Disclaimer: CW/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. Without further ado, let's see if this rambunctious and contentious bunch can agree on a plan to vanquish Ra's.
Previously:
Malcolm, who had remained silent and almost forgotten by the others, spoke up. "If the two of you are finished flirting, I suppose your plan doesn't include me, Nyssa?"
Nyssa's eyes roamed up and down Malcolm's body. She arched an eyebrow. "It is not ideal, but depending upon the circumstance, we could use you as a distraction for my father."
"And here I thought that was Oliver's role."
"If all of you are done with trying to come up with alternative useless plans, why not sit down and come up with a viable plan instead?" Felicity asked. "If we are actually going to go through with this crazy idea."
"You misunderstood me, Ms. Smoak. I was serious when I said Oliver would be a distraction for Ra's. More than I could be," Malcolm said.
"Why don't we sit down at our conference table and discuss this more rationally," Oliver suggested. "Felicity, why don't you lead the way?"
Felicity began to mumble to herself but she took the lead, with Malcolm and Diggle following. Before Nyssa could follow, Oliver grabbed her arm to have her fall back.
"Do you think we really need Malcolm? Do you have only one idea, or several? What have you done in the past?"
"Oliver, it is not possible to answer all those questions before we join the others. Do not worry. I will not steer you wrong."
As soon as everyone was settled, Malcolm said, "Oliver, whatever else we do, I should teach you swordplay, strategies, secrets to defeat Ra's, in case you have to fight him again." Holding out his hand to quiet the uproar which began to occur, Malcolm said, "Only as a last resort. No matter how much we plan, we need to have at least three feasible plans in order to handle this." Looking solemnly at Nyssa, without any humor or sarcasm, he asked her, "Don't you agree, Ms. Raatko?"
Thinking it over, Nyssa nodded solemnly. "It would be the most feasible plan, I agree. Every time we are required to do this, my father has gotten smarter and smarter in realizing what we are trying to do. Thus, it is more difficult to catch him unawares. I do not fully understand how this is possible, because supposedly the insanity which occurs would prevent him from remembering the time period shortly before and after his immersion. Much less the immersion into the Pit itself."
Suddenly an alarm was heard. Felicity looked at Oliver, who nodded, and she ran off to look. She called everyone to come look as she brought up on the larger screen what had alarmed her. There was complete silence in the room as everyone contemplated the sight in front of them. Green smoke was rising from the northern edge of the city. Felicity had never seen anything like that.
"What's that? What does it mean?" Diggle asked.
"It means my father wants an answer immediately." She turned and looked at Oliver. "He did give you more than twenty-four hours to think it over. That is one more day than he usually gives his subjects."
"Why now? Why not wait until morning, a more decent hour?" Felicity asked, her testiness apparent in her tone.
Nyssa shrugged. "A way to keep his underlings off-guard, I suppose. Or it could be another indication of his losing touch with reality. But whichever it is," she paused looking at first Malcolm, then Oliver, "we have to hurry in our planning."
They returned to the conference room. Nyssa said that the meeting place was where the signal fire was originating from.
"How would I know this if you hadn't been here to tell me?" Oliver asked.
Nyssa looked at him, her lips pressed into a long, thin line. "This indicates Father knows I am in town and in contact with you. It doesn't bode well with what we might plan."
"I'm not liking this," Felicity said before Dig could stop her. Nyssa bestowed an angry look upon her before she could control it. Malcolm allowed a small smile on his face as he looked at the two women exchanging angry looks but wisely stayed silent.
"Ms. Smoak, we need to deal with this issue. We have no other option. Mr. Queen must do this, or your life and that of Mr. Diggle's will be forfeited. I know Mr. Merlyn explained this to you, so would you please do Mr. Queen the favor of not making this more difficult for him?"
Oliver took Felicity's hand and gave it a small squeeze. "Would you rather go into the other room while we plan this?"
A look of sorrow passed quickly over Felicity's face but she quickly cleared it. "No, I'll stay quiet unless I have something worthwhile to share."
After Oliver dropped her hand and turned his attention back to their guests, Diggle took her other hand under the table and gave it a small squeeze. She swallowed before she looked at him and gave a small smile.
An hour later, they had developed a plan. Oliver would leave alone to go to the meeting. They couldn't allow anyone to accompany or follow him, for Nyssa warned that her father would be planning for that contingency. She also suggested Oliver pack what he wanted to bring along, for she was certain her father would want to leave as soon as he'd gotten the answer he wanted.
At this point another alarm rang out from Felicity's computers. The group rushed to look once again at the computer screen.
Now, instead of one column of smoke, there was a second column, the prettiest lavender Felicity had ever seen. She turned when she heard an "Oh no!" from behind her.
Felicity was surprised to see Nyssa's face had gone pale.
"Nyssa, what does that second smoke column mean?" Oliver asked.
Nyssa pursed her lips together. "My father demands I accompany you to the meeting, Oliver."
Felicity wasn't sure if everyone was shocked into silence by the destruction of their plans or Nyssa's reaction to it.
Oliver broke the silence. "What is your father planning now?"
"He must have changed his mind." The slight pursing of her lips was the only sign of her increased emotion. "Instead of allowing me to be free to interfere, he wants me at the meeting. He will probably take me home in chains."
"But what are we going to do now? All our plans are useless." Felicity asked.
"Honey, you still got me," Malcolm said in his most lascivious tone, holding out his arms towards Felicity.
Felicity's lip curled as she gave him an angry look. "Not helping."
Oliver looked at the group with his characteristic stoic look before a mission. "Dig, since now our plans need to change, why don't you call Roy. He needs to help us. You two plan with Malcolm on what to do in Nanda Parbat. Nyssa and I will try to escape on our own, but that may not be possible."
After collecting his duffel bag Oliver returned to the group. He shook Dig's hand but allowed himself to be pulled into a hug. Looking at Malcolm, he held out his hand.
"Try not to worry. I'll cooperate with your friends to come up with reasonable plans to extricate you both out of Ra's' hands," Malcolm said.
Taking a step back, Oliver turned last to Felicity, who was trying to keep her feelings from exploding. "Don't worry, Felicity. We'll get out of this."
She rushed to him, her arms going around his neck. He tentatively wrapped his arms around her and returned her hug. After a moment he pulled out of her arms, placed his hands on her shoulders, and leaned in to kiss the top of her head.
"I have every intention to return, Felicity, and take you on that second date I should never have cancelled."
Turning towards Nyssa, he told her, "We should hurry, like you said."
Nyssa turned towards the group, gave them all a brusque nod, and joined Oliver at the stairs.
~~OQ~~OQ~~OQ~~
Both were silent as they made their way to the meeting place. Felicity had given Oliver the address, but Nyssa was confident in leading them to the place without his input. Once they've arrived, Oliver wasn't surprised regarding the choice of location. They found themselves in an open field, with twenty soldiers again forming a semi-circle facing them, with Ra's at its center. The question crossed Oliver's mind whether it were the same men who had accompanied Ra's the last time. Nyssa walked directly towards her father, with Oliver at her side. The soldiers parted to make way for them.
Ra's didn't speak until they were directly in front of him. Ubu was there to his right, with his giant sword, and exchanged looks with Nyssa. A look of defiance appeared on her face but disappeared just as quickly. He nodded towards the ground and Nyssa knelt. Oliver followed suit when both Abu and Nyssa glared at him.
"Mr. Queen, I trust your presence here now means you have agreed to become my heir and return with me to my home in Nanda Parbat."
"As if you gave me any other choice," Oliver said. Nyssa quickly elbowed him in the ribs and Oliver cleared his throat. "I apologize. Yes…" he swallowed, for his mouth was suddenly dry. He forced the words out of his uncooperative mouth. "Yes, I agree to become your heir."
Ra's turned his attention to his daughter. "You, Daughter, I didn't expect to see you here. I expected you to be uncooperative to the last."
Nyssa held her father's gaze for a moment. "No, Father, I am here as you directed. I agree to also return with you to Nanda Parbat." A slight pause, then she said, "I apologize for my disobedience."
"No doubt you are sorry for disobeying me, only because you wish to avoid the punishment due."
"No, Father, I am sorry I disappointed you. Of course I do not look forward to any punishment, but I will accept it if you wish."
Oliver was so involved with the drama in front of him he wasn't aware of any danger. Suddenly he felt a pin prick in his upper arm. Nyssa as well jumped and Oliver saw she too had a dart in her left upper arm. However, that was all he could observe, for unconsciousness quickly descended upon him.
As consciousness returned, Oliver became aware of a rumbling under his feet and being restrained in his seat. Because of his training, he kept his eyes closed until he gathered his thoughts. He quickly remembered their situation without reacting. However, Ra's must have an inner instinct, for he said, "Open your eyes, Mr. Queen, I can tell you are awake. My daughter has been awake for thirty minutes already. I thought you were in shape."
Resigned, Oliver opened his eyes and fixed upon Ra's a stare not betraying any feelings. "Maybe you overestimated the correct dose."
"Abu, no. That is all right. I am certain Mr. Queen is understandably boorish due to the drug." Oliver looked to his left and observed the large man standing over him, his sword aimed at Oliver's neck. Abu lowered the sword with his employer's words, a snarl directed at Oliver on his face. A small smile tugged at Ra's' lips. "Correct, Mr. Queen? You did not mean any disrespect?"
Preventing the eye roll that almost slipped out, Oliver reluctantly agreed. "You are correct, sir. I…my mind is scrambled because of the unexpected drugging."
"You must understand my caution, Mr. Queen. I would rather not use such crude methods such as blackmail to help you see reason, but you gave me every indication of not accepting my offer without duress."
Oliver didn't say anything but quietly watched the man without expression. He wasn't sure what to say that wouldn't provoke an undesired reaction from either him or Abu. Out of the corner of his eye, Oliver spared a glance at Nyssa, sitting next to him. She was also restrained to her seat. It didn't bode well for him looking for her help in an escape, not to mention assassinating Ra's. Hopefully his team will be able to develop a plan to do both.
AN: Thank you as always for reading this chapter. I hope you'll let me know what you thought of it in way of a review. It always encourages the Muse.
Hopefully I'll return soon with another update. Thank you again.