DISCLAIMER: The characters are still not mine. This is covered under Creative Commons as derivative fiction.
AN: I wrote this pretty fast, because I really want to get to the '...then what' part of the story. I can't wait to get Oliver and Nyssa back to Nanda Parbat. I would ask if you catch errors that I missed - please let me know.
You'll notice a lot of borrowed dialog at the end. When writer's get it right, it's hard to bypass. If it's in quotes, bold and italicized - I only borrowed it. This counts as citation.
The Arabic is courtesy of Google Translate, so if it is incorrect - no offense is intended.
If the virus distribution seems stupid and counter-intuitive based on the previous methods of dispersal. I know, but I stuck with the show's methodology.
Please let me know what you think. Reviews give me happy, writing energy.
"Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind." 3 HENRY VI, Act 5, Scene 6, Line 12
Ray Palmer gave them the key. The Alpha Omega virus gave off a specific energy signature that could be tracked by satellite. Nyssa watched at he and Felicity worked feverishly to locate the virus.
"Four!" Felicity shouted triumphantly. Nyssa cocked her head in curiosity. Isn't that a golf term? I remember that one CEO I eliminated on a golf course. He did not die well.
"Felicity?" Oliver's question interrupted her rumination.
"Um, sorry." Felicity bit her lip as she typed into her computer. "I found four locations that match up with the energy signature. He must have split the virus up to spread it more efficiently around the city."
Oliver nodded. "He may want to disburse them consecutively. We need to have people at all of the sites." He glanced at Palmer. "How much longer on the cure?"
Palmer sighed. "I got the formula for the inoculant replicated, but creating enough to cover all of Star City? It takes time to do these things, Oliver!"
Felicity turned her head to look at Ray. "Your nanotech. Do you think it could be adapted?"
Ray quirked a smile at her. Beauty and brains, I know why Oliver loves her. "Great minds think alike, I'm already working on it." He raised his eyebrows and looked at Oliver. "If you can stall this, we might be able to create an aerosol inoculant, all I would need to do is adjust the self-replicating nanites and use a drone delivery system …" He stopped talking when he realized that Oliver had stopped listening.
"Fine. We split up and get to the four locations. Malcolm, you and I will each take a site. Nyssa and Laurel, you've worked together before?" He telegraphed the question to Nyssa – was she ok with splitting up? Her quick nod reassured him. "Good, you two can work together. John and Thea can take the last site. Felicity, you've got overwatch, and Ray? Just do whatever you need to do."
Nyssa noted how easily Oliver took command of the team and they accepted his leadership. Even Al Sa-her obeyed without question. He will be a strong Ra's al Ghul, if we can spare his city. Father, may he suffer in flame for all eternity, chose well. She turned to leave with Laurel, when Oliver snagged her arm. She stopped and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Nyssa, thank you …" she stopped him before he could finish.
"No. Do not thank me, Husband. Not until we are victorious. Wish me 'good hunting' and I will do the same."
Oliver nodded and clasped her arm, forearm to forearm. "Good hunting, Wife." They parted quickly.
Laurel and Nyssa scanned the vicinity, looking for any hint of a container or an assassin.
"So, it's good to see you alive." Laurel said it softly but sincerely. "I thought we had lost you forever."
Nyssa barely smiled, but she responded warmly, "I haven't forgotten that you were willing to defy my father for my life. It is good to see you again, although I wish it were under kinder circumstances. Perhaps we will be able to find a moment of peace, and dip fried potatoes into a shake again," she added wistfully.
Laurel almost laughed. Only Nyssa would say "shake" like it was something both sacred and profane. A sense of the absurd washed over her. They were desperately trying to stop a deadly bio-attack, and Nyssa was pining for fast food. It's official, I live in bizzaro-world.
"And now you're married to Oliver. Honestly, I think that tripped me up more than anything else."
"You are not alone in your bewilderment. Sara would probably have found it oddly humorous." The flat tone made it clear Nyssa was not finding the same humor.
Laurel flinched at Sara's name but gamely chuckled. "You're right, she would have been able to find something to tease you about. She was always a bit of a brat." She sighed. "I miss her so much."
Nyssa grabbed Laurel's hand and squeezed it gently in sympathy. "As do I. I …" Whatever Nyssa had been about to say was cut short by an exclamation through their comms.
"The assassins are carrying the virus in their bodies! DON'T let them bleed. If they bleed, it gets into the air. I repeat, don't let them bleed." Felicity's thread voice dripped panic.
"Got it. Copy that." Laurel responded, just as Nyssa sighted their prey. He carried a knife, clearly planning to cut himself amidst a throng of people.
Laurel raced forward with a nightstick in hand and knocked him down to the ground in five swift strokes. Nyssa smiled delightedly; her pupil had done well.
"I have been a most excellent trainer," she exulted. Ta-er al-Sahfer would have been proud. She helped secure the assassin and readied him to be moved.
"Nyssa, I've put us on a private channel," Felicity's voice whispered in her ear. "Oliver is at the dam. He's fighting Ra's. You need to help him. Please." Nyssa clenched her jaw and turned to Laurel. "You have to get him out on your own, Oliver needs me. Stay safe." She left before Laurel could respond.
"I'm on my way, Felicity." Nyssa ran along rooftops and glided across empty spaces to make her way to the dam as quickly as possible. She saw the blockade of officers observing the frenzied clash of swords and waiting for the opportune moment to shoot. There had to be another way out.
Olive matched Ra's al Ghul blow for blow. He parried, thrust, spun, and ducked in vicious counterpoint to the ancient assassin's deadly dance. He could feel an electric energy sustaining him, feeding him. In the back of head, he could almost hear a whisper, "Thrust now. Drop. Spin. Parry. Roll." A litany of life against the push of death. This fight felt different than the last time he had faced the Demon Head. Desperation didn't weaken him. He would win. He must win.
Ra's also noticed a difference, a drive to live instead of seeking death. Something had changed in the boy. He was driven and controlled. Every movement matching his own. It should be impossible. He had lifetimes of experience, but he was tired and ready to lay down his mantle. If Al Sah-him would simply accept his fate, he could die in peace. He pushed Al Sah-him to the edge of the dam, kicked him to the ground, and broke his sword on the upstroke.
Al Sah-him knelt before him, chest heaving, broken blade in hand, and defiant to the end.
"Power serves you no interest. You'd rather love." Ra's looked at him with contempt and confusion. How could anyone offered enduring life and boundless power refuse? It made no sense.
"A man who condemns his daughter to death wouldn't understand."
Oliver threw the ruined blade down and rocked back on heels, the blade of Ra's al Ghul at his throat.
Ra's pontificated, "Unlike you, thousands of honorable men will mourn my death when I leave this earth."
"No."
Oliver moved in as Ra's drew back to deliver the killing blow; he quickly delivered an upcut as pulled the blade from Ra's grip and spun to deliver the sword into Ra's al Ghul's chest. He pushed and twisted to seat the blade firmly and then fiercely ripped it back out, causing Ra's to stumble to his knees. Blood began to pulse out from the sucking wound.
Nyssa felt a flash of feral triumph as she watched her father fall to Oliver. This man would be worthy.
"No. They will kneel before the next Ra's al Ghul." Ra's looked up at Al Sah-him. Ibn al Ghul. Ra's al Ghul. He was satisfied in the legacy he had created. He accepted the whispered plea for mercy and peace in the afterlife as the new Ra's gave the ancient blessing.
اغفر وارحمه Forgive and have mercy on him
حمايته من معاقبة القبر Protect him from the punishment of the grave
وعذاب النا And the torment of the Fire
Ra's felt the joy of release course through him as he removed the sacred ring from his finger. Blood for blood, life for life. The power of Ra's al Ghul would now belong to Al Sah-him – his true son. He handed the ring up and placed it into Al Sah-him's hand.
"I knew I chose well with you, boy." With this final benediction, Ra's al Ghul fell.
Long live Ra's al Ghul.
The police officers watching the deadly duel sighted in on the victor. Suddenly, two smoke bombs exploded. When the thick white smoke finally cleared, both the victor and the body were gone.