The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
The Cabbala.
"When you were young and your heart was an open book
You used to say live and let live
(You know you did, you know you did, you know you did)
But if this ever-changing world in which we're livin'
Makes you give in and cry, say live and let die
Live and let die, live and let die, live and let die
What does it matter to ya
When you've got a job to do, you gotta do it well
You gotta give the other fella hell. (…) – The Wings "Live and Let Die"
Warning: Violence, explicit language, possibly gore.
Timing: 2015, for particular timing of the characters original universes, see footnote of their respective chapters.
Rating: M, possibly MA.
Pairings: Wilhelmina and Allan (past). Wilhelmina and Orlando (friends with benefits).
Disclaimer: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen original comic books © Allan Moore and Kevin O'Neill. Neverwhere (in character of Lady Door) © Neil Gaiman. Atomic Robo © Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegner. Stargate Atlantis (in character of Spike the Wraith) © MGM Studios. Hellboy (in character of Karl Ruprecht Kroenen) © Michael Mignola. Slenderman © Eric Knudsen (as Victor Surge). The story © Czarna Archer.
Dracula (in character of Wilhelmina Murray) by Bram Stoker. Allan Quatermain by sir Henry Rider Haggard. Orlando (or his/hers alike) by Virgina Woolf.
Blackest Eyes.
"A mother sings a lullaby to a child
Sometime in the future the boy goes wild
And all his nerves are feeling some kind of energy
(…)
I got wiring loose inside my head
I got books that I never ever read
I got secrets in my garden shed
I got a scar where all my urges bled
I got people underneath my bed
I got a place where all my dreams are dead
Swim with me into your blackest eyes (…)." – Porcupine Tree "Blackest Eyes".
oOo
France, Limousin region1), east of Tulle.
It wasn't even a town; it was a village with a service station and an inn. Robo and his team haven't left the minivan; they just stopped on the tiny parking lot at the station and waited. The place was nice, the weather not bad but he was a bit edgy – he wanted to be on the way already. He pondered what was taking Door so long to get there; she was a damn teleporter of sorts.
A knocking at the window pulled him from his irritated pondering; Door was smiling at him while Kroenen was looking around, watching if anyone was observing them.
"Took you long enough." Robo commented when the two entered the van and took their seats.
"Doctor Kroenen needed to use internet to find me a satellite photo of this station, and then we needed to print it because it wouldn't work with computer screen." Door explained. "Digital media act funny with me."
"I figured that much after Kroenen told me you can't use mobile phones." Robo started the engine and slowly manoeuvred his way to the road. "How did you find Door's abilities, Kroenen?" He asked the Occultist deliberately not using his title.
"It was convenient and agreeable." Kroenen replied avoiding admitting that he never enjoyed such things, even when they were performed by Rasputin. Especially that he didn't want to tell any of them that Rasputin could ever do such things.
"So, where to now?" Robo asked not looking at Door, his optics were focused on the road.
"South. Give me the road map, I'll find you the place." Door asked.
Spike grabbed the folded map and handed it back to Door. After few minutes of folding the map, she handed it back, folded so their destination was visible on top of the folds. It was quite large village not so far from Spanish border.
oOo
Five hours later near the Spanish border.
It was already dark when they finally reached the village. It looked more like a tiny town, but regardless of what it was, they weren't there to appreciate it even though the village itself was beautiful. Should the circumstances be different perhaps they would enjoy their stay, but they weren't there for pleasure. Quite the contrary. Each of them knew that if they managed to catch up with their prey, their stay would be anything but pleasurable. And if they missed their two runaways, then it wouldn't be nice either.
Either way the night was a perfect time for them, the darkness providing them with cover. People still walked around but soon they would return to their homes leaving the streets empty.
Door and her companions walked the almost empty streets, the weather wasn't bad but it was windy and the wind was pretty chilling making people to stay indoors unless they absolutely needed to go out. It was for the better; they were on the hunt and didn't need any random people getting in their way. The word 'hunt' was exceptionally appropriate in this case, at least in Door's opinion, at least when applied to three of her four companions. Slenderman and Spike were both born hunters and there was something about Kroenen that made him closer to the two predators than to her and Robo. Especially that among the entire five, only she and Robo wouldn't cause much sensation, though she had to correct herself: Robo would cause much sensation because he was famous. She became much too aware that in fact she was the only one who could pass for an ordinary folk, and she'd still be pointed at for looking like a Punk Rocker (which was how she liked it). Of course save for Slenderman, they all managed in London, and Kroenen didn't cause much stir in Paris, but these were large metropolises where person with original looks would be considered a weirdo or nut case at worst. In a village like this it was different thing.
"We're here, but what now?" It was Spike who spoke first. "How do we find them? If they are here, that is."
"Couldn't you just telepathy them out?" Robo asked looking at the space vampire.
"Not more than you could robot them out." Spike replied with irritation. "Telepathy doesn't work like that."
"How about Slender?" Robo nodded at the tallest member of their team.
"He says that they're adults." Spike passed the message from Slenderman. "He says that with adults it is more difficult because they need to be scared of him so their minds become child-like and vulnerable."
"How about we'll just ask someone?" Door proposed.
"Like whom?" Robo asked looking around an empty street.
"There's a café." Door pointed out at the opposite side of the village's only square. "In places like this people notice newcomers instantly, if the Jihadists came someone in the café will know."
"Might as well try." Robo nodded. "We have nothing to lose anyway."
"Indeed." Spike agreed. "Our Worshippers often do the same, using village taverns as information source." He explained. "It brings satisfying results more often than not."
The café windows were large and uncovered; from the distance they could see that there were people inside despite the windy weather and late hour. The warm, yellow light leaked to the street making the inside of the café look inviting and cheerful. They walked to the other side of the street and approached the café, Door reached for the door handle when she glanced through the glass door and froze.
There at one of the tables she spotted the men she only saw on pictures until now – the two Jihadists. She had no doubts even though they both sported now meagre beards, perhaps couple of days old. They were eating dinner and drinking something, talking and laughing a bit. They looked just like two men talking; they could even pass as brothers or close cousins.
"What's the matter?" Robo stepped to the woman. He and the rest of the Group were about to stay outside to not cause any steer, instead to just wait outside and only intervene if the need would arise.
"They're there." Door whispered and stepped back from the door. It seemed like no one noticed her or if someone did they thought that perhaps she just changed her mind.
"Who?"
"Jihadists. There. They're sitting at the table." She nodded at the inside of the café.
Robo looked at the direction she indicated and dragged her into the shadows near the building's wall. She was right, it was them.
"What do we do?" Spike asked. If it was up to him he'd just walk in, feed upon them and end the entire affair. But it wasn't his call to make.
"We need to catch them." Door glanced at the café's window. At this angle she couldn't see the inside of the place. "But we can't scare the people. We're only allowed to act under condition we'll keep low profile."
"Storming the café is out of question then." Kroenen nodded. He'd have no problems with walking in – he did receive full military training after joining the SS. "Especially that they may be armed." He added. He could take down two random men without much problem unless they were armed with firearms.
"Maybe lure them out?" Door proposed.
"Or wait for them." Robo had a better idea. "They can't sit them forever but they're still eating. Let them finish, we'll wait for them and in the mean time we can think of how to catch them quietly.
"Slenderman says that he likes your idea." Spike passed Slenderman words. "I like it too." He expressed his own opinion.
"Do we want them alive?" Kroenen asked. To him it made no difference.
"Preferably alive." Door decided. She wasn't sure but she guessed that there were people who'd love to question these two. "But not at the cost of life of one of you." She added.
Interrogation was one thing, but the life of agents, her agents as she realised, took precedence. She was responsible for these four beings and she would not sacrifice any of them, not because they were such great people which mostly they weren't, but because they served under her command.
oOo
They stood and waited for almost half an hour before their quarry emerged. The two Jihadists walked away from the café talking quietly. They haven't noticed being followed; they were too absorbed with whatever troubled them.
The Jihadists walked in the direction of small inn that was near the service station. The distance wasn't far by itself but the maze of streets prolonged the time required to reach it. Neither of the Jihadists noticed that five figures hiding in the shadows around them nor they managed to see when two of their followers split from the rest, they seemed to feel safe in this village where no-one would look for them.
They entered small street separating local school and post office – both empty at this time – when the attack came.
Two dark figures jumped at the Jihadists from two sides, the surprise didn't last for long though. It took mere seconds for the two men to struggle out of the grasp of the two mysterious attackers and sprang forward without hesitation.
Kroenen was luckier of the two – his Jihadist only pushed him away. Spike on the other hand tripped over the curb and landed on the ground. He jumped to his feet immediately but the Jihadists were sprinting away. Kroenen was already running after them and a dark shape that he recognised as Slenderman slid past the Wraith as he was getting up. Spike wasted no time and moved, he knew that he could catch up with his two companions – Wraith were fast. Faster than humans for that matter. And the Slenderman ran surprisingly slowly for someone with legs as long as the pale creature had.
Upon lessening his distance Spike realised the reason why Slenderman wasn't running as fast as theoretically he should be able to. A number of dark tentacles or perhaps flagellums sprouted from his back, they twisted in attempt to aim at the escaping men and thus slowed the entity down. Spike counted at least a dozen of the appendages but he wasn't sure just how many there was – they all wriggled and flailed. Two highest placed ones curled above the Slenderman's shoulders in serpentine manner and shot forward.
One of the Jihadists looked back with dark grimace on his face only to have it transformed in look or horror – a reaction that most people would display upon seeing what he saw – two black, shiny tentacles speeding towards him. He yelled something to the other man who looked back and his dark eyed rounded in terror. They started to run even faster but the tentacles were closing in. The two long snake-shaped limbs shot toward them and curled around to grab both terrorists but the men managed to duck. One of them was almost caught when a tentacle coiled around his legs but he jumped away almost tripping over. The other one bent when a black shape almost caught him by flexing around his shoulders.
Spike didn't pay any more attention to Kroenen and Slenderman trying to catch the two running men, he pulled out a mobile phone and dialled Robo. After a single signal the connection was established.
"Where are you?" The Wraith hissed to the device. "You were supposed to cut their escape route off!"
[[The damn thing wouldn't start.]] The reply came. [[The battery is dead, it wouldn't even start by push.]]
"Where are you now?"
[[We're almost there, just get them.]] Without another word Robo disconnected.
"Damn you." Spike growled. This was most disadvantageous2).
He refocused on the chase only to see that the Jihadists were already running into the parking lot. Kroenen was almost at them and Slenderman was making yet another attempt at grabbing them with his tentacles.
One of the terrorists pulled the car remote out and opened one of the few cars parked there. The average looking car peep-ed and flashed its lights. They managed to reach it mere seconds before Kroenen and were already closing the doors when he managed to grab the handle of the driver's door – too late, it was already closed and the man was starting the engine. Slenderman sent his tentacles but the moment they reached the car it was already driving away and the appendages slipped off its chassis helplessly, unable to get a grip. At that very moment Robo and Door ran into the parking lot. Door was breathing heavily trying to catch some air after sprinting to her team's aid.
"What just happened?" Robo asked in irritated voice. He managed to get a glance of the driving away car.
"The Jihadists escaped, obviously." Spike answered eyeing Door who bent and rested one of her arm on her knee, the other one was holding something… two pairs of wrist and ankle cuffs that he was way too familiar with. She was trying to calm her breathing.
"How? You had the advantage!" Robo gestured at the unsuccessful trio.
"You were to cut their way off." Kroenen reminded. "We had to stay few paces away from them or else we would be noticed."
"Why haven't you taken them by surprise the way we planned?" Robo asked. He was getting angry now.
"We did, but they weren't nearly half as surprised as they should be." Kroenen replied in his and his companions' defence. "It was a short sprint from the ambush spot to here. A sprint that should end with them crashing at our car, if I may remind you."
"You had Slenderman with you!" Robo pointed out at the tall man who just stood silently in the same spot all the time.
"Don't blame him; it is you who failed to arrive." Kroenen was now half-hissing, half-growling, his damaged voice cords not allowing him much more. "If we hadn't split we would have them now."
"Door needed to get the cuffs!" Robo gestured to the woman who was not breathing much calmer. "And how do you imagine they'd walk all the way to our car with these damn things on? It would take forever for them to hobble there!"
"Them hobbling to the car would still be preferable to them driving away." Kroenen pointed out.
"And making a show?" Robo stepped close enough to be in Kroenen's hidden face. "I remind you, that this is supposed to be an undercover mission. Two Jihadists skipping around like two bunnies is hardly discreet. Not to mention that since they couldn't care less about us staying secret, they'd whine and complain loudly all the way."
"Oh yes, that changes a lot. We might be empty handed but still undercover, what a relief." Kroenen didn't back down, replying with sarcasm instead.
"Forgive me; I have forgotten that you know little of discretion. After all performing an invasion has little to do with secrecy. Well, I have news for you, in the Free World, we do thing differently." Robo poked Kroenen's chest with one digit.
"Yes, I have noticed, especially how you managed in the Gulf." Kroenen swatted Robo's finger with his own hand.
Robo's eyes glowed brighter and he was about to do something that someone would later be sorry for (and not likely Robo himself) while Kroenen seemed to be preparing to defend himself when two tentacles wrapped themselves around them. They moved fluidly and with deceptive slowness, but somehow before any of the two men could protest, they were wrapped around them nice and tight. And there was another surprise – the flexible appendages were surprisingly strong and firm. Neither Kroenen nor Robo could wriggle themselves out despite Kroenen's nimbleness and Robo's sheer mechanical strength. In the same moment they were restrained the tentacles moved, lifting them up and away from each other.
"Thank you, Slenderman." Door stepped closer. "Enough's enough. The damage is done and starting a fight won't change anything, it can only cause even more problems."
"I agree." Spike walked to the woman and the faceless entity. "You starting a fight here would only draw the attention we're trying to avoid."
"It is bad that they managed to get away." Door sighed.
"They will not consider it just a robbery attempt." Spike shook his head in regret. "They have seen Slenderman. Unfortunately they managed to shake us off when we jumped on them. Perhaps the spot we have chosen was unfit, I tripped over a curb, we might have succeeded if I didn't fall."
"Regardless of what was the reason for our failure, we are back to where we started." Door disregarded Spike's explanation; tripping over a curb was an accident, not negligence in performing his task. "We need to get back on their track."
"Slenderman says that he was able to briefly see into one of the Jihadists mind." Spike spoke on behalf of the tall creature. "He says it isn't much though. The man's terror made his mind readable for him but it also made it chaotic."
"Anything can be helpful." Door decided turning to the tentacle man. "Even a tiniest clue."
"I must confirm what Slenderman says. From my own experience I know that panicked mind tends to process random thoughts, mostly the ones that are closest to the surface but it jumble them." Spike warned. "The best way is to allow a mind to get into terror and despair, so do not expect any ground shaking revelations from what scraps Slenderman managed to rip out."
"You know, a little is still better than nothing." Robo pointed out from his spot above Door and Spike's heads. He was struggling, refusing to be manhandled by some tentacle.
"I agree. Let's just see what he found and then we will try to squeeze as much as possible out of it." Door decided.
"Hmm. He says that he sensed the deep feeling of experiencing a setback. They obviously didn't found what they were after." Spike referred in Slenderman's name. "There was no trace of how they planned to proceed now. He says that it was mostly longing for achieving their goal. There were traces of joyful thoughts of success and vivid fear of being caught instead due to our appearance. Especially when he saw Slenderman's tentacles. It must have shocked him."
"Anything else?" Door pressed. "Other than their fear of failure?"
"He's not sure. He says that there was a lot of yearning to finally be able to succeed with their goal. He wished he was already there and doing something." Spike explained. "And clay. There was a lot of thoughts of clay, all attached to thoughts of their goal."
"Clay?" Door gave both Spike and Slenderman stunned look.
"Yes." Spike confirmed. "Slenderman is certain it was it. Clay of the kind you use to make ceramics."
"Clay?" Kroenen repeated Door's question from where he calmly hung. "And they were visiting Rabbins and stolen documents of Jewish and European folklore."
"Does that say anything to you?" Door stared up at the occultist suspended above her head.
"It does." Kroenen confirmed.
"You know what they're looking for?" Robo stopped his wriggling in favour of glaring at the German.
"Yes and no. There are at least two things that they might be after." Kroenen elucidated. "Either way, I might know where they will be heading next."
"Splendid!" Door beamed.
"But we need to return to London." He added. "I need to consult my grimoirs and I have left my computer with all the scans there."
"No time to waste." Door shook her head. "And we'd have to drag Robo by force if I was to transport all of us. I will go alone and bring you your computer here."
"That is acceptable too." Kroenen agreed.
"Good. And for now I suggest that we should stay here overnight. We should use some rest. All of us." Door decided. "I will go for the computer and tomorrow morning Doctor Kroenen will present us his findings."
"What about the Jihadists?" Robo squirmed in Slenderman's grasp some more.
"They need to sleep too." Door shrugged. "We can stay in the inn they were going to use. We will see what we can do with the car battery tomorrow."
No one argued. The only protests came from Robo who didn't liked the idea that Slenderman still held him up. The silent creature's only answer was to gently put Kroenen down and simply drop Robo from the height he'd been suspended in – a small reprisal for wriggling all the time.
TBC
OK. Since while LoEG fic, the LoEG is in itself a crossover, so do not worry if you won't be familiar with any of the characters, if the need will arise it will be explain and if you will have any additional questions or something won't be clear, you can also contact me and ask and I will answer you to the best of my abilities.
1) It happens in 2015, as of 2016 it is part of Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes region. Yes, there was administrational reform in France.
2) Thesaurus – writer's best friend!