathetic master's meddlings has allowed me to escape my imprisonment. My daughter sought my destruction, but instead I shall be the one to gain my revenge!"

[*   Coatlicue is the Aztec Earth Goddess who is the mother of Coyolxauhqui, and Huitzilopochtli. Coyolxauhqui tried to have her mother killed for her shameful pregnancy of Huitzilopochtli. Huitzilopochtli was born fully armed and he slayed his mother's attackers. He then chop off Coyolxauhqui head and it was turned into the moon.]

Abacus watches as a giant snake head rises out of the shadow and hovers before him. Then another appears next to the first head. They both talk in unison and in an accent long lost to this world. "You will become our avatar. Our presence in the world. Our revenge on humanity! Nothing will prevent us from destroying this world. Then I shall create a new world in my image."

Both giant snake heads hiss and then strike at Abacus. If it is possible for a robot to scream, Abacus does so. Its circuits scream as if they are being erased one by one. Suddenly Abacus feels a wave of rapture flow throughout all of his circuits. Its body burns, but it does not worry Abacus. It feels the mystical power surge through it and change it... change a simple abacus... to a god-engine... to an Avatar!

Avatar stands still amongst the ruins of the museum that once decorated this floor. Strange mystical symbols, cast in exotic hieroglyphs, have been burnt in a radius around her. She surveys her surroundings from a new mystical awareness. Her golden physical form has adopted to her current enlightenment. She stands tall and regal. Her sculptured golden body glistens and she has long silver hair that falls past her shoulders. Two midnight black snakes wind their way around her shoulders. Their heads cross at her chest. Avatar rases her hand and speaks, "Mayeques."

She disappears leaving the meso-american mystical circle behind. The only evidence that she was there. Then even the mystical burns begin to fade from view.

Green Arrow runs through the forest/hospital landscape with little Mia on his back. She holds onto his quiver to make sure he doesn't loose any arrows. They stop within a circlet of brass bars and strange brick walls of various heights. Something about this site makes Ollie nervous.

He sets Mia down and readies a Net Arrow. The surrounding area has become ghostly silent and still. The sound of Ollie stepping on dried leaves echoes everywhere. Suddenly, the fauna buried stone floor gives way under him and out shoots a grey ghostly image of a doctor. It folds out its long thin arms as it greets Green Arrow and Mia. It chuckles an evil laugh as it snaps its long thin fingers.

Ollie turns to find a series of brass bars have appeared around him. He looks out and sees little Mia as she tries to run away. The hovering grey doctor reaches over and snatches her up. "The game has ended. The time for the ritual is NOW!"

"Release her, you monster!" shouts Green Arrow from his brass cage. "It's me you want. Not her! So face me!"

The grey doctor hovers over the captured Ollie Queen. "Yes. It is you that I want, but this child shall play her role also," he tosses Mia behind him, like a rag doll. She screams as she catapults through the air. Suddenly the ground shakes and twelve stone spires erupt out of the ground. Mia continues to scream as she tumbles into an open and waiting spire. Her scream is muffled as she is entombed within the spire.

"You... creature. What have you done to her?" screams Ollie as he tries to reach for his quiver. He squeezes his arm against his chest as he tries to raise his arm in the cramped quarters of the brass bars. He struggles as he keeps the Grey Man busy with his shouts. "What do you expect to gain out of all this?" shouts Ollie as he snakes his hand up a bit closer.

The Grey Man waves his hand and the brass cage shoots from the ground and hangs balanced on a long column. The Grey Man waves his arms about as he prepares his incantation. "You, Olliver Queen. In body and soul. I shall rip that Green Man from you and his power shall be mine. I have searched long for him and I have found him inside you!"

Ollie begins to scream as the brass bars begin to pierce themselves into his flesh. The torture continues as Ollie tries to escape...

The elevator door opens revealing a stone archway framed by two burning torches. Tropical plants creep their way up the stone walls. Shadows flicker in the torch light. Black Canary raises a finger to her lips – she motions for silence. She sneaks up along the wall and then disappears behind it.

The muffled sounds of combat are quickly heard and two unconscious Leopard Warriors fall to the ground. Black Canary waves the Challengers onwards.

Marlon Corbett grabs the stolen security pass and runs to catch up with Clay and Kenn. "I could have taken these guys." remarks Clay as he runs by the unconscious guards.

"Next time you can do just that." answers Black Canary as she leads the way. They wander through a maze of stone. 'Not something you would expect to find on the penthouse level of a skyscraper in the heart of Star City - an Aztec cult associated with the memory of Ollie somehow,' thinks Dinah as she surveys ahead.

Marlon runs his finger along a multicoloured Aztec fresco. "The Meso-American influence is obvious. Does that mean we get the obligatory sacrifice also?"

The Black Canary, and the remaining Challengers of the Unknown, exit the stone maze to get their first glimpse of the three story step pyramid and the Temple of the Moon on the apex of the pyramid. A thin man in Aztec garb rants and raves while flailing his arms about.

His voice can be heard throughout the chamber. "The power of Teoyaomqui has entered me! The Ritual of the Moon must begin now! Soon I shall have ripped your very soul from you - Olliver Queen." The poison in the way that the Academic said Ollie's name is obvious to everyone.

The Academic begins to chant in Nahuatl (Aztec). Dark black smoke begins to wind itself around the sleeping sacrificial victim. Black Canary remembers the time when Ollie saved her from the clutches of the Academic.* Now it is her turn to return the favour. Besides she has to rescue Ollie - so she can kick him silly for not contacting her sooner.

[*   see the dream sequence at the beginning of Green Arrow #2.]

"Where is Brenda?" asks Clay Brody. "I don't see her."

The Challengers look for their missing friend. They don't see her anywhere, but they do spy the twelve strange half columns that decorate the four walls of the building. They seem to almost glow as the Academic begins his chant in Nahuatl.

"There!" shouts Marlon Corbett. He adjusts his glasses as he looks up at the stone columns. Twelve of these half columns surround the pyramid on all four walls. The top of each column has become transparent as the chanting continues. Marlon, and the rest of the Challengers, can see Brenda. She is trapped within one of the strange stone columns. As the Academic continues his mystical chant, the columns begin to glow with a strange grey glow and they become more transparent - as do the victims trapped inside.

Black Canary ignores the columns as she charges up the steps of the pyramid. All she cares about is rescuing Oliver and stopping this insane ritual. She screams her Canary's Cry at the group of Leopard Warriors that block her path. They fall back as they clutch their ears. Black Canary reaches the top, as she watches the black mist swirl its way around Oliver.

Oliver Queen continues to scream as the brass barbs flail into his flesh. His vision is dizzy as the strange stone spires swirl about him. He tries to regain control, but he feels it slipping.

The Grey Man continues his chanting as he raises his hands high into the air. Shimmering balls of energy haloes each hand. "The battle is over! I have captured what I seek!" The balls of energy fire out and engulf Ollie Queen. He screams as he burns under the mystical fire. The pain suddenly stops as a small man, made of burning twigs, literally jumps out of Oliver Queen's head!

The Grey Man looks at the helpless, burning Green Man. "By the right of conquest, I claim the Vonnegut Proclamation. Your powers now belong to me, Green Man. I have succeeded. True immortality is now within my grasp. No longer will I be a prisoner to the Lords of Order and Chaos. I shall be free!"

The pain has stopped for Ollie. He can think and move again (as much as the brass bars allow him to move). He knows time is short. He struggles and frees an Acid Arrow from his trapped quiver. He applies some to the bars while the Grey man attention is focused on the crumbling Green Man. The acid burns its way through the bars. Oliver frees himself from the confines of the brass cage. He now looks over the distant drop from the top of the column that the cage rests on.

"You must remember if you are to survive!" shouts the burning Green Man as he crumbles to ash. "Remember for the girl's sake. Isn't that what a hero is suppose to do?" A slight breeze blows the burnt ashes away. The Green Man has died.

Connor Hawke pops the ventilation grate. He spies down the tall stone half column that decorates the wall. The column glows with a strange aura. Connor can see a trapped Leopard Warrior inside the column. He wonders if that is what was instored for him. He stares at the base of the column. It runs downwards at an angle as it arches towards the floor. Connor spies the Black Canary and some strangers fighting various Leopard Warriors as their leader, the Academic, continues his ancient Aztec chant.

The Academic begins to glow with an erie grey glow as he chants. His words begin to swerve in and out of reality. The whole temple begins to glow with an erie grey glow. The Academic continues in his rapture of the incantation.

The Black Canary has seen all she wanted to. She inhales deeply and screams! Her Canary's Cry blasts the Academic and his unholy ritual. Leopard Warriors run for cover from the blast of sonic fury. The Academic stands his ground and continues to mumble his incantation.

Connor takes another look at the stone arch and shrugs his shoulders. He hops out of the ventilation vent and slides down the steep slope of the archway. He slides quickly to the transplanted jungle below. As he lands, Connor rolls with his momentum and quickly recovers to his feet. He readies his bow and begins to selectively wound various Leopard Warriors. His arrows peirce hands and shoulders as they rain upon the Leopard Warriors. They fall back as Connor approaches.

When the Leopard Warriors realize that Connor is out of arrows, they run to rush him. That is their mistake. Connor fights his way through the mass of warriors and makes his way to the top of the temple. He somersaults through the air and lands into the chanting Academic. Connor rolls with the blow and quickly readies himself as he continues his attack. Several quick punches and some even quicker kicks bash against the Academic.

The blows do not hurt him since he is protected by the Grey Man's magic, but they do interrupt his chanting which is vital to complete the ritual. With each second of silence, the Academic can feel his power slipping from him...

Ollie watches as the grey man flickers with a green hue for a split second. Ollie recognizes his chance when he sees it. He leaps from his brass prison and soars through the air. He makes what would normally be an impossible leap and lands next to the Grey Man. Green Arrow struggles against the Grey Man.

"You're weakening. I can feel it," grunts Ollie as he tries to wrestle with the Gray Man. "You have lost. You just don't know it yet."

"I cannot loose. The Green Man's power is mine." The Gray Man snaps his fingers and an arrow appears in his hand. With a downward thrust, he pierces Ollie's left arm with it. The Gray Man raises his hand again and snaps his finger once more. Another arrow materializes its way into Ollie's left arm - the only arm still holding onto the Gray Man.

The pain shoots through Ollie's system and it triggers a memory... a memory of a flashing counter and him holding... something. The memory stops. With each piercing arrow, Green Arrow's memory flashes before him. The fight on the airplane. Him grabbing the bomb... the bomb. His arms... trapped in a bomb!

"I remember now!" shouts Green Arrow as he watches the arrows that protrude from his left arm burst on fire. "There was an explosion! ...and I... died."

As true to Ollie's word, the arrows erupted into a miniature inferno that quickly engulf him and the Grey Man. The flames burn bright and pure. Ollie has snapped the Gray man's hold on him, thus releasing the energies that were working against him, against the Gray Man now. The nightmare world shrinks from the growing glow of the ball of flame.

The ball of fire explodes and casts a glowing white light everywhere...

The Academic stands his ground as the surrounding temple begins to erode under the sonic onslaught of the Black Canary's Canary's Cry. "Notlazohtiachcauhtzitzihuane*," chants the Academic as he raises an obsidian sacrificial dagger to the moon over head. He chants the name of the moon goddess. "Coyolxauhqui! Accept my most perfect sacrifice. As our elder brothers died for you, so shall this one!"

[*   Nahuatl (Aztec), O my beloved elder brothers]

The Academic takes aim at his sacrifice's heart. The Academic smiles in triumph as he prepares his deadly descent towards the chest of his sacrifice... the catatonic Oliver Queen! The Academic laughs as his blow draws near to its mark.

Oliver Queen shakes his head as he begins to open his eyes. Even a glimpse of his predicament is enough for Oliver's instincts to take over. He lashes out with his left arm. It catches the Academic in the neither regions thus interrupting his cabalistic chant. Ollie ignores the strange itching sensation in his left arm and with his right hand, he catches the Academic's arm at the wrist as the knife hangs precariously above Ollie's bare chest.

"Do we really want to do this? I don't think so," speaks a horse Ollie. It has been awhile since he last talked and his voice shows it. Even so, it doesn't make Ollie any less threatening to the Academic. "Didn't I kick your ass the last time we met, Julian? You want me to do it again?"

Ollie sits up and forces the Academic to throw away the dagger. "You are a looser, Julian. You have always been a looser." Ollie raises his left hand to poke the Academic in the chest so as to emphasis his point. Ollie doesn't believe the ramifications from such a simple act. Only a cauterised stub at the left elbow points at the Academic's chest. Ollie doesn't want to believe his eyes. He lets go of the Academic and stares at his left arm... or the lack there of.

"We weren't able to salvage you completely from your explosion. Magic could only put what we had of you back together. Maybe you should have stayed in your dream world. It would have been safer for a cripple like you."

Ollie stares deeply into the Academic's beady eyes. Then he lashes out with a right cross that sends the Academic flying across the temple towards the pyramid's ledge. "I'm more enough man to fix your clock, Julian."

Ollie keeps walking towards the prostrate Academic. "I'm going to make you pay for doing this to me." Ollie waves the stump of his left arm. "I should have stayed dead."

"Dad!" shouts Connor Hawke. "You're truly alive!" Connor runs up to his presumed lost and, missing father. "Forget about the Academic. He is finished. Look!" Connor points at the small temple.

The Gray Man hovers just outside the temple. "I shall have my revenge!" he shouts. But as the Grey Man begins to move, he begins to scream. Grey shards of the Gray Man begins to peel back. A brown stem begins to grow from the open wounds of the Gray Man.

"NO! It isn't fair! I was so close!" screams the Gray Man as he shrivels up and the wooden stem blooms into a large rose. From the centre of the rose, sits a lush Green Man. "Congratulations, Oliver Queen. Our faith in you was not displaced."

The Green Man sprouts outwards and overtakes the pyramid with its thick roots. The computer interior of the pyramid is silent in its organic infestation of roots and vines. The earthy voice of the Green Man echoes the pyramid... "I grant my gift unto thee, Oliver Queen. You have another chance. Will you make the most of it?" The Green man's question echoes in the chamber. "Until next time.."

"There going to be a next time?" mumbles Ollie as he turns back to where the Academic was lying. "Damn! I should have been paying attention."

"I saw him run off that way," points Kenn towards the west exit.

"Forget him. He is a loser. Can someone get me a pair of pants?" asks an overwhelmed Ollie.

EPILOGUE

A few days later at the Metropolis General Hospital

The heroes of the hour stand waiting in the hospital hall. They all have come to Metropolis to give their support to Brenda and her neice who is still in a coma. Oliver Queen stands next to Dinah Lance, while Connor Hawke talks to the Challengers of the Unknown.

"I don't get it," mentions Kenn. "All of the coma patients woke up after we defeated the Grey Man and the Academic. The spell was broken and its effects wore off."

"When it comes to magic, can we ever really know the answers?" adds Marlon.

Dr. Adams walks out of the room with Brenda Ruskin, and Mia's mother, Laura. Their faces are heavy. Brenda soothes her old friend as the best she can. Laura wipes the tears from her cheeks. "Why?" asks Mia's mother. "Why?"

"May I see her?" asks Oliver Queen.

"I don't see why not." Brenda turns to her old friend. "Is it okay with you, Laura?"

Laura nods her head. "You all have done so much for the both of us."

Oliver Queen scratches his left arm. He can feel his fingers itch even though they are no longer there. Ollie nods his head. "I promised her I would take care of her and I'm going to see that she is okay."

Oliver Queen walks into Mia's room. She lies still on the hosiptal bed. The room echoes with the sounds of the various medical equipment. Oliver takes a chair next to Mia's bed. "Hiya Kid. Remember me? I'm the hero who was going to save you. But I guess I failed." Ollie holds Mia's hand. "You should be awake. Your mother is worried sick about you. So are your friends. Come on, Mia. Don't quit on me now. We have been through too much for you to do this."

Oliver sits in silence as he stares at his missing arm. He is useless now. Mia should be awake laughing and smiling. "If I could switch places with you, I would. Besides what use does the world have for an armless archer?" Oliver holds Mia's hand tighter. "Come on. You were a brave little soul when we fought together. Show me that you still have it in you. Come on, Mia. Wake up!"

Ollie sits in silence as he looks at the sleeping girl. "You are the real hero, Mia. A super-hero. Don't give up on me now." To Ollie's surprise he can feel Mia squeeze his hand. She murmurs as she begins to stir. She wakes up screaming.

Dr. Adams and Laura McCaul (and the rest of the gang) come running into the room. They see Mia sitting up in the bed hugging Oliver Queen. She is frighten but Ollie is soothing her. "That's okay, kid. All of the monsters are gone. The Green Arrow is here to protect you. You can count on it."

Ollie once more pries the kid from him and he watches as mother and daughter are reunited. He sees Dinah leave the room. "I think I'll leave the two of you alone now."

As Ollie opens the door, little Mia speaks, "Thank you, Green Arrow."

"Hey, that is what heroes are for." smiles Ollie. "You get better and I'll visit again. Deal?"

Mia smiles as she hugs her mother. Both her and her mother begin to cry tears of joy.

"I think Mr. Queen had the right idea. How about we leave give them some privavcy?" comments Brenda ashe leaves the room. The Challangers of the Unknown and Connor do the same.

Brenda walks up to Dinah, Ollie, and Connor. "Thank you for all of you help. If it wasn't for you... I... Mia might have been..." She doesn't finish her sentence. Her fellow Challengers embrace her and she smiles. "Thank you all."

"Thank you." Connor watches as Ollie and Dinah walk down the hall. "It isn't everyday that one can say that they met the Challengers of the Unknown... or my father comes back from the dead." Connor shakes hands with the Challengers.

Ollie places his good arm around Dinah's waist. "You okay?"

"Ya. I'm okay. You're a natural with kids. You do know that." Dinah looks out the hospital window at the Metropolis scenery. She turns and faces Ollie. She hugs him tight. As tight as she can because she doesn't want to loose him again. "What now?"

Ollie looks at the window. He isn't looking out of the window, but looking at his reflection. "Back to Star City I think. I need time to think. It isn't everyday I come back from the dead." He stares at his useless stump of a left arm. He still doesn't believe all that has happen to him. "I guess I better find a job." He looks at Connor. "The world already has a Green Arrow. So it is time for me to move on in my life. After all, how many people get a second chance on life?"

Ollie and Dinah look out the window together as they watch Superman fly by. "Okay. Ignore my last comment."

NEXT ISSUE:

Ollie gets a job. Dinah makes a new friend. Meet the ghosts of Fuller Castle. Can Connor survive his encounter with the Highwayman? Find out in Green Arrow #4.

BULL'S-EYE

Or this column could also be called... "Why I did what I did."

This issue has been the hardest thing I have ever done. After many false starts and many rewrites, it is finally done. I know many out there are wondering why in the hell I would bring back Ollie, but then cripple him by cutting off his left arm. What good is an armless archer you wonder? All I can say is please stick around and find out. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by what I have in store for our favourite emerald archer - archers actually (can't forget about Connor also).

I did this for several reasons. The first one was that when a hero comes back from the dead, I wanted to show that it would have a serious impact on the hero. Ollie is all too human (one of the traits that I enjoy about him so much) and as such, I think that he shouldn't be able to shrug this off as say Superman did.

The other reason I did this was to show how Ollie is a true hero. Even with Ollie's current set-back, he will eventually overcome this and stay the hero we all enjoy and love. This makes Ollie a greater hero to me. He is taking what life is throwing at him and overcoming it with his own wits and willpower. Something all of can relate to.

Ollie's physical ressurrection has occured. Now I hope to explore Ollie's mental ressurrection as he copes with his situation and decides that he is still a hero. A part of this has already occurred with his bond with little Mia, but it will be an ongoing process. I also plan to explore the relationships that surround Ollie (i.e. Dinah & Connor).

I have many ideas for this series and I hope people will stick with it as I explore them. I hope to create a series that has some of the flavour of the MIke Grell series but also at the same time I hope to bring Ollie back into the DC Universe (okay maybe that should be DCL Universe ;p). Hence the move back to Star City and ou will see some old foes and friends show up. So stick around and enjoy the ride.

-Tim Hartin