[ Queen Consolidated's Software Division, Star City ]
The facial recognition software project was entrusted entirely to Felicity, who was given the task of leading her small team—actually just three subordinates—to develop an initial version for official use before eventually handing it over to the police.
"Why the original version?" Felicity frowned, clearly puzzled. "If it's about fighting crime, shouldn't we give them the best version right away?"
Thea Queen shook her head slightly. That wasn't the goal. Giving the highest-end version would be a one-time deal, a dead end. What Thea needed was long-term cooperation, not a single act of charity. The relationship between Queen Consolidated and the Star City police had to be nurtured like a well-tended garden. Trust and collaboration would polish her public image over time.
Of course, she couldn't say that directly to Felicity—who, with her unshakable sense of justice, might never go along with something that sounded even remotely strategic.
So Thea offered a half-truth instead. "If we hand over the best version now, they'll start wondering how we got it. And they might suspect we've used it for something... less than legal. You're not going to say you've never used it that way, right?"
Felicity froze. It was painfully obvious.
Of course she had used it. Felicity had hacked into more servers than Malcolm had hired assassins. She once controlled a satellite just to spy on people around her—senators' new mistresses, rival CEOs' personal habits. The list was long, shady, and legally damning.
She wasn't worried about jail time. Being a homebody was more a lifestyle than a location. Even prison had cooks and janitors. But American law was the real villain—it strictly prohibited certain prisoners from using any computer during incarceration. That rule? That would drive her insane. Three days without a keyboard and Felicity would be plotting a prison break with nothing but a spoon and spite.
"Thanks, Thea. You're still thinking about me," Felicity mumbled, looking a little glum.
"Come here, hug me. Don't cry, be good!" Thea cooed with mock affection, pulling her into a tight side-hug. She likes this girl who is five years older than her more and more. Although she is a little silly, she is pure, kind and has a strong sense of justice. These qualities are almost what she envy and what she does not have.
Felicity pushed her off with a playful glare. "I'm not a kid. I'm strong!"
The two of them giggled and jabbed at each other like siblings for a moment before Thea got serious again. She told Felicity to feel free to hire more people if her team wasn't enough—but speed was key.
Of course, just because Felicity had been handed the development didn't mean Thea could sit back and relax. The million-dollar budget Moira Queen had signed off on covered more than just development—it included all the follow-up, like pitching the software to the police.
Giving something to the police didn't guarantee they'd take it.
Luckily, Thea had a faint connection. Detective Quentin Lance might have had enough bad blood with the Queen family to fill a courtroom drama, but at least he knew them. An impression—good or bad—was better than being a stranger.
Still, approaching him directly might lead to stonewalling. Thea figured her best chance was to go through someone he trusted—Laurel Lance.
She called Tommy and asked him to set up a casual meeting with Laurel. The venue? Big Bailey's Burger Shop.
Tommy was thrilled to escape work. He'd been so bored he was counting ants in the boardroom. Looking at any company report for just ten minutes made him dizzy. His eyes, which used to be full of life, were now filled with fatigue.
So when Thea called, he didn't hesitate. He grabbed his coat and dashed out.
...
[ Big Bailey's Burger Shop, Star City ]
The three of them—Thea, Tommy, and Laurel—arrived at the burger shop almost simultaneously, ordered some drinks, and slid into a booth.
Thea laid it out for Laurel. She explained the facial recognition software, the police collaboration, the long-term vision.
For Laurel, whose passion lay in the pursuit of justice, the constant struggle to obtain solid evidence had always been a source of frustration. Time and again, she had watched dangerous criminals walk free—not because they were innocent, but because the system lacked the tools to prove their guilt. The idea of introducing facial recognition software into police investigations and prosecutorial work felt like a game-changer. It could revolutionize case resolution and dramatically boost conviction rates. She couldn't understand why something so clearly beneficial was still being run by her. Were there political obstacles? Personal grudges? What was holding this back?
"Thea, this is amazing. Is there something I can do to help?"
"Well... we want to give the usage rights to the police for free. But we're worried your dad might not accept it. You know how tense things are between him and both our families..." Thea said, gesturing between herself and Tommy.
Laurel's smile faded slightly. Her father had been spiraling ever since Sara's death. He buried himself in work by day and drowned in liquor by night. Who knew how he'd react?
"I think he'll listen. He's the most upright man I know. Come with me, Thea. As for you..." She turned to Tommy with a teasing smile. "Why don't you go play somewhere else?"
Poor Tommy looked like a puppy left out in the rain.
...
[ Police Station HQ, Star City ]
Thea and Laurel drove to the Star City Police Station. It was Thea's first time there, and frankly, it underwhelmed her. It was shabby, dim, and far from the grand government facility she had imagined. Maybe a hundred officers were visible.
In reality, Star City's police force numbered over 1,500, but most were stationed elsewhere. The headquarters mostly housed desk staff.
TV shows really were misleading. A few officers appearing per scene made for good drama, but in reality, that setup would've wiped out the department in three weeks.
Laurel led Thea to her father's office.
Detective Lance—one of the key pillars of Star City's justice system and a man whose life mirrored Commissioner Gordon's from Gotham—looked up as they entered. A deeply haunted man, he'd suffered the loss of both daughters. Though they would later return, the grief aged him fast. By Season Five, he'd be balding and battle-weary.
Laurel explained Thea's plan while both women watched him closely.
"Ms. Queen, what's your motivation here? It's not like Queen Consolidated to offer anything for free," he said, arms crossed and skepticism plain.
"Detective, no one told me to do this. I grew up in this city. It's my home. And it's dying—can't you see that?" Thea said, voice firm.
She continued, "Maybe you see the Queen name and think of scandal. But I see a company that once gave work to 50,000 people. Even now, with downsizing, we still employ 30,000. We're trying. We want this city to get better. I want to help."
His expression shifted, the sneer softening.
"Fighting crime isn't just your responsibility—it's all of ours. Please give me this chance. This isn't for me or the company. It's for the people who still believe in Star City."
"Dad, this could really help," Laurel added gently.
Detective Lance studied Thea for a long, tense moment.
"Alright. I'll talk to the Inspector. I hope I'm not making a mistake," he finally said.
As he turned to leave, Thea stepped forward, gently grabbing his arm. "Detective... I know you're grieving Sara. But that shipwreck took my brother and father, too. For their sakes, please forgive Oliver."
To Be Continued...
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[POWER STONES AND REVIEWS PLS]