"Ugh!"
Amanda's knees buckled beneath her, and she caught herself with one hand against the padded floor. Her lungs burned as though someone had poured fire directly into them, and sweat dripped from her chin while she tried desperately to draw enough air to speak.
"Fuck," she gasped. "Why doesn't this feel like a promotion?"
Dre's laughter came from somewhere behind her.
Amanda slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes were wide with disbelief before narrowing into pure hatred when she saw the grin on Dre's face.
"Stop laughing, you asshole."
That only made him laugh harder, "Calm down, Amanda. You're going to get used to it."
"I don't think I want to."
Dre finally stepped forward and offered her a hand. Amanda stared at it for a moment before accepting, allowing him to pull her back onto her feet. Her legs immediately threatened to give out again, forcing her to steady herself.
Dre shook his head, "You're doing fine."
"I just got knocked on my ass four times."
"Five."
Amanda glared at him.
"That's not helping."
Dre chuckled and folded his arms across his chest. The amusement in his expression faded into something more serious.
"Listen to me. The boss and I both think you're the best candidate for the manager position. That wasn't some pity promotion. You earned it. You've been with us since Gotham, you've kept people organized when things went sideways, and people actually listen to you."
Amanda's expression softened slightly
"But if you can't defend yourself, what's the point?"
Amanda wiped sweat from her forehead.
"Won't I be in the hotel most of the time?" she asked. "That place is a fortress. We've got armed security, cameras everywhere, reinforced doors, and half the people working there can probably kill someone with a spoon. Why do I need to fight?"
Dre's expression changed immediately.
"Wow."
Amanda frowned, "What?"
He shook his head slowly, "If that's the way you're thinking, maybe we did make the wrong decision."
The words struck harder than the training had Amanda looked away, "I didn't mean it like that."
"Then tell me what you meant."
She stood silently for several seconds, her fingers curling into fists at her sides.
"I know I need to be able to defend myself," she finally admitted. "I know what we do. I know who stays at our hotels. If something happens, I'm not going to have the luxury of waiting for someone else to save me."
Dre said nothing.
Amanda swallowed.
"And if it comes down to it…" She hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with the words. "I know I might have to kill someone."
The admission sounded strange coming from her.
She looked down at her hands, "I just didn't expect to be this bad at it." A self-deprecating laugh escaped her.
Dre's expression softened.
"That's because you've never done it before."
"You think that makes me feel better?" Amanda looked at him
"Yeah."
She stared.
Dre shrugged.
"Everybody sucks at something the first time they do it. Fighting isn't magic. Nobody wakes up knowing how to throw a punch, break a grip, or put someone down. You learn."
He tapped his own chest.
"I might not be the best coach in the world, but you're not doing this alone. You've got me, you've got Darren who wants your position by the way so you better shape up, and you've got plenty of people around here who know how to hurt somebody."
Amanda laughed despite herself, "That's a comforting thought."
"It should be."
Dre stepped backward and raised his hands.
"Now get your guard up."
Amanda immediately groaned.
"You're serious?"
"Very."
She reluctantly raised her fists.
Dre nodded approvingly, "Good. Again."
Amanda planted her feet.
This time, when Dre came forward, she didn't hesitate.
****
"What are you looking at?"
Dinah leaned over Oliver's shoulder, resting one hand against the back of his chair as she studied the photographs displayed across the monitor.
Oliver didn't look away, "This guy."
A photograph of Dre filled the center of the screen.
"He's supposed to be one of the higher-ups in the Underpass. We've been hearing his name more often since Brickwell died. Apparently, people in the Glades are starting to talk about him."
Dinah leaned closer.
"Dre?"
"Dre."
"That all we've got?"
Oliver clicked his tongue, "Pretty much."
He brought up another screen.
"There's almost nothing on him. I contacted Batman. He had more than we did, but even his information isn't exactly extensive."
Dinah folded her arms.
"And?"
Oliver opened the report.
"Dre. One of the earliest members of the Underpass. Previously operated within Gotham's underground tunnel systems. Strong influence over his people. Known to personally oversee operations and participate in violent encounters. Considered highly loyal to the Underpass."
Dinah frowned.
"That sounds incredibly generic."
"It is."
Oliver closed the report.
"And that's the problem."
He pulled up another folder.
Several photographs appeared on the screen, each showing Dre from a different angle. In one, he was entering a vehicle. In another, he was walking through the Glades. A third showed him speaking with several members of the Underpass outside one of the Continental's properties.
"At least we have a face now."
Dinah studied the images.
"He's not exactly subtle."
"No."
Oliver zoomed in on one of the photographs.
"That might actually work in our favor."
"How?"
"Because the Underpass is built around anonymity. Most of their people can disappear into the homeless population whenever they want. Dre can't do that anymore."
Dinah nodded slowly.
"The higher he climbs, the more recognizable he becomes."
"Exactly."
Oliver switched to a map of Star City.
"The Glades are already talking about him. He's becoming a name. If he's really one of Kieran's senior people, then that makes him important enough that people will notice where he goes."
Dinah pointed toward the map.
"Have you found where he operates from?"
"Not yet."
"The hotel?"
Oliver considered it.
"Possibly. He definitely conducts business there. But I doubt that's his only base."
"Why?"
"Because he's too smart."
Dinah raised an eyebrow.
Oliver continued before she could respond.
"Kieran has spent years making the Continental look legitimate. He's built an entire reputation around the idea that his hotels are neutral ground. If Dre starts running everything from there, eventually someone notices. Police, reporters, rival criminals, somebody."
"So he needs somewhere else."
"Exactly."
Oliver leaned back in his chair.
"A warehouse. An apartment. An old storefront. Somewhere in the Glades where he can operate without drawing attention to Kieran's legitimate businesses."
Dinah looked back at Dre's photograph.
"And if we find it?"
Oliver's expression hardened.
"Then we don't necessarily go after Kieran."
Dinah looked at him, "We go after Dre."
Oliver nodded.
"Kieran has too much protection. Too many layers between him and anything we can actually prosecute. But Dre is different. He's active. He's out there. He's involved in the organization's day-to-day operations."
Dinah understood, "So the plan is to catch Dre and use him to get to Kieran?"
Oliver looked at the photograph one last time.
"Something like that."
He closed the folder, but Dre's face remained in his mind.
For the first time since the Underpass had arrived in Star City, Oliver felt as though they finally had something they could follow.
A face.
A name.
And, hopefully, a trail.
****
"So, do you think I've handled things well?"
Nolan lounged against the cushions of the comfortable couch, one arm draped lazily over the backrest as though he were sitting in his own living room rather than standing inside the strange mental space where he could speak with the Beast. The surroundings were difficult to describe. They seemed to shift whenever Nolan stopped paying attention to them, never settling into anything completely familiar.
The Beast stood several feet away, his enormous frame motionless as he watched Nolan with undisguised contempt.
"Things would be better if you listened to me."
Nolan sighed, "Yeah. Maybe."
He considered the statement for a moment before shrugging, "I kind of did, though. Even kingdoms need vassals." He tried to frame it in the same way the beast would
"Are you mocking me?" The hatred that dripped from the beast proved that he in fact did not appreciate it
"I wasn't trying to."
"Why are you here." The beast demanded
Nolan sighed, "I don't know, I'm worried about Ra's. I know how you would handle things."
"I would kill him and take what's his!"
"Even if we could what then? The league would tear our people apart. It really isn't just about our strength anymore." Nolan sighed
"So you come here just to bitch and complain is that it?" The beast asked in mocking laughter
Nolan laughed as-well, "Maybe, or maybe in thinking about how much easier things would be if you just worked with us."
The beast turned and lunged, "Gah!" He snarled hitting a barrier, "I will work with you when I have the body and those other parasites are destroyed! Leave me!"
Nolan's face was blank but his eyes.
His eyes were unimaginably sad, "I'll see you soon."