Chapter 10: The New Villain and the First Lucky Save
The "calm" after the storm was, as usual in Starling City, short-lived. Just when everyone was starting to breathe a little easier, a new drug, a new Vertigo, hit the streets. And with it, a new, more terrifying Count Vertigo. Arrow S03E01: "The Calm." It was the usual cycle: defeat one big bad, another one pops up like a particularly stubborn weed.
"Seriously? Another Vertigo dealer?" Adam sighed dramatically, watching Felicity track the new villain's movements. "Does this city have a subscription service to super-villains? Because I feel like we're getting our money's worth. And by 'money's worth,' I mean 'constant existential dread'."
Oliver, predictably, was already in full Green Arrow mode, his face set in a grim line. Diggle was loading his gun. Felicity was a blur of typing.
"He's targeting the club scene," Felicity reported, her voice tight. "Mass casualties possible."
"Right, so, a party pooper with a chemical weapon. Got it," Adam said, grabbing his Storage Ring. "Alright, team, let's go stop this guy before he turns everyone into a hallucinating mess. I've already seen enough weird things today, I don't need a drug-induced fever dream of a giant talking banana."
They tracked the new Count Vertigo to a warehouse rave, because of course, he'd pick a rave. Oliver, Diggle, and Adam moved in, with Felicity providing comms support. The warehouse was a swirling vortex of neon lights, pulsating music, and people dancing on the edge of a Vertigo-induced trip.
"This is just like that one scene in 'Blade' where they're in the vampire club, but with less vampires and more questionable fashion choices," Adam muttered into his comms.
"Adam, focus!" Oliver's voice was a low growl.
"I am focused! I'm focused on not accidentally inhaling whatever this guy is spraying!" Adam retorted.
The fight was chaotic. The new Vertigo dealer was faster, more agile, and his drug was even more potent. During a particularly intense exchange, as Oliver was engaged with a group of henchmen, the Count Vertigo suddenly turned, his eyes locking onto Adam. He raised his hand, a small, dart-like projectile loaded with the drug flying towards Adam.
"Oh, crap. This is it. This is where I get hit. This is where I start seeing flying spaghetti monsters and talking squirrels. This is not how I wanted to go out. Again."
Adam braced himself, a moment of pure, unadulterated panic seizing him. The dart was inches away from his face.
Then, something utterly ridiculous happened. His shoelace, which had been perfectly tied a moment ago, suddenly came undone. Adam, mid-step, tripped. He stumbled forward, arms flailing, his body contorting into an undignified, almost balletic fall. The dart, instead of hitting his face, whizzed harmlessly past his ear, embedding itself in the concrete wall behind him with a soft thwip.
Adam landed in a heap, sprawling on the ground like a particularly clumsy ragdoll. He looked up, dazed, at the dart in the wall, then back at the bewildered Count Vertigo, who was staring at him with a look of utter disbelief.
[SYSTEM SAVE ACTIVATED. COST: 100 NON-PLP.]
"A System Save! A lucky trip! Are you kidding me?! I almost died because of a loose shoelace?! This is the most anticlimactic near-death experience ever! And it cost me a hundred LP?! This better be worth it, System, because my dignity just took a massive hit."
Oliver, who had just finished dispatching his henchmen, turned just in time to see Adam's spectacular, gravity-defying stumble. He stared, completely bewildered.
Oliver (POV): He had just seen Adam, who was about to be hit by a lethal dart, trip over nothing and fall in the most ridiculous way possible, completely avoiding the projectile. He had no idea how it happened. It was too coincidental. Too… lucky. He was starting to think Adam was either the luckiest man alive or had some kind of hidden ability he wasn't revealing. It was infuriating. And deeply, deeply confusing.
"Adam! Are you okay?!" Felicity's voice crackled with alarm over the comms.
Adam, still sprawled on the ground, managed a weak thumbs-up. "Peachy, Smoak! Just... practicing my interpretive dance moves! You know, for when I inevitably join a circus. This hero business is too dangerous."
The Count Vertigo, momentarily stunned by Adam's absurd display of accidental agility, was quickly subdued by Oliver and Diggle. The warehouse was cleared, the antidote administered, and the city was, once again, safe.
Back in the Arrowcave, Oliver was still staring at Adam, who was now meticulously re-tying his shoelace.
"That was... quite a fall, Adam," Oliver said, his voice flat, a hint of suspicion in his eyes.
"Oh, you know, just a little something I picked up in my youth. The art of the strategic stumble," Adam said, shrugging. "It's all about timing. And, apparently, having a really loose shoelace. Who knew my fashion choices would save my life?"
Diggle, ever the pragmatist, just shook his head, a small, exasperated smile playing on his lips. Felicity, however, looked at Adam with a knowing gaze. She didn't know how he did it, but she knew, deep down, that Adam had a way of surviving the impossible. And she was starting to suspect it had something to do with that mysterious "System" he occasionally muttered about.
[MISSION COMPLETE: THE NEW VERTIGO. REWARD: 250 NON-PLP.]
"Two hundred and fifty LP! Not bad for almost dying and looking like a complete idiot. This System is truly a master of rewarding humiliation. I'm basically a professional clown, but with superpowers. And a really bad shoelace problem."
Adam grinned, a mix of relief and amusement washing over him. He had survived. He had helped. And he had provided Oliver Queen with yet another reason to question his sanity. All in a day's work for Adam Stiels, the Arrowverse's resident sarcastic, lucky, and perpetually confused hero.
System Status After Chapter: Non-PLP: 758. PLP: 3.
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