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Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: The Scientist, the Rivalry, and the First Clues

Chapter 3: The Scientist, the Rivalry, and the First Clues

Felicity, bless her curious, brilliant heart, actually bought it. Or at least, she bought enough of it to drag Adam into the inner sanctum of Team Arrow's operations. Which, as it turned out, was still the Arrowcave, but before it had all the cool gadgets and the giant salmon ladder. It was more like a very well-equipped, slightly damp, and perpetually gloomy basement.

"Oliver, Diggle," Felicity began, her voice a little higher than usual, a clear sign of her own internal fluster. "This is Adam Stiels. He... he has some information about the Applied Sciences theft. He thinks he can help."

Oliver Queen, in all his brooding, leather-clad glory, turned from a computer screen, his gaze like a laser beam. John Diggle, ever the pragmatic one, stood beside him, arms crossed, a silent, imposing presence.

"Oh, look, it's the Dynamic Duo of Perpetual Gloom. Oliver, still rocking that 'I just saw a puppy kick a kitten' look, and Diggle, who probably has a 'Resting Stoic Face' award. This is going to be fun."

"He thinks he can help?" Oliver's voice was a low growl, laced with suspicion. His eyes narrowed as they swept over Adam, taking in his slightly rumpled clothes and his unrepentantly cheerful demeanor, which probably stood out like a clown at a funeral in this place. "And who exactly are you, Mr. Stiels?"

Adam offered his hand, a wide, slightly manic grin plastered on his face. "Adam Stiels, at your service. And before you ask, no, I'm not a secret assassin, a disgruntled former employee, or a sentient banana peel. Though, if I were, I'd probably be a much more effective villain. Think of me as a... consultant. A highly intuitive, mildly sarcastic, and surprisingly well-informed consultant."

Oliver ignored his outstretched hand, his gaze unwavering. "Intuitive. Right. And what exactly are your 'insights' on this theft?"

"Well, for starters, it wasn't just any theft, was it?" Adam said, dropping his hand and shoving them into his pockets. "It was specific. Targeted. Someone wasn't just looking for random tech. They wanted that data encryption prototype. And if my spidey-sense is tingling correctly, which it usually is, it's because someone wants to make sure whatever they're doing stays very off the grid. Probably something nefarious. You know, the usual Tuesday in Starling City."

Diggle, to his credit, actually raised an eyebrow. Oliver, however, just looked more annoyed. "And how would you know that?"

"Let's just say I have a very active imagination and a penchant for connecting dots that aren't usually connected," Adam shrugged. "Or maybe I just read a lot of comic books. Either way, the point is, you're looking for someone who needs to hide something big. Something that needs to be really hidden."

Felicity, sensing the rising tension, interjected. "He actually gave me a lot of really specific details about the prototype, Oliver. Things that weren't public."

Oliver glanced at Felicity, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes – jealousy? Annoyance? Probably both, the poor, emotionally constipated man. "Still doesn't explain how he knows."

"Look, Oliver, we can stand here all day playing twenty questions, or we can actually, you know, do something," Adam said, leaning against a table. "Time is of the essence, brooding hero. The longer you stand there scowling, the more time the bad guys have to, well, do bad guy things."

Oliver's jaw tightened. The rivalry had officially begun.

Just then, the Arrowcave door opened, and a young man with bright eyes and an eager, slightly clumsy demeanor walked in, carrying a large, rather ominous-looking metal case. "Hey, Felicity! I brought the centrifuge you asked for. It's a little heavier than I expected, but I got it. Barry Allen, by the way. S.T.A.R. Labs."

"Barry Freaking Allen! The Scarlet Speedster himself! This is like Christmas, but with less carols and more impending super-speed." Adam's eyes lit up. He practically bounced over to Barry, extending his hand. "Barry! Adam Stiels. And let me tell you, you are a sight for sore eyes. Finally, someone in this city who doesn't look like they're perpetually auditioning for a role in a gothic melodrama."

Barry, taken aback by Adam's immediate enthusiasm, shook his hand, a small, nervous smile on his face. "Uh, nice to meet you too?"

"Oh, it's going to be more than nice, Barry. It's going to be legendary," Adam said, winking. "You know, like that one episode of 'Doctor Who' where the Doctor meets his future self and they just start bantering about time travel paradoxes? This is totally that vibe."

Barry's eyes widened. "You watch 'Doctor Who'?"

"Do I watch 'Doctor Who'? Barry, I live 'Doctor Who'," Adam declared, a genuine grin replacing his sarcastic one. "It's basically a manual for how to deal with bizarre, impossible situations. Which, let's be honest, is pretty much every day in this town. Especially when you've got a guy running around in a green hood and a woman who can hack the Pentagon with a toaster."

Felicity cleared her throat, clearly amused but also trying to steer the conversation back to the actual mission. "Okay, guys, as much as I appreciate the geek-out session, we have a stolen prototype and a very angry Oliver."

Oliver, who had been watching the exchange with a mixture of confusion and growing irritation, finally spoke. "What are you two talking about?"

"Pop culture, Oliver. It's a thing. You should try it sometime. Might loosen up that perpetually furrowed brow," Adam shot back, then turned to the System. "Alright, System, my dearest digital companion, I need a clue. Something about this centrifuge. Something that will make me look like a genius, but also, you know, help."

[ASK A QUESTION. COST: 50 NON-PLP. CONFIRM?]

"Fifty LP? For a clue about a glorified washing machine? That's highway robbery. But fine. The plot demands it." "Confirm, you greedy little AI. Just make it a good one."

A moment later, the System provided the information. [THE CENTRIFUGE'S PRIMARY COOLING VENTS ARE LOCATED IN THE LOWER QUADRANT, NEAR THE AUXILIARY POWER CONDUIT. A FLAW IN THE DESIGN ALLOWS FOR A TEMPORARY OVERLOAD IF A PRECISE FREQUENCY IS APPLIED.]

"Right, so, Felicity," Adam said, turning back to the group, his voice casual. "About this centrifuge. I'm just spitballing here, but have you checked the lower quadrant of the primary cooling vents? Near the auxiliary power conduit? I have a weird feeling there's a design flaw there. Something about a precise frequency causing a temporary overload. Just a hunch, you know. My hunches are usually very specific."

Felicity, ever the quick study, immediately went to the centrifuge, her fingers flying across a tablet. Oliver and Diggle exchanged a look, a mixture of skepticism and grudging curiosity. Barry, however, just looked impressed.

"How did you...?" Felicity began, her eyes wide as she found the schematics. "There is a design flaw there! And a frequency that could cause an overload! That's brilliant, Adam!"

Adam winked at her, then glanced at Oliver, who was now staring at him with an even deeper frown. "Oh, Oliver, you sweet, predictable man. You're annoyed, you're confused, and you're probably wondering if I'm secretly a metahuman whose power is 'annoyance-based information retrieval.' Don't worry, the fun has only just begun."

System Status After Chapter: Non-PLP: 65 (90 + 25 - 50). PLP: 0.

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