AN- My, my, my, I have neglected this story haven't I…? I apologise! I think it's high time for an update- and I'd like my next little cameo to be one of my new loves. You'll see very quickly, and hopefully enjoy! Sorry again for taking so long: )
Hum. Click. Hum.
In the dark, practically empty store room, Nemo's creation sat, busily making noises and little flashes of light. They escaped the door every few minutes.
Hum. Click. Hum.
The door opened suddenly with a whirring sound and four young men fell through it, one after the other. The shortest of the four groaned as the others landed on top of him with a thud.
''Argh, get off, lads! Yer hurting me!'' His Liverpool accent was muffled below the weight of his friends, who got off him grinning.
''Sorry, Ringo!'' The tallest replied, offering him a hand. John yanked him to his feet, making him yelp in surprise. The other two laughed as Ringo gave him a playful shove. He looked about, running a hand over his messy, dark hair.
''What d'yer make of this then?'' He asked, shivering slightly in the gloom. They shrugged in unison and looked around after him. There was one door, and they made their way towards it, their boot heels clicking noisily on the metallic floor.
Paul tried the door and pulled it open, cringing a little at the loud creak it made. He poked his head around the door, and his friends followed suit. A line of heads looked from left to right before they all stepped out into the corridor.
''Pretty fancy, isn't it?'' George mused, sticking his hands in his pockets. The four walked together in a line, the corridor being wide enough for them to do so. They came to a turn point, and decided to head up the small amount of steps to the light rather than to another dark passage. As they continued to marvel at the sight around them, their attention was drawn to set of large, white double doors, beautifully decorated with Indian symbols and images.
''Very nice, wouldn't you say John?'' Paul asked, amused at his friends stance. He was imitating one of the symbols on the doors with George. They nodded, all three turning to their drummer. He had pulled a packet of cigarettes from his jacket and was just putting one in his mouth when he noticed them staring at him. He rolled his eyes and offered the packet in their direction.
''Ahh, cheers mate.''
They each took one, stowing it away somewhere. Ringo tutted at them, searching his pockets for a lighter.
''You mean you're not even gonna use them yet? Wait and get your own then!''
John smirked slightly as he slipped the cigarette behind his ear. He shrugged his shoulders in a 'that's life' sort of way and patted Ringo's shoulder. ''We're still gonna have them- just not now. Besides, yer indoors. That's bad manners.''
George held a hand up to shush them, his head against the door. He was listening to whoever was on the other side intently.
''There's someone here, lads! Should we go in?''
''We should probably knock first, eh?'' Paul pointed out, raising his fist to the door. He rapped it smartly three times and waited. There was a pause before someone said ''Come in''.
Pushing the door open, Paul led the way into the room, followed closely by his friends. They were surprised by the sight of seven smartly dressed people at lavish dinner table. In turn, the seven League members were shocked to see the four young men in similar attire. One was without a jacket, but just in his waistcoat and shirt, and another was wearing a dark hat to match. They also had matching hairstyles, at a length just at the end of their necks.
''Eh, what's this? A fancy dress party?'' John quipped, his glance moving over to Skinner. His confident smile faltered slightly as he looked down to is coat, and saw nothing in it. He saw nothing protruding from his sleeves either.
''Lads- that man hasn't got a body!'' He said quickly to the others, pointing in the direction of the thief. Skinner chuckled slightly and got out of his seat.
''You're new round here aren't you- where'd you come from?'' Skinner asked, keeping his distance. It wasn't that he thought these strangers could be dangerous, but that he could see the panic rising in them. They edged slowly towards the door again as Nemo rose from his seat.
''Run fer it, fellas!'' Ringo yelled, first to get out of the door. They followed quickly, all racing down the corridor. The captain sighed and looked to the other League members.
''It seems we have some 'visitors' to apprehend.'' He put a hand gesturing towards the door. Gray was last to rise from his seat and leave, sighing impatiently as he left his meal.
The four men stopped running and paused to catch their breath, finding themselves in a meeting point for the corridors. They could see a ladder in the doorway ahead, and decided to investigate. Heaving the door open, they stepped out onto the deck of the Nautilus, gasping at the vastness of the sea around them.
''Well,'' George said, rubbing his head in a confused sort of way, ''it seems we've ended up on a submarine.''
''Well, how did we get 'ere!?,'' Ringo replied, still panicky, ''we were recording a minute ago! Imagine the headlines- 'The Beatles vanish from recording studios!' And who's the bloke without a body?''
The three all moved to make him sit down on the floor and calm him. He succeeded in finding his lighter and put his cigarette to his lips at last, lighting it. He puffed the smoke out as the end glowed red and breathed out the smoke in a sigh.
''However we got here, we need to get back. Rich has a point,'' Paul said, folding his arms as he looked around at the ocean, ''There'll be uproar at us disappearing…maybe we should see about asking these people who they are and where we are, eh?''
Mina was fast to catch up with the scent of the four men- they were on deck. She slipped over to the ladder and climbed effortlessly. She emerged at the top and found them all lying on the floor in a circle, their heads in the centre and their legs out at the edge so they could all talk. She approached them and cleared her throat in a feminine way and they all looked in her direction.
''May I inquire as to how you gentlemen were able to get onto the ship?'' she asked, watching as they all jumped up onto their feet. John smiled suddenly and shrugged at her.
''Your guess is as good as mine, miss. We just sort of- fell and landed here.'' He said, noting her raise her eyebrow at him. Moving a hand out in a polite way, he shook his head. ''We have no idea. But, you might know us…John Lennon.''
''Nice to meet you, Mr Lennon- but I'm afraid I don't know you…should I?'' She said, smiling in an amused way.
''Well, that's a first…we're The Beatles!'' Paul said with a playful flourish, thrusting his arms out and accidentally hitting George.
''The Beatles..,'' Mina replied, shaking her head, ''I'm afraid I've not heard of you.''
''We're a band! Wow, she really doesn't know us…well, you've met John. I'm Paul, this is George, and that's Ringo.''
Mina laughed a little at the last name and turned to him. He blushed slightly as her gaze fell upon him. She smiled in a friendly manner.
''It's a nickname, miss- my name's Richard.''
''But mostly Ringo Starr! Flashy name, eh?'' John said playfully to make the shorter Beatle blush even further in front of the lady. She nodded, completely forgetting that these four were classed as intruders. She was reminded as Nemo found her on deck with the four.
''Blimey, it's the man with the sword!'' George said, pointing to the hilt at Nemo's waist. The captain raised a hand to say that he meant no harm to them.
''Who are you?'' He asked, looking over them. They explained again that they were the Beatles and were slightly dismayed when he said he didn't know of them, and had travelled the world. Nemo asked where they had ended up on the ship after 'falling and landing'. He nodded, everything making sense- but at the same time, not.
''Gentlemen, you were picked up by a time machine and brought here- from the future. The year is 1900…''
They looked at Nemo for a moment and burst out laughing. Finally, one asked if this was all a joke, or a publicity stunt. The two League members shook their heads. The looks on their faces reassured the four that this was no joke…
''Gotcha!'' Skinner yelled, grabbing hold of Ringo's arm. The Beatle freaked out and yelled, throwing him off. He sprinted for the ladder and went down, running somewhere into the ship. The other three yelled for Ringo to stop and chased after him, leaving Skinner with a bemused (but invisible) look on his face.
''It's so easy to get lost- and if they split up- quickly!'' Mina said, leading the men back into the ship.