Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this.

AN:I wish to thank everyone who has been reading and following this story. I sure do appreciate it. I also would like to thank Naitch03 for a suggestion he had made which I included in this story. Even though it wasn't for this story, I decided to use it here. More information at the end of this chapter, to avoid spoilers. Ha. Please enjoy this next chapter!

Previously:

Roy shrugged his shoulders. "I'm just putting it out there." Looking at Diggle he added, "Oliver did tell me not to come get him, remember? He practically made it seem like a promise."

Laurel rolled her eyes. "Yeah, like we're supposed to listen to that idiot with the hero complex." Meeting her comrades' eyes, she continued. "You know I'm right. He's always been that way, unwilling to accept help. Even when he was young." A wistful smile crossed her face. "Especially when he was young." Shaking her head, she brought herself back to the present and the task at hand. "No, we're going to go and bring them home."

"And how do we do that, exactly, Laurel?"

Laurel looked at Diggle, and sighed. "I was hoping you would have some ideas." At Diggle's look, Laurel continued, refusing to be intimidated. "I think we could use Lyla's assistance, as well as perhaps ARGUS."

"ARGUS?" Diggle shook his head. "Oliver wouldn't want that."

"I know Oliver probably wouldn't be happy about their involvement. Waller's involvement. But having him here mad at us is better than him not here at all." Laurel looked at the others, silently asking for agreement. "Don't you think?"

"Let's think this through. I don't think we can just go in, get Oliver and Felicity out of there, and expect Ra's to leave us all alone." Diggle paused for effect then continued. "So, what are our options? We either have to convince Ra's to leave us alone, or we kill him."

Thea said, "I'm not sure I like either option."

"Me neither. With ARGUS' help, we may be more likely to make the second option happen, though," Roy offered.

Laurel muttered, "Maybe it would be best." She looked up at the men. "Like Roy said, the most likely to be successful."

"Since Waller likes JDAM'S so much, and so anxious to use them all the time, maybe once we get out of there with Oliver and Felicity, maybe we can convince her to drop one on Nanda Parbat," Roy suggested.

Diggle leaned across the table and back-slapped Roy. "Be serious, why don't you?"

"I was. Why not? Then we're rid of that threat once and for all."

Laurel shook her head in disgust. "Whatever we decide, it wouldn't matter unless we get them out of there first. So how'd we do it?"

Thea spoke up. "I hesitate to suggest this, knowing how you all feel about him, but what about Malcolm?"

"I'm sorry, Thea, but hell no," Diggle said with quiet but iron-filled conviction.

"But he knows Nanda Parbat, having lived there for years."

"Can we trust him? How can we trust him? I know he's your dad, but...?" Roy asked.

Eyes grave and lips drawn tightly, Diggle pondered the suggestion. "Hell no. We can't trust that SOB." Looking quickly at Thea, he added, "Sorry, but..."

"Hey, I get it. I don't trust him completely half the time either." Thea shrugged. "What else can we do? It seems to me either Waller or Malcolm. Which devil is better?"

As a group everyone seemed to sigh and slouch a little in their chairs. After a silent minute, Diggle said, "Ok, Thea, you check with Malcolm. Feel him out, see what he thinks and whether he has any possible ideas." He looked at Laurel, who gave him a slight nod. "I'll go have a talk with Waller. Assess the situation with her and see whether we should proceed with her." Rising he said, "Everyone, stay in touch. And be careful...just in case."

~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~

Previously:

Felicity watched as Ra's rose and left the dining room. She couldn't believe she had survived the meal. The stress of meeting the threat known as Ra's head-on had her almost at her breaking point. She could almost see her head exploding at one point, literally exploding, like into a million little pieces. If she had to endure many more encounters like this one, Felicity was sure her head would truly explode. And that wouldn't be good. She couldn't do her computer work without her head, could she? And certainly not get her and Oliver out of here.

Shaking her head at her weird attempt at humor, she massaged her temples as she attempted to gather herself together. She was expected to once again perform an entire day's of hacking. There was no alternative. And then face another evening with Wareeth, she assumed. All for Oliver, she kept reminding herself. All for Oliver.

Felicity made her way to the computer room in a daze, lost in thought. One particular idea refused to leave her mind. What if Oliver's memories could be jogged by their relationship? Especially their...physical relationship? According to cliché (or more accurately, her TV shows), it could be as simple as a phrase or as complicated as a set of circumstances which could return Oliver's memories back to him. If that were really the case, which should she gamble on? Trying to jog his memory with conversation and reminiscing, or through lovemaking?

The really surprising thing was her reconsidering sleeping with Robot Oliver. Logically it only made sense, because he did everything else in a robotic fashion, making love would be like that as well. Still, there was this stubborn, hopeful, Pollyanna-ish thought that, within all they had shared over the years, the love they have, the memory of his true self would be awakened.

Really, what should she do? How could she prompt the return of Oliver's memory? Was it even possible? If only she had access to her computer, she could research possible options. The only resource she had to draw on was her vast knowledge of TV shows, which a logical person would argue wasn't very practical in this instance.

Looking up, Felicity realized one of the guards was watching her. Huffing in disgust, Felicity turned the page to the next city's information. She really had to get herself under control. And there's no better way of controlling sexual frustration than to do some good old-fashioned hacking. Or she told herself as she turned her attention to the task in front of her.

Surprisingly enough, Felicity got a remarkable amount of work completed. It did help to lose herself in her work. However, once she had reached her room, the troublesome thoughts resumed once again. This time she collapsed onto the sofa and stared at the armchair across from her. Slumping, she braced her chin on her hand and continued to ruminate her choices. After some thought, she made a decision. She would first start with throwing in hints of their shared lives together into the supper conversation, then…

If that didn't work, Felicity would then think about the next step. Which might not be awful. It would still be Oliver. Even if it isn't really Oliver.

~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~

"So, tell me Wareeth, do you remember anything from your previous life?"

Felicity found herself sitting at the table with Wareeth, struggling to maintain conversation again. At least she was happy to see Oli…Wareeth continue to eat with a healthy appetite. He needed to replace all those calories she was sure he was using in his daily wartime exercises.

"Master says we are not to talk about my previous life." Wareeth answered, while continuing to eat. Despite her best efforts, Wareeth was successfully avoiding eye contact most of the time.

Felicity wasn't surprised by his answer. "But why not? That's what we have in common. How we met in a coffee shop in a bad neighborhood, where your computer ended up filled with bullet holes."

"No, he says we should not talk about such things."

"It'll only be between us. I keep your secrets."

"Felicity, we are not to talk about such things. Why don't you tell me about your day? I told you about my day yesterday, and Master says I should have you talk more."

A chill went down Felicity's spine. Maybe her plan was too dangerous. "Um, does your Master listen to us here?"

Wareeth stopped his fork mid-way to his mouth and looked at Felicity. With a blank expression in his eyes, he said, "No, he asked about what we talked about, and I told him."

"Okay, we can talk about something else. If it's you asking, I'll do it."

Still no recognition in those beautiful, blank, blue eyes.

Felicity sighed. "Well, I've been doing a lot of computer hacking for Ra's, as you know. Felicity Smoak. M.I.T. Class of '09. Hacking is my middle name." Struggling, Felicity attempted to throw in more lines. "Been looking into some countries as well, such as Russia. But I can't talk about it, for what happens in Russia stays in Russia."

"You have?"

"Yeah, and I was thinking Italy would be next. Because everyone loves Italian."

That remark actually caused the wooden expression to disappear from Wareeth's face and be replaced with a small, but still recognizable, crinkle in his eyebrows, which just as quickly disappeared. "What are you talking about, Felicity? I don't think I understand."

"I'm sorry, Wareeth, I guess I'm tired. When I'm tired, I tend to babble. Babble, babble, babble."

Wareeth maintained the eye lock for five more seconds then dropped his gaze to his plate and resumed eating. Felicity gave a small sigh of dismay. It almost worked.

Felicity decided she'd better not drop any more hints at the moment. There was still the possibility Ra's was watching or listening in and would barge in at any moment. They finished the meal in silence, and Wareeth left for the gym as he'd done the previous night. Felicity sat with her elbow on the table, her chin in her hand, staring at the dirty dishes lost in thought.

Now, should she implement the second part of her plan when Wareeth return? Part of her, the naughty part, was somewhat intrigued about what it would be like, if she did go through with it. Even though she had her doubts about it working, Felicity couldn't think of anything else. Besides…it was probably better than the alternative.

Wishing she had a good glass of wine (or several), Felicity began her exercise routine again. Working even harder to get her mind off of her anxieties, she allowed her mind to get lost in the routine. After, she took a nice long relaxing shower, to get out the kinks. The breakfast with Ra's really did stress her out. A lot. Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion came over her.

It was only 8pm, but Felicity decided to lie down on the bed to wait for Wareeth. Once he returned to the room, she would proceed with the second part of her plan. Lying on her back, looking up at the ceiling, she attempted several meditation techniques Diggle had taught her. And fell asleep.

AN: Yes, Naitch03 suggested Waller use a drone on Nanda Parbat while reviewing my other story "Arrow Not as It Appears". Not sure whether he's reading this story, but I wish to thank him here for the suggestion anyway and acknowledge his assistance. We shall see if they do decide to go that way, but I wanted to throw out the possibility. Regarding this chapter, sure hope you enjoyed it and will let me know what you thought of it in a review. It's always greatly appreciated.