The AlternaTive Projekt

Kings and Queens

"How the hell'd I get roped into this?" I mumbled in Ben's direction.

Benjamin Daimio, former U.S Marine Captain and new B.P.R.D leader, answered without looking up. "They need agents." He shifted through folders. "I picked you out of fifteen others, your the best at what you do."

"Yeah, I get that," I sighed. "but why did the other agents just suddenly quit?" I wondered. "Is this Manning some psychopathic boss, or-"

Ben cut me off. "Nah, nothing like that, according to what he told me on the phone, they just up and quit."

I didn't buy it but left it at that and turned to look out the chopper window. We were descending now, on a landing pad outside of a concrete official looking building in the middle of nowhere, somewhere outside of Trenton, New Jersey. I'd been working privately for many years now as a Occult investigator, now I was going to do it at least making a steady paycheck out of it. I had Ben to thank for that, if it hadn't been for him looking for someone to recruit into this job he may have never found me.

"Hope there's more then just us two," I said undoing my headset and grabbing my duffel bag. "When's the rest of my stuff going to be here?"

Ben followed me out of the chopper onto the landing pad. "Should already be here."

A chubby balding man in a grey suit walked towards us stopping short of the landing zone as we walked towards him.

"Ah your here!" Her said loudly over the whirl of the blades. He seemed relieved. "Come inside, get familiar with the other agents."

Thank God Ben and I weren't the only two in this.

A The Interior of the building was classic government chic. Concrete walls, harsh white lighting, guys resembling men in black walked back and forth. Some carried strange objects others clip boards, all looking serious and way to professional.

"Captain Daimio, Lee Morgan," Tom introduced, once we'd entered a conference room. Two people were seated at the table a fortish woman with dirty blonde hair and a grey colored man I recognized to be a Homunculus. "This is Dr. Kate Corrigan, from the New York University, and Roger."

I smiled at them and gave a two fingered wave awkwardly. Tom continued. "Captain Daimio was a former Marine Captain, and after having an accident in the Bolivian jungle, has been working for the Pentagon in Special Ops. He's taken quite the interest in the B.P.R.D, and we have him to that for finding Ms. Morgan."

Roger smiled in my direction and I returned the gesture. He seemed like a good guy.

"I read some of your books," I directed at Kate. She seemed to perk up interested. "Yeah, I really liked the one on Isobel Gowdie."

"That one was really fun to write to," She said. "I've always been fascinated by witches."

I raised my eyebrow. "I'm a bit into witchcraft my self, comes with the privet occult investigating."

Tom coughed next to Ben. "Right, back on topic." He said, rubbing his hands together. I shot him a look. "Dr. Corrigan is our special liaison to the 'enhanced talent' agents, and our consultant for all thing mythological and paranormal." He turned my way. "And of coarse you know quit a bit your self."

I smirked. "Long hard time and practice." I said, before adding. "Sir."

A We were assigned to our rooms, Kate and me were next to each other and across from Ben and Roger.

"You should see the huge library they have here," Kate said later that night after we'd unpacked. We sat in her room drinking green tea. I had to admit she was pretty cool, and man did she know her stuff. "It's huge, has every book I could ever hope to read."

I sipped my tea before replying. "Really? Was it one of the past agents'?" I asked. Now I may come off as a mysterious bad ass but I had to admit, two passions in my life were old books and music.

"I believe it was Professor Buttenholm's study actually."

"He was the founder, right?" I inquired.

She nodded. "Yeah, and according to the file I read," She began. "He was murdered in there."

"That's strange." I muttered simply, my brow creasing.

She continued by passing the subject. "It's a beautiful place though, huge fish tank on the right wall."

"A fish tank?" I repeated. "What, like a giant aquarium?" I'd been to one once before, some necromancer and a school of tuna thing in '81. Place was pretty cool inside, eerily beautiful in the dark with the tank lights causing wave patterns to dance across the floor and walls, at least until I fell into the dolphin tank, seeing as I can't swim that wasn't exactly a good thing.

Shaking her head she replied. "One of the past agent's lived in it."

"The fish man?" I guessed. "I saw the past agents on TV-"

She smiled. "Who hasn't?" She mused.

"I think his name was Andy." I frowned trying to remember.

Kate made a similar face and nodded. "Yeah something like that..."

A Returning to my room I realized how dark it looked compared to Kate's. Wheres her room was cozy with books that filled a tall dark book shelf, the walls a light gold colour that mixed well with the khaki arm chairs and dark brown bed covering. Most of my things had been brought in from my shop in England, which clashed terribly with the cold concrete walls.

Dark wood shelves that contained even darker charms and talismans that I'd collected in my work. Dusty old antique bottles that contained special potions, antidotes, and venoms.

My wardrobe that consisted of a black trench coat, worn and torn from years of occult investigating, cargo pants, boots and tank tops. My heavy black trunk, that now sat at the end of my bed, contained a silver sword forged from goblin fires I'd won in a bet at a pub. Twin Elven daggers, that had been my uncles, and a few cases of 'special' ammunition. You'd be crazy to mess with that.

The clock told me it was around eleven so I untied my red hair and let it fall around my shoulders. Slipping off my pants I tied a bandana over my eyes to block out unwanted distractions and headed to bed.

A"Morgan!" Ben's voice shouted. He banged hard on the door. "Morgan wake up, we gotta go!"

I jumped up falling out of bed onto the hard floor in my blindness.

"Damn bandana..." I grumbled angrily, as I pulled the obstruction from my eyes. Now I could see the red lights flashing and dancing over the grey contours of the room turning it an eerie ruby red.

Ben banged again. "I'm coming!" I shouted back grabbing my pants and coat, before I ripped open the door.

The Captain stood in the way, Roger behind him. "Got an emergency, in case your blind." He said sarcastically.

"I can see that, smart ass," I retorted. "Let's go..."

We hurried down the hall, Ben leading the way, with me and Roger following behind. He led us to a large garage that contained several black vans and a large garbage truck.

"Oh God no..." I groaned. "Please tell me we ain't riding in the pimped out garbage truck!"

Roger answered. "Putting his hand on my shoulder. "I'm sure it isn't that bad."

I smiled at his optimism.

A Needless to say, Kate rode in one of the nice black vans, Ben, Roger and I got crammed in the truck. So I decided to talk to the friendlier of my companions.

"So Roger, how'd you end up here?" I asked curiously.

He smiled. "It was Hellboy's idea." He said. "He named me."

Ben piped in. "According to his file he was in possession of the Bureau for some time since the 90's, it was Hellboy's idea to wake him up."

"Did you ever meet Hellboy?" I asked Ben. He shook his head.

"Nah, wish I could have though."

Roger nodded. "He's really nice. He played cards with me."

The truck hit a rather nasty bump at that point, catching me off guard and sending me straight into Ben.

"Watch where your flyin kid." He grumbled as he pushed me up again.

I huffed. "Kid. That's funny, I'm way older then you are scar face." Maybe not the best thing to say, it just kind of slipped out, but luckily he laughed it off.

"Nice one Tinkerbell." He smirked.

A The pimped out truck slowed to a stop and we were allowed to get out. "Thank ABBA," I groaned. "I was getting claustrophobic in there!"

"ABBA?" Roger repeated.

"It's a band, for like the 70's, they sing about dancing queens and shit-"

Ben jumped out, semi automatic hanging from a strap draped around his shoulders. "That's one eloquent way to say it."

I cocked my head. "Packin some heat are we, Cap'in?"

"We don't know for sure what's in there," He said pointing to an old abandoned train station. "Tech guys say its some kind of Snake, that's what the reports say."

"So some random guy just called in and reported a huge snake?" I said bluntly.

Ben shrugged and grunted. "Yeah, pretty much."

"Wake me up this early, some dumbass snake, better be there..." I mumbled.

Looked out towards the abandoned rails I felt a strange sense of something pulling me. Like something was inside calling me in, something wrong. The wind blew across, making a howling, whistling noise between the truck and vans, it rustled leaves that seemed to fall slowly and majestically.

"Are you alright, Lee?" Roger asked, his voice cutting thankfully into my thoughts and pulling me out of whatever trance I was in.

"Yeah," I gave him a weak smile. "All's good, pal. Now lets go."

The smell of the building was terrible, like old standing water and decaying wood. Water leaked though the old roof as we entered the facility's main hall, old ticket windows with busted in glass lined the left wall, halls branched off to other parts of the station and stairs led to lower levels.

"Right now. You and Roger take the hall down stairs and check around down there. I'll check out these other hallways up here, and we'll meet back here in 30."

I crossed my arms. "Your going by yourself?" I said. "What if you find something."

"I can take care of my self Tinkerbell." He growled.

Grabbing Rogers hand I led him downstairs, where the leaking water had gathered and form nasty slippery pools.

"This place was supposed to be demolished," I noted. "Made into another mall or something."

"But now there's a monster in it." Roger concluded.

Before I could say anymore shuffling in the shadows to my left caught my attention and I swung my light around to illuminate the dark.

"Hey, come out!" I called. "We know your there!"

A sharp pain erupted in the back of my skull. I blacked out, the last thing I remember was Roger calling to me.

A "Aithth lae?" A voice said. A jabbing in my side preceding it. I opened my eyes and looked around blearily.

"Ugh...Roger?" I mumbled. The man standing above me leaned down. He had long blonde hair and piercing gold eyes.

"Ta bron orm-" I smacked him hard across the face, then stood up, half surprised I wasn't tied up. Wasn't that the typical scenario.

"In English!" I demanded.

"Ni thuigim." He replied. I grabbed his robes and pulled him close.

"I suggest you learn fast," I hissed. "Where is my friend?"

Another man entered the chamber. "Your Roger is safe, you Highness."

My heart stopped as he spoke.

"You know who we are, you are one of us." The Elven man said. "The Prince and Princess are dead, King Balor murdered by Nuada's hand."

I shook my head viciously. "Look I want my friend and we're leaving." I wasn't having any of this crap tonight. Two butcher guards came out from the shadows.

"I can not allow you do do that." He said. "You must lead our race-"

"Into what?" I shot, giving into conversation. "We're all fading, every one of Elven blood! The humans have consumed the earth as there own, we have know were to go!" I held up my hand, correcting my self. "You have no where to go." Then I half hissed. "That's why I left..."

"Nuada knew that too, he sought to awaken the army-"

I glared at him and cut him off, finger pointed towards him. "Then he deserved what he got." I said venom lacing my voice. "Now if your not going to let me go. At least let my friends go, they have no place in this."

"We summoned you here for a reason, you and you only." He said. "Your friends are safe."

"Safe? Safe doesn't mean you'll let them go, damn it!" I stepped closer to him, red hair hanging in my face, I guessed I looked quite insane at this moment. "Your Queen commands that you let them go."

The shallow faced man in front of me stared eyes wide. "As you command your majesty." His voice quivered slightly.

"Leith mhath sabh." He said briskly.

I watched as Ben and Roger were brought from a room near by. "Get your God Damn hands off me you son of a bitch!" Ben growled pulling out of the things grip roughly. "You!" He said as he pointed at me. "What the hell's going on here?"

Before I could speak the man spoke for me. "There is no monster here, I assure you." He said smoothly as if this was some formal business meeting. "Only the dealings of a dying race. She will not be accompanying you on your journey back."

Ben frowned and Roger, who looked sad said, "But she's my friend." And that broke my heart. I may had only met him a few hours ago but he was one of the more innocent, sincere people I'd never met.

"Oh, I'm going back with them." I said matter of factly."

The man rounded on me. "But you are our Queen-"

"And I said I'm going!" I yelled, all patience gone along with its old pals reason and dignity. "Do you really wanna piss me off pal! Cause I swear to GOD, BUDDHA, SPONGEBOB OR WHOEVER!" I lowered my voice. "I swear I'll kill you in your sleep, and you will feel more pain then ever experienced in the world before, I will stab you in the eye with a fork and shove it down your worthless throat then I will grind up your body parts and feed them to you THROUGH A FUCKING FUNNEL!."

Most of the people in the chamber probably didn't know what I said, but everyone's eyes were on me.

The man blanched, he looked about ready to throw up. "Your Majesty, as you wish."

"Gahb atasun!" He said quickly, clapping his hands together.

The guards lowered their swords and I strode over to my friends. "I'm never coming back, here." I called over my shoulder. "Come on guys lets get out of this hell hole."

"But the red man...!" The man yelled. "There is still time, the Prophecy has yet to be fulfilled."

Ok, I was getting sick of this, now some prophecy, give me a freaking break. Needless to say I was in a very bad mood.

I circled back on him fists clenched. "A phrophecy, huh? I get woken up at two in the fucking morning, told there was a big fucking monster in a train station, I get knocked out and told I'm supposed to take up responsibility as Queen of the Sons of the Earth, and now your going to spring some prophecy on me?" I yelled.

By now even Ben was wide eyed at my anger.

The man stood his ground however. "The red man stopped the army from awakening." He explained. "But it is his fate, intertwined with others that will bring about the destruction of the world." I frowned considering, Ok maybe something was going on here. "As the children of this earth we must protect it. If you will not lead us, then at least find him, and stop him." He pulled out a dagger, I pushed it away.

"Nah thanks, I got my own." I declined.

He shook his head. "This blade is one of the seven lost Lipu Daggers, specially made for killing demons."

I sighed and took it in my hand. It was gold with weird markings engraved in, I could see my reflection in the blade clearly.

"Alright... but you so owe me." I hissed. "And if you EVER knock me out again...I will do the said grinding of your bodily parts, and the feeding of said body parts to you through said funnel." I threatened. "Understand?"

He nodded quickly. I left back towards Ben and Roger. "Come on dudes, lets get back home."

What a hell of a day.