Before he could find it, the air was filled once again with the ever-persistent voice of his all-knowing assistant Jessica Woo. "It is eight in the morning Oliver, and you have a busy schedule today. You have a lunch appointment with Valerie Cooper and Sergeant Steel at noon at the Outback on 32nd Ave. You have several new Alpha-level Operatives to induct, and you have an important phone call on line one. Oh, and put that old, nasty cup of cold coffee down and I'll bring you in a hot cup of orange cinnamon tea here in a couple of minutes."

As Oliver put the cold coffee down, he smiled and wondered how he had ever survived without Jessica. She had truly made herself indispensable by being the finest assistant a guy could wish for. Before picking up the phone receiver, Oliver found a pen and scribbled a note to send her a bouquet of flowers to remind her how much he needed her, then he picked up the phone and said, "SHIELD Field Director Oliver Queen speaking."

"Hello, Mr. Queen," said a vaguely familiar voice, "I don't know if you remember me, my name is Father Richard Craemer…"

Oliver did indeed remember him. Father Craemer had been the ‘spiritual advisor' to Suicide Squad and Taskforce X when Oliver had worked with them. While Oliver, being a scientific pantheist himself, had never sought advice or consultation from the man, he remembered him as being a very likable fellow with a great deal of courage and conviction. Oliver smiled as thought of the time when Craemer stood face to face, showing no fear, against Satannish over the soul of June Moon.

Oliver pulled himself from his memory-induced haze, "Yes Father Craemer, I remember you. How can I help you?"

Father Craemer responded, "I have some news which should interest you. Around two weeks ago, as I was doing my nightly lock-up of the church, I found a man sitting amongst the pews. He looked very ragged, stunk of vodka, and appeared as though he hadn't slept in many days. At first I thought he was a vagrant in search of food or money, but when I approached him, he simply cried and asked for forgiveness. I could tell by looking in his eyes that he was not a criminal man, and so I fed him and offered him shelter for a few days in exchange for a few tasks which I needed completed…"

Oliver listened perplexed, wondering what this story could possibly have had to do with him.

Craemer continued, "He quietly went about his tasks, and we shared little more than general conversation until yesterday morning. I walked out into the courtyard, intent on doing my morning run, when I discovered him outside with the first rays of the sun. He was sitting on his knees, arms outstretched, whispering to the sky. When I approached him, he smiled warmly, stood, and told me to contact you and give you a message. He said to tell you his name is John Walker…"

Oliver sat there motionless, completely stunned. Regaining his composure, he quickly took down the Father's address and set out to meet his formerly missing SHIELD Agent and friend.

"Hello Oliver," Noted John Walker without having to turn to recognize the visitor, "I trust you are well old friend?"

Oliver found a great degree of comfort in hearing the calm and quiet in John's voice, though he found it strange from a man who had always been loud and harsh, "I am fine John, we have all been very worried about you…"

John turned around to face the two men, and had a smile on his face, which Ollie found somewhat disturbing. In all the years he had known John, the very serious man rarely ever smiled, and when it did it was the kind of sarcastic smirk that looked like he had forced it upon his face. This smile was different, it was very genuine and radiated happiness and contentment.

John looked upward as if gathering some type of strength from the sky, and spoke slowly, "I am truly sorry for that Ollie. I took Lamar's death* extremely hard. He had been my closest friend for many years. His demise made me think a great deal about my choice of careers and my life in general. I am tired of watching my friend's die-Sharon Carter, Cylla Markum, Rick Flagg, Nick Fury. It never seems to end. Unfortunately I sought my solace in the bottom of a bottle, content to simply drink myself into oblivion and escape all the pain."

*Shield Agent Lamar Hoskins was killed during the Silicon Dragons-AIM War that occurred right before the events of Agents of SHIELD #1/2

Oliver listened to John, intently as he continued, noticing that he had never heard such passion or sincerity out of the lifetime military hardass.

"Then I ended up here, as apparently fate had intended. Yesterday I came out into the yard early, intent on trimming the roses bushes when HE spoke to me…"

Oliver looked at John perplexed and asked "Who?"

"God, Oliver. God spoke to me," John said without a hint of sarcasm or humor, "He sent one of his angels to deliver a message specifically to me. He told me things, Oliver. Things about me. Things about the future. Things that I have to do."

Oliver just stood there in amazement, unsure of how to take this strange news. Being a non-believer in a true divine God, Oliver didn't know what to say. He had met so-called ‘Gods' before-including Set, Thor, and demi-gods like Hercules- but didn't find them anything to worship and didn't believe at all in the one known by some as ‘The Presence'. Evidently the skepticism was quite apparent on his face, because John seemed to read Oliver's mind perfectly with his response.

"You don't have believe me Ollie, I didn't think you would. Sometimes, I have trouble believing it myself. I stopped believing in the Presence after mom and dad were killed, but I believe now. I have a mission and a place in the world now, and I like it, because my new roll means I will help stop the killings, not be a part of them. I won't be coming back to SHIELD Ollie, I just can't fight that battle anymore. I don't have the will to pick up a gun and fight a man anymore, there is a better way. Father Craemer has agreed to let me stay here for a while until it is time for me to begin my mission. Tell everybody that I will miss them and that I am sure we will meet again. Goodbye my friend, and may HE protect you on your missions to protect the world."

Oliver stood there in stunned silence for a moment, then simply shook John, then Father Craemer's hand and walked back to his car, and sped away back to SHIELD Headquarters on Paris Island, barely noticing anything on his ride home.