{~||~It's My Forlorn Hope~||~}
The sun rose slowly over the calm waves of the Indian Ocean as white clouds passed over head. No chatter filled any of the rooms above the third level as no one, but the crew, seemed to be awake yet. Captain Nemo stood up on the highest point of the great Nautilus; firm and distracted in his thoughts. He stared out into the distance, lost in memories of the past. Dolphins jumped next to the ship as it flew by with great speed. Land was ahead; green and welcoming as it had always been in Nemo's memories. The Temple seemed to glow on top of the hill it had always been on, enticing Nemo to come to it.
Nemo let out a small sigh and looked down at the blue water. The creaking of the door to the balcony rang in his ear, catching his attention. The sound of boots came closer and stopped next to him. The person didn't bother to say anything, for they knew not of what was going on with the Captain.
"Is there something you wanted Mr. Sawyer?" Nemo's voice was low and weary from the nightmares of his teacher's death that replayed in his mind's eyes when he had tried to sleep. Tom shrugged as he looked out at the spit of land that was getting larger as they drew nearer. He leaned over and rested his forearms on the side of the makeshift railing that was there.
"Nah...Not really there, Nemo." He spoke cautiously, not wanting to start a fight with the older man. Tom motioned his head towards the land, "So that's it? Delphi?"
"Yes. That is Delphi. My home away from home as it would seem." Nemo gave a small smile as he looked back at the temple that seemed to be looking at him. He shook his head.
"How long's it been?" Tom asked, turning himself around to lean against the railing with his back.
"37 years to the day." He sighed and stood up straight. He placed his right hand over the handle of his sword and narrowed his eyes slightly. Tom nodded his head and then kicked off the railing, walking back towards the door he had come from.
"Feels good to come home, don't it?" He asked as he stepped onto the first step of the metal stairs, staring at Nemo's back. Nemo gave a small nod, not caring to look back at the young American agent. Tom laughed to himself quietly as he closed the doors.
"Yes...It is good to be back." Nemo spoke softly to himself and after watching Delphi come into view more he decided to head down below to wait for arrival.
Nemo was the first one to step off the Nautilus and onto the wooden docks of Delphi's bay. He looked around at the people, who had stopped what they were doing to look at the great ship and the Captain, and then walked further into the city to allow the others to follow. He stopped when he had made it to the center and stared up at the temple that lay dead ahead and up the tall hill.
"We aren't walking all that way, are we?" Rodney asked as he fell in behind the rest of the League members. Nemo ignored the Invisible Man's question and marched on to the dirt road that would lead to the temple doors.
"I think that's a yes there Skinner." Sawyer laughed and quickly caught up to Nemo, walking on his left side.
"Bloody pirate..." Rodney scoffed, but followed the others, trudging up the long road. The path to the temple seemed shorter for some reason.
"Maybe because my legs are longer then the last time." Nemo commented quietly to himself as he stopped mid walk and stared up the dirt road.
"Excuse me?" Mina asked Nemo as she stopped n ext to him, carefully looking up the path and then back at her friend. Nemo's expression was distant and his breathing was slow and shallow. Mina gently placed a hand on his arm, "Nemo? Is everything alright?"
"...yes..." He replied softly and then moved on, the others giving each other a look of confusement before following.
The temple was as white as the peaks of ocean waves and as grand as a castle. The grounds were green with fresh grass and in several spots grew wildflowers of all colors and all shades. The League stood at the bottom of the stairs and stared up, admiring the house of Apollo. A small smile flittered across Nemo's face as he remembered running through these grasses as a young boy and picking flowers for his teacher on the days Leo was sick. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the familiar cool salty air, and then began to climb up the marble steps leading to the entrance. Each step seemed to become heavier then the last as he climbed. Memories and feelings rushing through Nemo, weighing him down. He narrowed his eyes slightly and walked straighter up the steps, determined not to let his memories keep him from his only home any longer than they had.
"Seems like the ol' boys 'appy to be home." Rodney commented as he walked along side Sawyer. Sawyer nodded his head and turned to look at the village of Delphi that sat far below them. He took a deep breatha dn placed his hands on his hips. He understood why Nemo like it there so much. It was calm, quiet, and time never seemed like an issue for the people. He just couldn't wrap his head around why Nemo had stayed away from Delphi for so long if her loved it so much. Sawyer sighed, letting those thoughts drift to the back of his mind and turned back to catch up with the rest of the League, who were nearing the top.
They were greeted by an elder man with snow white hair and wearing a toga when they had reached the final marble step to the temple doors. At spotting Nemo a grin appeared on the man's face as he watched them approach.
"My," The older man began outstretching his arms in a welcoming gesture, "Dakkar how you've grown."
"Hello Athanasius." Nemo greeted the man with a smile and they embraced a moment before pulling back to stare at each other. Athanasius looked behind Nemo and studied the rest of the League.
"You all must certainly be the rest of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." A wide grin spread across the man's face as he looked from one member to the other, admiring them all.
"What was your first guess...?" Mina suddenly smacked Rodney who had spoken and gave him a sideways glance. Athanasius took no notice to the comment and then looked behind them all as if waiting to see something appear behind them.
"I am sorry," He began and looked over at Nemo, "But I was under the impression that there were more of you."
"Ah, yes! is back on the Nautulis taking care of some things." Nemo gave a small smile and placed his hand over the top of his sword like normal. Athanasius played around with the answer Nemo had given him in his mind and then shook his head slowly.
"No...No I do not think it was Jekyll I was thinking of." He stopped for a moment and carefully thought over names, "I believe it was Quarter something. An elder gentleman like myself."
The group fell silent as they knew who he was referring to. Athanasius looked from one to the other, not sure of what he had done to cause the silence.
"Allan Quartermain passed away a while ago." Sawyer spoke up, his eyes betraying the hard expression his face held. Athanasius seemed to gasp at the new found knowledge he had recieved and looked down, not quite believing it yet.
"I am truley sorry. I had no idea." Athanasius apologized and then moved to usher them all inside the temple. Each one of the members were quiet while entering the temple. None knowing how to act because of their dead friend being brought up. Nemo stopped in the middle of the temple and gave it a once over.
"Things never seem to change here." Nemo smiled at the way the temple looked inside. It was exactly as he remembered it in his memories. The entire building constructed from white marble with light music playing from somewhere deep in the temple. The rows of yellow candles being on both sides of the walls to the left and right. The painted lyre on the floor, bright and colorful as ever before and the door...
The door to the alter room lay straight ahead with the two suns painted on them and the dolphins standing watch besides it. Nemo walked closer to the door and placed a hand gently on the inscription that still lay around it, outlining the golden doors. His eyes glazed over as each of his finger glided gently over the indentations of the words.
"Of light from the sun comes truth and prophecy..." The words of his teacher stuck to his mind as though they held a greater meaning. A meaning that he was supposed to know, but of course couldn't place. He stared at that one phrase, reapeating it over in his head, trying to understand what his teacher was telling him.
" Until you find me again in another life, Captain Nemo." Why? Why were these phrases coming to him now? What did they mean? What were they trying to tell him?
"It's beautiful..." Mina's voice brought Nemo back from his thoughts and he quickly turned around to look at the others that stood, taking in the temple's majesty. He swalloed the lumpp in his throat and wiped a bead of sweat from his brow.
"I think it is time to explain everything that is going on." He started, looking over at Athanasius. Athanasius nodded in agreement and then led the League into the alter room. The grand statue of Apollo sat, made completely from yellow gold, and seemed to shimmer in the sunlight that came through the windows above. On the walls were painted images of battles and of people from long ago. Athanasius stopped in front of the statue of Apollo and turned around to face everyone.
"Please gather around me. Sit, stand, it does not matter for this might not take too long." Athanasius clasped his hands together in front of him and watched as everyone found a spot. When all eyes were back on him, waiting for him to start he gave a quick glance at Nemo, "For all of you to truly understand the situation that has arisen you will first need to know about Nemo's teacher, Leo Lucasta."