698/When Should Crime Not Pay

When Should Crime Not Pay
Date of Scene:	30 May 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Green Arrow, Question

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Green Arrow has posed:
The sun's setting over the Newark skyline as a pair of armored police trucks make their way through the city.

Sitting in the back of one of these trucks, cuffed at the wrist and ankle, is Joey Toledo, lieutenant for the 100 gang.

The reason for the ride? He's being moved to a maximum security facility.

However, squatting on a rooftop along the trucks' path is the Green Arrow, hiding in the shadows.

He waits, arrow nocked, until just the right moment. Then, he fires a missile at the pavement just in front of the lead truck.

It makes contact right before the truck passes over it--and then the arrow explodes with a deafening roar, sending the truck up in the air above a cloud of fire. The truck falls back to the ground and bounces, tipping over onto its side.

The rear truck screeches to a halt, and several of Jersey's finest--armored and armed with automatic rifles--begin to disembark, looking around for the source of the attack.

Question has posed:
Vic sage isn't usually in Newark, spending most of his time in Gotham these days doing his hard hitting news show, but today he just happens to be in town for a live shoot later today to cover the transfer of Toledo, and the reasonings behind the move.

And maybe, as needed, to dig a little deeper into the truth as his no-faced alter-ego.

It just so happens that Vic is coming out of the corner Jitters with a steaming cup of java when the explosion hits, sending the people around into a panic and spilling the cup of coffee down the front of his suit.

"*&@(!"

Green Arrow has posed:
As the Newark police scan the area, the archer presses a button on a small hand-held device. Across the street, two remotely-controlled crossbows fire bolts loudly into the roof of the overturned truck.

The police begin moving toward the probable source of those bolts. Behind them, Green Arrow slides down a steep line to the sidewalk, where he begins creeping up to the rear truck, another arrow held at the ready in his bow.

He's out of sight--for the moment--from the cops, but not necessarily from a keen-eyed man filled with questions.

Question has posed:
Is that? No. It couldn't be. Why would he..?

Questions. So many of them, and all of them demanding the truth.

Vic tosses the empty coffee cup into the trash and makes his way down one of the allyways, and in one deft move slipping his hand to his belt buckle and triggering the secret latch that releases his mask, slipping it over his face, and releasing the gas that adheres it to his face while changing the pigmentation of his clothes and hair.

Emerging from the alleyway, The Question stands amidst the smoke, his blank visage peering towards the Green Arrow as he starts to shadow the archer.

Green Arrow has posed:
At the back door to the rear truck, the Green Arrow pulls its latch and opens the door, stepping back quickly with his bow drawn.

Sitting in chains is Joey Toledo, with a guard on either side of him. They bark at the archer to stop.

He replies by releasing his arrow, which slices one guard in the wrist, causing his hand to spasm, and then it ricochets to embed itself in the other's hand, pinning his index finger in a manner so as to keep it from bending.

Both guards shout for help, and the police on the street suddenly turn their attention back to the rogue archer, beginning to move about as to surround their foe.

He runs for cover on the opposite side of the truck, reaching quickly for another missile in his quiver.

Question has posed:
"Arrow!" shouts the question, as he emerges from behind one of the cars, "What the hell, man? What is going on?"

The Question splits his perceptions between the Archer and the now-forming police officers as he attempts to keep an eye on both as he closes the distance towards the archer. "It looks to me like you are breaking Joey Toledo out, and that can't be right...not without same damn compelling reason."

Green Arrow has posed:
The emerald archer grunts, slamming his back up against the truck as he judges a potential shot.

One of the more eager Newark officers steps too far out in anticipation of his own takedown, and Green Arrow fires an arrow into his right shoulder.

The man curses, inadvertently pulling his trigger to shoot blindly in the air. As he turns about, his companions dive for cover to avoid being hit by friendly fire.

"There's no time for debate," the Arrow shouts. "Either help me or get out of my way!"

He shifts toward the edge of the truck and strikes another officer in the face with his bow, and the two begin attempting to disarm or knockout the other with a quick series of blows, blocks, and attempted holds.

Question has posed:
Debate rages in the mind of the Question for a moment, but loyalty wins out for the moment. He knows Ollie, and Ollie wouldn't be doing this without a damned good reason, would he?

The Question dives, literally, into the fray. He takes two steps, leaps onto the roof of the car his is behind, and launches himself into the air towards one of the other officers in an attempt to tackle and subdue with an elbow to the chin.

Green Arrow has posed:
For his part, Green Arrow leaps into the air, wraps his legs about his opponent's shoulders and across his chest, and drops the two of them together into an armbar. The archer follows it up with an elbow to the man's temple, knocking him out cold.

As he quickly gets to his feet and retrieves his bow, Green Arrow fires an arrow at another officer, one that shocks the man with a quick burst of electricity. The policeman drops to the ground, and the Arrow leaps into the back of the truck to take out the two guards within.

"Come on, Toledo," he says gruffly, beginning to unlock the man's restraints. "You're coming with me...unless you want to stay here."

"Question!" he calls out. "We clear? It's time for an extraction."

Question has posed:
Knocking out the remaining officer with kick to the temple, the faceless man takes a look around, grabbing his hat from the floor where it fell. "For now. I hope whatever extraction you have comes quick."

He replaces the hat upon his head, tugging it down as he moves over to where Oliver stands. "Then, I want some answers."

Green Arrow has posed:
The archer walks with his new prisoner companion to a nondescript Ford Taurus parked nearby.

"It's already here," he says. "Get in, if you want. But we've got less than a minute before backup mobilizes."

Green Arrow opens the back door and shoves Toledo in. The man lands on his side with a loud "WHOOGHH", legs splayed out across the seats.

Starling's resident vigilante slips into the driver's seat, collapsing his bow beside him.

The car starts smoothly, and the archer revs the engine.

"I'll explain on the way. I promise," he says to the Question.

Question has posed:
Taking only a moment to decide, The Question removes his hat and slips into the passenger seat, turning his glance to Toledo for a moment before he focuses his lack-of-eyes onto the Emerald Archer.

"I'm listening." he says as he tosses the fedora onto the dash in front of him. "I'm not one to usually break the 'bad guys' out of police custody, but sometimes the pursuit of the truth has unexpected outcomes."

Green Arrow has posed:
The Taurus peels out, its route moving it through a series of side streets before the Green Arrow heads to an empty industrial area.

"Toledo here's part of the 100, a gang mostly out of Metropolis but expanding its holdings. They've been involved in some mergers and collaborations...so to speak." Green Arrow swerves the car to maneuver toward a stockyard filled with shipping containers.

"Part of what they've been doing has bled out into Starling City. I can't have that," he continues. "But I definitely can't have them--or their associates--bringing things like /Venom/ into the mix."

The archer glances briefly at the Question. "I don't know about you, but, for me, one Bane is enough."

Behind him, Toledo grimaces and says nothing.

Question has posed:
The word 'Venom' perks up the Questions brow ridge as he turns and glances into the back seat at Toledo. "I knew of his associations with the 100, but I was unaware of the trafficking of Venom."

He looks back to Ollie, "One Bane is enough, I agree. Do you have any leads on where the venom is coming from? Is it being shipped out of Santa Prisca? From what I recall, Bane is pretty...protective...of his drug supply."

Green Arrow has posed:
"Those are the kinds of questions that Joey is going to help us answer," the Arrow nods, looking at his prisoner through the rearview mirror. "Isn't that right?"

Toledo shakes his head. "No, no, no, no. There's no way any of you are going to be worse to many than the people you're messing with. I'm not saying anything."

"You could go back to your cell," the archer says. "Your friends will probably already THINK you've talked, given the breakout. I'm not sure you'd last long behind bars, now..."

Toledo fumes. "Gahhh!" he shouts futilely. "You've f%*$#ed me!"

Question has posed:
Letting out a little snort, Vic looks between Ollie and Toledo. "Interesting play. Stage a breakout to put question into the loyalties of the rescued. Can't say I wouldn't come to the conclusion you have made new allies, Mr. Toledo...and if I am questioning it..." he pauses and turns that blank face away from the backseat to stare forward again, "You're right, Arrow. If he doesn't talk we can just leave him on a corner and let the cops come pick him up. I'm sure his associates will have him silenced in no time flat. Probably before he even gets to tell his side of the story, as I am sure his partners have someone on the inside. They always do."

Green Arrow has posed:
"And to think you were questioning my motives," Green Arrow replies. "Although, I suppose if anyone's should, it's you." He smirks.

"Time to put up or shut up, Toledo," he adds, coming to a stop in front of a container.

The man in the back seat sneers for a long moment before his head drops. "Fine. Fine."

Toledo sighs. "It's an incentive, you know? Expand the holdings. Have a little juice to make a power play if needed. We're pushing members into new territories and guns aren't exactly cutting it...not if guys with bows and arrows can take us down."

Seemingly realizing his error, Toledo cringes. "No offense?" he asks warily.

"So who's giving you the Venom?" Green Arrow asks coolly.

"That's above my pay grade, man," Toledo protests.

Question has posed:
The Question says, "I question everything, it's the only way to get to the truth of the matter." replies the Question in a slightly monotone cadence, but a smile is hinted at in the tone of his voice.

The faceless man turns his attention to the passenger in the back seat, "I don't buy it. Someone like you knows, even if you are not supposed to know. Paygrades have nothing to do with the information that come out of an organization such as the 100. People talk when they think they are alone, things are overheard or passed on without thought. You know something, even if you don't think you know it. The question is, how do we retrieve this information."

Vic crackes the knuckles of his gloved hands, "I mean, there are only so many ways.""

Green Arrow has posed:
"H--hey, man," Toledo says, pushing himself against the back of his seat to try and increase the distance between himself and the Question, "it's a figure of freaking SPEECH!"

He shakes his head, eyes growing wide. "The Big Man doesn't tell us anything we don't absolutely need to know. And none of us is so stupid as to stick our noses where they don't need to be."

Green Arrow interjects. "So the Big Man's the key, after all? He's not part of the 100. But he's a name involved with smack moving into Starling."

"Yeah. This was really all his idea, as I heard. The 100's just getting in on the sure thing," Toledo replies.

The archer looks to his front-seat companion. "The Big Man's supposedly in Burnley. Maybe we'll find some answers there."

"Not, of course," he adds, "that we can't still learn more about the 100 and what they're up to..."

Question has posed:
The Question glances between Ollie and the man in the backseat, "I don't know, Arrow...he might not be telling us everything. He has ten fingers..I bet I can get everything out of him by finger number 3."

Is it a bluff? Who knows, but the faceless man starts to move, unclipping his seat belt and opening the car door. "Why don't we find out for sure. If there is one thing I hate, it is leaving things unanswered."

Green Arrow has posed:
The emerald archer steps out of the car and leans toward the driver's-side back door window. "Well, I've gotten everything I need. So, Joey, anything else you want to add before my partner takes over the conversation?"

Toledo swallows a lump in his throat and glances frantically back and forth between the two costumed men. "Okay, okay! The Big Man...he's reaching out beyond criminal groups, too. We've been making contact with a bunch of really low-key transport companies, municipal offices, and the like. Stuff that's basically invisible to everyone."

He gasps, nearly hyperventilating. "I'll give you a list of all the ones I remember. Just don't hurt me, man!"

Question has posed:
Sounding disappointed, the Question looks to Ollie from Toledo, "Why do they always give up so easy?"

There is a hint of a grin in his voice as he reaches into his coat, producing a notebook and pencil from the depths and tossing them to the man in the backseat. "Be detailed. I don't want to have to find you again. Next time I may just start asking the hard questions without much warning."