The AVENGERS


A small boat cruised smoothly on the blue sea, small waves emerging from underneath its Plexiglas bottom. As two men threw out the anchor, the vessel came to a complete stop.

A deep-sea diver stepped onto the edge of the boat and asked his companion, "All clear to dive?" His friend nodded in response. The diver put his mask on, turned on his oxygen, and dove into the clear waters.

The diver swam for several yards until he reached the bow of a large sunken ship. He approached it cautiously, making sure not to hit his head on the on one of the protruding planks.

Suddenly a bright light shone from an underwater cove nearby. A powerful surge pushed the poor diver into a sharp piece of plank wood, and the diver immediately lost unconsciousness, falling to the bottom of the sea.

Above the surface, the diver's companion likewise felt the force. Suddenly the boat flipped over, spilling him into the water. Water swirled around him as he grappled for air. After much struggling, his lungs filled with water, and he drifted to the bottom of the sea like his diving friend.

The strong current and blinding light continued to make chaos for several minutes before both stopped.

The two men were dead, and their boat was shred to pieces. Nothing was left of the diving team in the now tranquil water. Beyond the serene waters loomed a large landmass that belonged to a nearby archipelago.


Inferno Island

Steed Gets Caught in the Current
Emma is All Washed Up





First Day

Mrs. Emma Peel strolled down the sidewalks, casually glancing into each store window she passed. It was wonderful to have a quiet afternoon to herself, doing nothing except to take a neighborly ramble down the street. An autumn breeze scattered freshly fallen leaves all over the paths. Emma inhaled the scent of fall and carelessly glanced at one of the displays at a hat shop.

A man was hanging a large sign with big, red letters pasted across the front. Emma thought nothing of it, until she did a double take at what the sign said. It read, "Mrs. Peel . . ."

The man hung another sign that said, "We're needed." The man lifted his head, and Emma realized he was John Steed. He tipped his bowler playfully, beckoning her inside.

Emma was somewhat annoyed and amused at Steed, as she always was when he told her that they were needed. She still had no idea how he managed to know where she was all the time. She knew that being a secret agent must have something to do with it. With a little bemused smirk, she headed into the store.

Emma approached Steed, who was busily removing the signs from the front window. "Well?" she began.

"Well, what?" Steed asked nonchalantly as he leaned the two signs against the wall.

"Well, what murder was committed this time?"

"Sh, Mrs. Peel; spy talk is very hush, hush." Steed wandered over to a bowler hat display, Emma lagging behind him. He looked around himself, making sure no one had heard anything.

Mrs. Peel inquired, "Is it a dozen bodies and no suspects?"

"Actually, it's two weeks on a tropical island and no suitable clothes."

"Is this trip for business or for pleasure?"

"It's a business trip, but I hope to have some pleasure on the side." Steed smiled pleasantly, reveling at the thought of endless days with beautiful girls on a tropical paradise. "There's been several reports of," he and Mrs. Peel looked around themselves for eavesdroppers, "divers being killed near a little island in Caribbean."

"Is there any connection among all the divers?"

"Yes, they were all looking for the Fabled Treasure of Pirate R. Mebuckles. He supposedly was a pirate during the eighteenth century, who confiscated about 500,000 pounds in gold and silver."

Mrs. Peel whistled admiringly at the large sum. "Who or what killed these divers?"

"Nobody knows for certain, but the islanders believe that a great force pulled them under and whirled them around, causing them to lose consciousness and eventually die."

"What sort of great force could do so much damage; a whirlpool?"

"That's what I thought when I heard the tale. But a man, who was nearby at the time of the deaths, claims he heard a strange whirring noise, accompanied by a bright light."

"It's all very puzzling, Steed. I don't know what to make of it."

"That's why I'm going to investigate. Now which bowler should I buy for the trip, the black or the gray one?" He gingerly lifted both of the hats and stared at Mrs. Peel expectantly.

Emma grabbed both hats and put them down. "Steed, of all the necessities you need to enjoy a tropical island, bowler hats are not one of them."

Steed looked slightly offended at her comment, but he didn't make any derogatory reply. Instead he said, "Well, I asked you for your assistance in finding the proper clothing, so what should I bring with me?"


Mrs. Peel seemed to be mulling over something important, for she didn't answer. "I've been thinking, Steed. You need someone else to go with you on this case, someone who can not only help you solve it, but someone to keep you company when you're across the sea."

"That's a wonderful idea, Mrs. Peel," Steed replied affably. In a deep voice he said, "The plane leaves at one this afternoon. How long does it take you to pack?"

"An hour at the most," she replied in a dulcet tone.

Steed tipped his hat politely and declared, "I'll pick you up in two hours, Mrs. Peel."

"I'll be waiting for you." Emma pranced assuredly out the door, her reddish brown hair bouncing with each step.

Steed gazed admiringly after her, and then took the two bowlers to the front of the shop to purchase them. He didn't care what Mrs. Peel said; a bowler hat was a necessity anywhere.

**********************

Mrs. Cathy Gale scanned the busy museum and sighed happily. She loved her job as a curator almost as much as her job as an amateur spy. She remembered how Steed had first asked for her assistance at this museum. She had been eager to have some adventure and had agreed to help him, not knowing how crude and callous he could be. She and Steed made a rather strange crime-solving team, since they were almost opposite in every way. But over the course of time, they got accustomed to each other's habits.

Perhaps over that time Steed grew rather fond of her, but Cathy never had the same feelings for him. True, she was a widow and could have fallen for the dashingly handsome man, but she hadn't. Maybe it was because she couldn't stand his rude ways, or maybe it was the fact that Steed was married. Yes, John Steed had married a woman by the name of Emma Knight, and the same year, he had been brainwashed by the head of the ministry to forget his marriage. His poor wife had been brainwashed to think she was the widow Mrs. Peel.

Cathy could easily forgive Steed's boorish, flirtatious ways since she knew it wasn't entirely his fault. For two years she helped him solve numerous mysteries, saving his life more than once. Then she went on to several jobs until she was back to being a curator, enjoying the less than dangerous lifestyle. She knew that if she ever gotyou please tell me about this artifact?" he asked her.

Cathy smiled briefly and went to the assistance of the stranger.

***************************


After Cathy had left Steed, Emma had become his second partner in crime. Then a murderer arrived, claiming to be her presumed dead husband, and Miss Tara King had become Steed's third partner. When he and Emma had learned the truth about their marriage (and of Emma's fake husband), Tara had been paired up with Basil Creighton-Latimer, who was the nephew of the head of the ministry. When Steed and Emma were brainwashed again, Tara became Steed's partner once more, much to the sorrow of Basil.

Like Cathy, Tara wasn't brainwashed, so she carried the heavy burden of the truth with her. But unlike Cathy, she wouldn't ever give the secret away. She was in love with Steed, so she figured no one should have him. She was selfish, but she was also young, twenty-two years to be exact.

Tara headed over to Steed's flat, eager to go out to lunch with him. She smoothed her red pantsuit and rang his doorbell expectantly.

Steed answered it on the second ring. He was clutching the doorknob with one hand and holding a rack of ties in the other. He stared at her blankly for a moment and then commented sheepishly, "We had a luncheon appointment today, didn't we?"

"You'd forgotten, Steed?" Tara cried incredulously. "You, who remembered the exact date we met, the year of the champagne we drank three weeks ago, how many bowler hats you've own in your lifetime, forgot we had a date?"

"I'm sorry, Tara, but I was assigned to a tough case. I have to travel across an ocean just to arrive at my destination! I'm leaving today, and I had to pack immediately." Steed started climbing the stairs to his bedroom, but Tara checked him.

"Oh, Steed, why didn't you tell me you were going! Here I was, thinking you were being inconsiderate by forgetting our date, when all the while you were just teasing me."

Steed slowly descended his spiral staircase, staring confusedly at her. "I don't quite follow you, Tara."

"Why, you're taking me with you, aren't you? I am, after all, your partner. It would be ridiculous if you didn't take me."

"I--I . . . you're right about one thing. I am taking someone with me to help me with the case, but it's not you." Steed smiled nervously, waiting for a response.

Tara's face fell to the floor and her lip began to quiver. She waited a moment to control herself and then asked tearfully, "Well, whom are you taking then?"

Steed tried unsuccessfully to answer her without hurting her more than she already was. "I thought that maybe, uh, Mrs. Peel could accompany me this time." He made a feeble attempt to change the subject. "Would you care for a glass of champagne?"

Dumbfounded, Tara stared at him, and then she let out a penetrating scream. "I can't believe you, Steed! I'm your partner, so I should go with you! How could you ask that- that- and after trying to keep you away from her!"

"What are you carrying on about? Who was trying to keep who away from whom?" Steed glared at her, demanding an explanation.

Tara stopped her ranting and grew wan. "Nobody was trying to do anything, Steed," she faltered quietly.

"Hm," was all Steed said, which meant he didn't believe her for a moment. "Since my plane leaves at one and it's past twelve now, I suggest you hurry along so I can finish packing." Steed started ascending the stairs again. "I should have picked up Mrs. Peel by now," he muttered as he entered his bedroom.


Tara stood at the foot of the staircase. No one had ever entered Steed's bedroom, except himself. Not even Emma had, since she and Steed had been living at her flat for the short duration when they were not brainwashed. They had been looking for another flat to rent when they had been brutally separated again.

"If you expect me to forgive you just like that, you're gravely mistaken," Tara shouted. Then she flounced out of the apartment.

If Steed ever heard her last remark, he made no reply. He just finished packing and ran out the door.

*************************

Mother, the head of the ministry, had never seen Tara irate before in his life. That's why when he saw her raging in his office, he knew something was seriously wrong. "What happened?" he demanded as he glided over to her in his wheelchair.

"I was going to ask you the same thing! Why is it that Steed, who is my assigned partner, is taking Emma Knight Steed with him to-to wherever he says he's going?'

"You mean to Paradisa Island? I can assure you I had no idea that Steed would do such a thing! I mean, he's done it before, like the several times he took Emma to France, and then there was that time he took her to Scotland for that case. But he never took any woman to the other side of the planet before."

"It doesn't take much thought to know why he did it. He's in love with her, so it's only natural for him to want to spend as much time with her as possible."

"Well, what should be done about it?" Mother puffed on his cigar before answering his own question. "I'll just send Mitchell after them!"

"What will Mitchell do to them?" Tara inquired warily. She had the vaguest suspicion that Mother was planning to do something drastic, something that even she couldn't agree to.

Her apprehension was verified when he explained to her, "Mitchell will take Mrs. Steed back to England with him, using physical force if need be. Then, if Steed and Emma continue to behave in such a romantic fashion, we'll separate them permanently . . . by brainwashing them, of course."

Tara stared at him, utter turmoil wracking her brain and heart. She had been duped before into thinking this little brainwashing scheme was permissible, but now she realized it was wrong. She held her breath and nodded in agreement. She was lying to Mother, but he couldn't tell.

She walked out of his office and down the hall right into a tall, brawny man. "Oh, Smyth, I didn't see you!" Tara exclaimed to the dark haired man in front of her.

"That's quite obvious, Miss King." He stared at her indifferently, his British propriety getting the better of him.

Tara meditated briefly as to whether she should tell Smyth the dastardly plan Mother had in store for the Steeds. Smyth was the only other agent, besides Cathy and now herself, who thought that brainwashing was an erroneous procedure. Finally she uttered in an almost inaudible voice, "Steed and Emma are in grave danger, Smyth. Mother is planning on separating them indefinitely, and though I love Steed, I must do what's best for him. We've got to stop Mother from sending Mitchell to Paradisa Island."
Smyth smiled grimly and replied, "I'll get Cathy and then we'll see what we can do. When does the plane leave for the Island?"

As if to answer his inquisition, Mother wheeled out of his office with Mitchell close behind him. "The plane leaves at one, but I don't think you can make it," he told Mitchell. "There's another plane that leaves at ten in the morning tomorrow. Be sure you're on it."

"Yes, Mother, as you wish," Mitchell answered dutifully.

Before they could be spotted, Smyth and Tara went their separate ways. It would be too conspicuous if they were both standing together in plain sight. Mother might realize they were scheming to sabotage his plan.

Smyth drove over to the museum immediately after his discourse with Tara. He spotted Cathy only a second after he entered the building and advanced toward her quickly.

Cathy's face lit up at the sight of Smyth, who was her beau. She instantly turned solemn at the sight of his grim face and asked, "What are they doing to Steed now?"

"Oh, nothing much; Mother's just going to separate him and Emma forever."

Cathy rolled her eyes in disgust. "Won't Mother ever learn that he can't win people's respect by controlling them? Furthermore, can't Steed fend for himself?"

"Unfortunately, he can't under the circumstances. It's best not to grumble, my love, and just do our best to help them. Now, Steed and Emma are leaving today at one-" the clock began to chime one o'clock in response- "and Mitchell is following them tomorrow. My plan is: detain Mitchell and go on the airplane instead of him. Tara will be helping us so-"

"Expect everything to go amiss." Cathy sighed and shook her head. "The things I have to tolerate in order to save you, John Steed."

************************

Steed smiled as Mrs. Peel hopped into his old Bentley. She stuffed her luggage in the back, turned to face him, and smiled. Suddenly she scrunched her forehead up in pain and clutched her stomach.

"Are you all right, Mrs. Peel?" Steed asked, genuine concern in his voice.

Emma breathed heavily for several minutes and then attempted to smile reassuringly. "I'm quite all right, Steed. I just got a bit nauseous for a moment, but it's nothing to get upset over. I hear there's a bout of the stomach flu circulating the area. If you want to let me off right now, I can understand. The last thing you need is to come down with a sickness while on a case."

"I wouldn't dream of doing any such thing, just as long as you think you can manage?"

"I think I can just pull myself together." Steed stared at her, still not convinced. "You'd better start driving, or we'll never get to the airport on time," she reminded him, and finally Steed shifted the car into gear.

Emma was more concerned than she pretended to be, for she had only just began to feel ill. Her queasy constitution did not improve any on the long flight across the Atlantic, and by the time they landed in New York, Emma was tired and sicker than before. She thought she hid her illness quite effectively, for Steed didn't ever ask how she was feeling.

However, Steed was still very much aware of her sickly state, and he was beginning to wonder if he should have brought her along in the first place.


To Be Continued!


Note: I know, you're probably thinking, "Why did you brainwash them to forget they were married again?" Well, I did it because it just wouldn't be an Avengers episode or fic if Mrs. Peel and Steed didn't have that erotic/platonic relationship that made the couple famous. If they knew that they were married, they wouldn't have a platonic relationship, now would they? Don't worry; they will discover the truth once more.