"That I cannot argue with, for our enemies has that sentiment.", Ra nods, and Talia nods, "Agreed, Father...And as a sign of good behavior from the Jones boy for not raging and wrecking everything, I lifted up part of their punishment so they can talk and hear for short times, and I expected the Wayne boy to say something, but he was silent, and then the Wayne girl declared that she ain't leaving her mother, She-Hulk, and Thomas if she can help it, and of course, like a good lover, the Jones boy agreed, spurring Pennyworth and the Wayne boy to agree too, causing Martha to be sentimental...with the resolution to stay, wait, and see what happens within the rest of today, tomorrow, and Halloween afterwards. So, I'm afraid to say, if you went to ask them with the offer in Martha sacrificing her freedom anytime now, Father, they won't leave for any reason or any strings attached...", finally finishing her report.
Ra thought about things for a moment before he finally spoke again. "They're plotting an escape...", Ra said as Talia raised an eyebrow before nodding.
"Oh, of course; but we've made sure that there's nothing they can do. We listen in on them, we keep observations on them; if they were trying anything, we would know.", Talia said as Ra nodded, "True... and in a few nights, it won't even matter. The League will get what it wants from Martha Wayne... one way or another...".
Talia replied, "Yes, sir. So, Ranbir today, the machine tomorrow, and then Halloween with the resurrection of Thomas and Caroline, and the little one?".
Ra hummed, "Getting Ranbir rid for sure soon in a few hours...And as for the machine to get the She-Hulk out, only prepping and setting up tomorrow, with a demo for dear Martha, and as for Halloween after tomorrow, after their resurrection, we'd need Thomas and the others as extra leverage, more assassins around Thomas and Pennyworth, in place of Caroline as we may be assassins, but we aren't pregnancy killers, to force Martha and She-Hulk to get on the machine and get our She-Hulk, and if Martha survives, she goes to Thomas and the family.".
Talia nodded, "Very good plan. And how do we do the demo to show the power of the machine?", and Ra tapped his finger thoughtfully, "It cannot be one of the family otherwise Martha would change quickly to destroy the machine in her rage and fury, to save the family, yet denying themselves the chance to have Thomas and the others back as punishment...".
Thinking, Talia was silent before widening her eyes as an idea strikes her, "Dorji. We can remove the resistance of his rules about the visions, and thus, making all the futures perfectly accurate!".
Ra was silent for a few moments before Talia spoke again. "Too risky, you think?", she asked. "I can see why you would be hesitant on the decision; but I don't know who else we could use for a good demonstration.".
Ra breathed slowly as he spoke, "No, I see your point, daughter... If you hadn't suggested finishing Ranbir off yourself, he would have been chosen for it, yet he doesn't have anything to remove in importance, though I admit I do not know fully of the great DNA genes, and he would have something deeply hidden in dormancy from some generations ago or such, but on the other hand, his increased greed would make him an enemy if he wants to rule the world like me, yet with his actions recently, he has been slipping, becoming less patient and all, and slipping is a sign of weakness for the League, and he would be killed by the machine's power all the same. No, it's very fortunate that we have noticed him recently, and you do deserve the reward of killing Ranbir for your fabulous idea, and of course, this wonderful idea of Dorji as well.".
Talia replied, "So, you think Dorji is perfect for the demonstration, then?", proud and smug at the fact that she is far more smarter than Ranbir, and both of her ideas would earn her the very important position of being Second under Ra, and perhaps decreased due date of waiting to take the reins by one more century or two added to the deal.
"Yes... I believe so... but even I will admit the risk...", Ra said. "But the risk outweighs what the alternative is... which could be a loss of the power of the She-Hulk.", Talia responded as Ra nodded.
"Yes...", Ra went silent for a few moments before waving his hand, "Make your preparations.", with a nod. "Of course, father.", Talia bowed and started to leave.
Ra returned to his work, thinking of how perfectly accurate his future would be if the power of Dorji is increased, yet he's patient for tomorrow. In a few hours, today, he shall witness the death of Ranbir at his daughter's hands.
Indeed, a few hours later, behaving and keeping to their routine with the exceptions of Poppy and Waylon as they were napping on Waylon's cot in their acquired clothes; Poppy's flimsy nightdress and Waylon's shorts, with Waylon in control of his instincts and Poppy in control of her body, the family soon heard the sounds of a group heading into the cell area, looking up to see several League people walking to most of their cells.
The leader of the group replied, "Most of you are all needed in the sanctum. Behave, and do not interrupt anything, understand?", and Martha replied, "May I ask why?".
The leader replied, "The daughter of the Demon has declared a challenge to Ranbir for the position of Second, and to challenge him for the failings around your daughter and Jones. Miss Talia has talked with Ra, and Ra will not punish your daughter and Jones any further than they already are. If Ranbir ends up greatly injured or dead, he shall not continue his plan, and he wouldn't touch your daughter or Jones ever again. Any other questions? I wouldn't want The Demon to be mad if we are late, understand?".
Martha's eyes widened a bit upon hearing that. Her mind was racing at what she had heard but to her, it almost sounded like she managed to practically turn the League against Ranbir just by saying a few words to Talia. Of course, with an organization like the League of Assassins, cutthroat betrayal and plotting were probably a norm so it probably didn't take too much to set things into motion.
"Which of us do you want us to attend?", Bruce spoke up, "Sounds like this is more of just a thing with you and the rest of Ra's organization than us...".
The leader replied, "You, your mother, and the butler, as you are the representatives of your daughter/sister, and your son. It's an insistent order, not a request.".
Martha looked at Bruce, and glanced at Poppy and Waylon's cell, to see Poppy giving them a smile, "It's okay...Besides, Wally here is still stuck in his Croc form for a bit longer, and we don't want to be anymore punished if he gives trouble for anyone looking at me funny or myself making a fuss about it, interrupting the show...", having seen the silver lining, and of course, the reason why Talia doesn't want them there, is because Ranbir might cause trouble, or not respecting Talia before her challenge for the position of being Second and such.
Poppy doesn't notice the distinct longing in Waylon's look, but Bruce did, and replied with a smile, "Don't worry, Poppy, everything's going to be alright. I may hate Talia, but I admit she's excellent in duels and killing as she had shown obviously on our first day here. We will be back with good news, we promise. After all, we're representing you two.".
Poppy nodded as the leader of the group snapped his fingers, and then some of the League people went to cuff Martha, Bruce, and Alfred, reassuring them with smiles and nods, leaving the cell sections as Poppy watched them, and then the door closed.
Poppy felt Waylon's hands gently yet firmly wrap around her, hearing a husky growl, "I might be premediating this by thinking that we beat Ranbir, but I...I want to feel you under that dress, and get my release...You have no idea how much I was controlling those damn instincts in front of our family, because they could see and hear...You smell so damn good when you get excited and hopeful for things like getting rid of that bastard...I promise, only pleasure and release...", damn arguing against his Croc instincts to claim her, determined to get some of this tension out while he could without going all the way for the next few days...He prays that the breaking point would happen while they're finally home free after finding a plane and such, as it's so much for him with smelling Poppy's heat.
Poppy shivered in delight and surprise, yet not blaming Waylon for holding all this back for about 4 hours in front of their family after being drugged again and all upon breakfast in that room, and whispered, turning around to look at him, "Take me to the bathroom, no camera there. Let's hope it takes about a while for the challenge...You really need this, Wally...".
"But obviously not going all the way, right?", Waylon asked as she nodded, "Yeah... a bathroom in a prison cell is probably one of the worst places to make unforgettable memories with love...". She gave a small chuckle as he gave a slight smile himself.
Hopefully for them at least, Talia would kill Ranbir and that they would be able to avoid whatever horrid punishment that man had planned for them. They still knew of Ra's overall plan for them specifically, but they at least could still have a little more time...
And so, Waylon swept his love in his arms away, kissing while keeping modest in front of the ceiling camera far above them, and then after they entered the bathroom, closing the door behind them, they went to passionately pleasure and release against the wall on a bathroom dresser and on the bathroom rug of the floor, avoiding the shower as it's tempting there to see each other anymore naked than they already are under the dress and shorts.
Meanwhile, the trio of Martha, Bruce, and Alfred is being marched to the sanctum, seeing like on their first day here, is that the entire chambers and on the balconies of the chamber-like sanctum, is the entire organization in attendance, watching and all, with the main floor cleared with three people: Ra, Talia, and Ranbir.
Of course, by the time they had arrived, it appeared that Talia and Ranbir had been going at it for quite some time as it looked almost like a repeat performance with Talia fighting her father days ago.
"Were we late?", Martha asked, a bit frightful at the prospect of not arriving at Ra's time. "No... it appears they weren't patient with one another...", the man leading them said as Ranbir dodged another attack from Talia.
Ra is sitting upon a grand chair, much grander than the one in his office, watching over the duel with a stoic expression, not giving advice or saying anything. Talia narrowed her eyes at Ranbir as she batted away an attack from Ranbir, "Getting desperate, are you?".
"I'm going to enjoy peeling the skin off your self-satisfying face..." Ranbir growled as he went on another whirlwind of attacks. As far as Martha could tell, it seemed like Ranbir was already on the edge of losing it even before this fight was probably organized and just the last little kick to throw him off the edge. She could certainly tell that Talia was wearing him out.
Of course, that was what she had thought until a few good strikes ended up causing Talia to lose her balance and fall to the floor while her blade slid away from her before Ranbir jumped and tried to impale her in the chest... only for Talia to roll over, kick her boot, and a small blade to pop out when she kicked it right into his chest when he landed and stabbed his sword into the floor.
There was absolute silence for a moment, with everybody thinking that the duo killed each other, but after having a closer look, and seeing Talia alive and panting heavily, with Ranbir's sword so unbelievably close to her head, cutting some strands of hair, under the ear, close to the neck and face.
If Talia had moved her face, she would have been impaled in the neck, killed immediately, but it turns out that it was Ranbir, as Talia's boot blade had impaled into one of his lungs thoroughly, nicking the arteries to the heart, almost immediately killing him as Ranbir saw his last few moments of life.
Talia then kicked him off of her as he collapsed into a lifeless form as she panted and slowly got up, retracting her shoe blade. Martha wondered if that was deemed dishonorable but honestly, seemed more like the kind of fight where it doesn't really matter so long as one person manages to live.
Talia brushed her hair, glancing at the sudden shortness of one side, unused to it for a brief moment before glancing at Ra and kneeling down in a bow, awaiting Ra to announce.
Ra held up his hands, "Today, this afternoon, my daughter had issued a challenge to Ranbir, and he had accepted it, with the law of first blood ruling the duel, and the challengers had fought impressively to the last moments. Ranbir, as you all know, was on my orders to arrange Martha Wayne's daughter, and Alfred Pennyworth's son together to give us another champion next to the She-Hulk, but he slipped up, and in return, karma got him by the couple fooling him. Ranbir was rightfully enraged when he heard my recent orders to discontinue his plan, and of course, he demanded for the Second position when it was revealed that Talia here has gotten my approval and attention for a better plan, enabling her in the line for the Second position. Now, after first blood had been applied, and my daughter having fought honorably, with Ranbir's death, I now announce Talia Ra al Ghul officially as my Second, to oversee the League by my side!".
There were respectful claps and some chanting, but nothing in terms of whooping and hollering in celebration; a sign that they took that sort of thing in a very ridged form. Martha, deep down, couldn't help but feel a bit relieved at what had happened; not only did she, at least for perhaps a little extra time, spared Waylon and Poppy from terrible retribution, but also, and she hoped, may have weakened the League just enough to help pay dividends in their chances to escape.
Ra then snapped his fingers, and some of the people in the shadows then came out, and kneeled as Talia stood up, joining Ra by her side, and Ra replied, "Throw the corpse into the river. The wolves down in the valley would appreciate a meal with winter in tow. Rest of you, you are dismissed, except for the escorts and my guests.".
The selected group bowed their heads, "Yes, my lord.", and got up to gather the growing cold corpse of Ranbir's body, and left, as the others of the organization departed, leaving the trio, with their escorts, alone with Ra and Talia.
"Tell me, Martha Wayne, is it true that your family isn't leaving you after you revealed the truth of our morning meeting?", Ra asked, and Martha exhaled, realizing that the camera cannot truly hide much, and replied, "Yes, sir. I still am willing to give myself or rather Kel, as we don't want to lose the chance to reunite with Thomas and the others, sir.".
Ra nodded, "You truly haven't run out of options there as your husband and the others are the prime deal...However, you are free to rest and have a bit extra time to resolve any remaining issues with yourself, with your Kel, and your family, for tomorrow, for there is to be a demonstration first tomorrow, before you will be the next one on Halloween afterwards. I'd rather not lose the She-Hulk on the first go, do you understand?", not going to reveal his rather chosen volunteer.
Martha gave him a look. "Wh-what do you mean?", she asked as Ra gave a small chuckle, "Did you really think I would test my work on you first without making sure that I didn't get things wrong? Despite my age, my mind, my power... even I'm not impervious from making a mistake or two and as I said, I'd rather not lose the She-Hulk...".
Martha exhaled as she heard Kel's mental voice, "He's not wrong there...but on the other hand...who is he using? I'm having mixed thoughts about this...".
"Me too...", Martha mentally responded back to her. "I swear, if he plans to use...", with a mental frown. "I don't think he would.", Kel mentally interrupted. "That would be very foolish of him to do that, and he probably knows that we would never accept anything he would try to do after that. I think he's still trying to play on things as easy and smooth as possible. The forceful stuff would probably come if he's up against the wall in terms of progress and he's not there... yet.".
Martha mentally agreed with Kel, "Yeah.", before looking at Ra, "I understand completely, sir.", with a respectful nod, "And we will inform Poppy and Waylon of the good news, and of course, tell them to keep going for good behavior with the routine of the meal shifts and such, right, boys?", glancing between Bruce and Alfred.