Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this.
AN:Thank you for returning to my story. I apologize it took me so long for it to appear. The Muse was very uncooperative. She finally came up with some good ideas. (Like how to get them out of this mess, ha.) Please enjoy, especially the little surprise I have for you (one I've been waiting to put into one of my stories)!
Previously:
Looking around the room, Felicity wondered if there were cameras watching her every move. Wondered if Ra's could see what she would write down. Arriving at a decision, Felicity crossed over to the end table, opened it and found a tablet and pen. Returning to the couch, she curled her legs under her and proceeded to consider possible ways to combat Ra's with code. And how to hide it within the computer program she would have to instigate in order to appear to complete their mission.
Felicity knew she wasn't very capable of planning strategy or assisting the physical fight out of the Fortress. However, her super skill was computer programming, after all. And she wasn't going to go down without at least attempting a good fight.
It had been quite the restless night. Felicity was used to pulling all-nighters since college, working with the Arrow. However, it hadn't ever been as necessary as it was right now. Lives were at stake.
It took some doing, but she finally figured out some code she could slip in while she was performing the terrorism Ra's was demanding from her. Luckily it hadn't taken all night to do so, just most of it. She was able to lie down for a good three hour "nap". She didn't exactly bounce out of bed when her cell phone alarm went off, but she did feel better than she expected.
One quick shower later and she was ready to face an army, if not Ra's himself. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Felicity looked at her watch. 7:30 exactly. She opened the door to a young woman, her dark brown hair drawn back in a braid, who walked past Felicity pushing a cart with a covered plate, pitchers of coffee and juice. Felicity quickly stepped aside to allow her to gain access to the room. The servant wheeled the cart to the small table in the room and with a small bow asked if there was anything else she needed. Yeah, a way out of here.
Surprisingly Felicity held her tongue as she lifted the plate cover to see scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon. Felicity wanted to ask for more coffee but resisted the idea. That all I need, be hyped on caffeine. Surely one pot of coffee will be plenty.
She told the servant there was nothing else and the young woman left. Felicity sat down and glared at the food. Nothing will change if she refused to eat. But her appetite was nonexistent. Sighing she forced herself to pick up the fork and eat anyway. Her brain required fuel to work, after all. And she needed to fight Ra's' evil plan as much as she could.
~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~
As she approached the solitary cabin high in the Tibetan mountains, Nyssa couldn't help but feel a slight touch of apprehension. It had been a long five months, but it was worth it. Ricotta, the elderly medicine woman, the one who had been responsible for Nyssa's care the first three years of her life, was immensely loyal to her. So loyal, in fact, Nyssa had entrusted the devoted family servant with something even more precious to Nyssa than her very life. Ricotta was taking care of Nyssa's most precious possession...her beloved...her Ta-er Sah-fer.
Thinking about Ricotta, Nyssa again marveled at the uncharacteristic leniency of her father all those years ago for choosing one such as Ricotta to take care of his child. Before Nyssa's mother had died, her father was so in love with her, he did anything she wanted. Even bringing her old nanny to care for her. A woman who had already taken care of two generations of Raatkos. Whose loyalty was more aligned with the Raatko women than the all-almighty Ra's al Ghul. And whose loyalty Nyssa was now not afraid to call upon once again.
No one in the higher levels of the League knew what Nyssa had done five months ago. Had dared to do. With only the assistance of two of her most loyal followers, Nyssa had brought her Beloved to Nanda Parbat. And dared to use her father's Lazarus Pit to correct the wrong done to them by the scum Merlyn.
On the night of finding out from that most despicable man, Oliver Queen, that her Sara had indeed been killed, Nyssa had rushed to be alone. To think. To ponder whether she was up to the formidable task of defying her father. After returning to Sara's grave later that night, paying her last respects, reality hit her so hard it took her breath away. Falling to the ground, huge sobs rocked her body until she felt she had nothing more to express.
Right then and there Nyssa knew she had no other choice. Despite the danger, she was determined to take the chance. She just couldn't be apart from her Beloved. Not when they'd finally reconciled. Not when Ta-er Sah-fer was finally happy and settled. To have that happiness ripped away so suddenly, and meaninglessly, had seemed so wrong.
Ricotta had made regular reports to Nyssa on Ta-er Sah-fir's progress. Her physical health, her memories, her identity. And her fighting ability. Finally she had given Nyssa the news she'd been waiting for. Her Ta-er Sah-fer was indeed back, and ready to rejoin the world of the living.
It had been a most difficult five months, having to hide the news of Sara's resurrection from her Beloved's loved ones. All except for one. Nyssa didn't want to acknowledge the small twinge of satisfaction whenever she'd see Oliver overcome with grief or guilt. Just a twinge, for that was all a proper al Ghul would feel.
It was Laurel to whom Nyssa had the most difficulty lying. Developing a relationship with Ta-er Sah-fer's sister on the basis of a lie ended up being extremely and surprisingly difficult for Nyssa. A lie which Nyssa felt would be easily overlooked, forgiven even, in the light of the return of their precious Sara. Once that indeed could be made to happen.
And now, because of her father's foolishness and Queen's arrogance, Ta-er Sah-fer's first appearance to her sister had to be in quite a different way than Nyssa would've preferred. Even though she didn't like it, Nyssa had no other choice but to recruit her assistance in rescuing Queen and his friends. If it were only Oliver, she'd have let him rot. But, Laurel had foolishly allowed herself to be persuaded to participate in the ill-advised rescue attempt of that dreaded man and now was probably wasting away in one of her father's dungeons. Nyssa refused to stand by and see another woman suffer because of Queen, much less her Beloved's own flesh and blood. So, instead of allowing Sara a gentle reintroduction into the world, she was required to participate in a revolt against one of the world's most powerful men.
As she prepared for the first meeting between her and her Beloved, Nyssa took a deep breath, entered the cabin, and announced her presence as she walked into the living room. She knew her arrival would've been caught on the security cameras. The blonde woman sitting in a chair, her back to Nyssa, slowly stood up. The breath caught in Nyssa's throat. Before she could move, she had an armful of beauty as her Beloved enveloped her in a bone-crushing hug.
They were finally home.
~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~
Meanwhile, Oliver had gotten up early, as he usually did. After doing fifteen minutes of calisthenics, he took a shower. By the time he was dressed, breakfast had arrived, covered and on a cart which Oliver rolled over to the inside wall. Shortly after, another knock revealed Diggle in the presence of Ra's and three guards.
As promised by Ra's, Diggle was brought to Oliver's room to begin planning the mission. On one hand, Oliver was very happy to see his friend, to see for himself Diggle was relatively unharmed. However Oliver wasn't looking forward to the task at hand. The two men hugged and then they all walked into the room. Ra's indicated the two men to sit down in the arm chairs, while he sat on the couch opposite them.
Ra's smiled at the two men. Oliver observed Diggle having an impartial look on his face, which he knew hid a healthy amount of caution.
"Mr. Diggle, I apologize for your accommodations."
Diggle nodded, his lips pressed tightly together. When Ra's didn't continue, Diggle looked at Oliver, who moved his shoulders slightly. Diggle took a breath before asking, "What is it you want Oliver and me to do, exactly?"
"Straight to the point. Admirable." Ra's looked to his left, and a soldier stepped forward. Producing a folder, he handed it to his Master, who accepted it with a nod.
"In this folder is all the information you need in order to plan your mission. Except, of course, the procedures your Ms. Smoak will use to enable you to infiltrate the building." Ra's handed the folder to Oliver. "Those, of course, we will have once she obtains them later today."
Oliver heard Diggle inhale in preparation to saying something. He quickly laid a hand on his arm and breathed a silent thanks when Diggle remained quiet. Oliver also watched as a quick quirk of his lips indicated that Ra's had also known Diggle wanted to say something. Instead Ra's stood up, bringing his soldiers to attention behind him.
"As I said, any questions you might have, Mr. Diggle, will be answered by either the information in the folder or by Mr. Queen." The man walked to the door, turned around, and said, "Enjoy your breakfast. Lunch will be served at noon. I will then return this afternoon for the plan."
Oliver watched as Diggle barely contained himself until the soldiers' footsteps were no longer heard. Diggle turned to Oliver and said, "You got to be kidding me, Man. Ra's actually expects us to plan sabotage? Of our own city? Why?"
Oliver sighed, got up and walked over to the food cart. He wheeled it over to the small table and gestured Diggle to join him. As Diggle took his seat, Oliver placed the breakfast on the table. "Yes, unfortunately, he does expect us to do exactly that."
"And he is making Felicity hack into the water utilities' security computers?"
"Yes. Under threat to her mother, as well as to the rest of us."
"Have you seen Laurel? I've been worried about her. Roy and I happen to be sharing a cell, so I know he's doing okay."
Oliver looked at his friend and attempted to swallow the growing lump in his throat. "Um, she's fine. For now." Diggle remained silent. "Unless we don't complete our mission. Ra's threatens to start killing our team, beginning with Laurel."
Diggle looked at the plate of scrambled eggs and bacon in front of him and grimaced. He shook his head. "So, do you have any ideas on how we get out of this then?"
Oliver quickly brought up his index finger to his mouth then in one smooth movement moved his hand to comb through his short haircut. Diggle nodded silently, getting the message. He focused on his breakfast for several bites, as did Oliver.
Diggle searched for something safe to say and decided to bring up the mission. "So, I suppose you know everything in the folder?"
So Oliver began to discuss the details of the mission as they ate their breakfast.
AN: Finally, got this chapter done. Hope it was entertaining. What did you think about my special guests? If you like, please leave me your thoughts about this story, or this chapter. Always appreciated. Have a great day!