London Calling.
"(…) London calling to the underworld
Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls (…)"– The Clash "London Calling".
Warnings: Crime and everything that comes with it.
Timing: 2016, a year after "The Cabbala"
Rating: M.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen original comic books © Allan Moore and Kevin O'Neill. Neverwhere © Neil Gaiman. Atomic Robo © Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegner. Stargate Atlantis © MGM Studios. Hellboy (in character of Karl Ruprecht Kroenen) © Michael Mignola. Slenderman © Eric Knudsen (as Victor Surge). The story © Archer Black.
Dracula (in character of Wilhelmina Murray) by Bram Stoker. Allan Quatermain by sir Henry Rider Haggard. Orlando (or his/hers alike) by Virgina Woolf.
… So Below.
?
London. MI6 HQ. The next day.
Atomic Robo's uncertainty ended when they have reached London. The moment he stepped from the cockpit after landing he spotted Slenderman and Kroenen standing right next to where Spike was sitting. The Wraith have spent the entire flight meditating and only ended when Robo informed him that they would be landing.
After they have left the plane they were immediately clapped into a van and sent to the MI6's HQ without any additional ado. The driver was typical po-faced agent who ignored them completely but was a good driver.
At the HQ they were escorted to the 'M's' office without wasting any time with questioning their right to be there – a clear sign that they were expected. The agents responsible for security were exactly as Robo remembered them – coldly professional and itching for cavity searches, or at least that's how they seemed to be. He would smirk if he had a mouth; he'd love to see them attempting to cavity search the Slenderman; that would certainly be something to remember, especially with the creature's ability to retaliate with his tentacles.
When they have reached the office, the security left them at the mercy of the ever charming Miss Moneypenny who upon seeing them smiled widely and invited them to wait just a moment as she informed the 'M' of their presence. Atomic Robo didn't have even half a chance to flirt with her this time either, they were instantly asked to enter the office.
Wilhelmina Murray looked as if she hasn't moved from her office for the past year, she even wore the same hairdo – looking old fashioned but very elegant and womanly. And her ever present red scarf was present as well, wrapped tightly around her throat. Somehow it only made her look more delicate.
"I can see your mission was a success, Robo." The 'M' eyed the three other men. "And I understand that Doctor Kroenen wishes to access the documents before you will start?" She glanced at the German.
"I would appreciate it, Herrin Murray." Kroenen nodded. His voice sounded like something that could be used to scrap paint from walls.
"And as I asked Atomic Robo to inform you, you will not be allowed to handle these manuscripts; they will be scanned for you." Mina rose from her chair. "Miss Moneypenny will see so that you will be escorted to the archives." She gestured to the door. "You will be permitted to inspect the results of the scanning so that you are satisfied with the quality, and the scans will be saved on a carrier of your choice."
Kroenen nodded, snapped his heels and left the office.
?
It was little over an hour later that Kroenen returned to the office carrying small pen drive. He seemed to be pleased.
"Now that the formalities are behind us." Mina eyed the Occultist. "I will send you on your way. Lady Door is expecting you."
"Where will we meet her?" Robo asked.
"It is not as simple, I'm afraid." The 'M' sighed. "You cannot just walk into her home from the street."
"What does that mean?" Spike glared at the woman.
"It means that you have to enter the London Below." Mina said sounding as if she was talking about the most mundane thing in the world.
"I continue to hear about this 'London Below' all the time, yet no one tell me what it is exactly." The Wraith complained. "And the closest resemblance of explanation came as statement that I have to see it to understand what it is."
"Because you do. I think you could say that London Below is parallel to London Above, with the main difference being that it is Below." Mina shrugged. "And don't ask me how it works; I only know it does work."
"So, how do we reach Door, or that 'London Below' place?" Robo inquired.
"And what about that unfortunate effect of Enchantment?" Kroenen added.
"There are many ways you can reach London Below. It depends on your needs and how deep you need to go in." The 'M' reached for a folder and looked through its contents; finally she pulled a single sheet of paper. "To operate in the London Below however you need to go all in, which means that you will have to follow these instructions." He handed the printed page to Robo. "Normally when someone enters the London Below they have to stay there forever1), but you will enter it as members of the League which means that the Chart will protect you with the immunity granted to all the agents of Duke of Milan."
"This all means nothing to me." Spike deadpanned.
"It doesn't make sense to me either." Robo scanned the paper briefly.
"It means that after you're done with your mission you will have no problems with returning back to the London Above." Mina sighed; she had to remember that not everyone was versed in the arcane knowledge.
"Slender says that he has his own immunity to this Enchantment." Spike passed the words of the faceless entity.
"It shouldn't cause any problems. His immunity comes from his nature, while ours will come from our status as members of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." Kroenen explained. "These two don't collide, but it may prove as an advantage to have him with us."
"What are you talking about?" Robo turned to the masked man.
"You will see." Kroenen sounded as if he was smirking, even though Robo knew that his face was too damaged for that.
"You seem to be knowledgeable about London Below." Mina observed.
"Only theoretically I am afraid, Herrin Murray." Kroenen admitted. "But I look forward to test my knowledge in practice."
"Good then. I will not detain you any longer, Gentlemen." The 'M' nodded. "Mr Tanner will drive you to where you should meet your Contact. After that you're on your own."
They left her office without a word. Robo folded the paper and shoved it to his pocket, he would need it later.
?
The City of London2). Fifteen minutes later.
Finding the man was easy thanks to the description, though it wasn't as much the description of the man that made it easy as it was the description of his cardboard sign that was characteristic enough for Robo to make a positive identification of their 'contact'. After all, how many grey haired, long birded skinny hobos with signs reading 'PLeeSe Give Jenerus KriPPles' could be found on the streets of London?
The task was slightly harder thanks to the fact that they were trying to be discreet, but it wasn't much of a challenge anyway. They have found the man matching the description quickly and without earning any weird looks, and if there were any they haven't noticed.
Atomic Robo, acting as a temporary leader, was the one to approach the man, who in turn seemed to be preoccupied with what looked like a roll, or in this case, mostly eaten roll.
"You Iliaster?" Robo stood in front of the man and bent slightly to get a better look.
"Who asks?" The homeless man asked unfriendly.
"I do." Robo answered. He decided that he didn't like the guy already. The first two words and the man was already working on his nerves.
"An' why do you ask?"
"Because I want to know." Robo rolled his optics. This was an old routine. In fact it was old enough to be a cliché. "Don't play fool with me; I don't have patience for this. You match the description I've been given."
"What do you want from me?" The man named Iliaster was at least smart enough not to test the patience of the robot in front of him.
"I've been told that you can take me to..." Robo checked his instructions. "Ratspeakers, whoever they are."
"Another one?" The man stood up slowly, he appeared to be taller than Robo. "Just last year there was this fancy bird, you know. This happens more and more often."
"Just take us there." Robo wasn't in a mood for listening to some old man's complains that it used to be better back in the old days.
"Fine. Follow me." Iliaster sighed and beckoned the group. The followed him silently.
From a distance they've noticed two bobbies3) giving them an eye. One of them seemed to be a Vril4) or mix of a Vril and a human. But they quickly lost their interest in favour of some streets punks.
They were led to some old house and into the basements that smelled of mould, wet paper and something rotting, then to another level of basements that seemed to be as low as the tubes and the room they entered seemed to contain everything that one could find on some dumping ground. There were pieces of old, broken furniture, all sorts of junk and other unidentified things. Iliaster led them past it all to the far end of the room, where a large man sized cabinet or closet stood. Instead of doors it had plastic stripe curtain though. The hobo looked at them, smirked and entered the closet.
Robo glared for a moment and decided that it was probably some passageway disguised as a cabinet and entered too, the rest followed him.
Atomic Robo wasn't mistaken, it was indeed a passageway but not exactly the kind he imagined it would be. Then they walked to the other side of the cabinet they reached what looked like whole new world. There was no possible way that they could have been in a basement of an old house. The place they have arrived to was enormous, filled with people busying themselves with all kinds of activities and looking like mismatched gathering from some sort of masquerade.
Robo stood next to Iliaster and looked down, they were standing on a first store and the old beggar was gesturing for someone to bring a ladder but shook his head when a wooden one was presented and pointed at Robo. A minute later a metal one was delivered and Iliaster gestured at it.
"There you go." He said.
"You're not going with us?" Robo asked surprised.
"No, I see that Lord Ratspeaker is heading in our direction already and I'm in no mood to explain to him why I keep on bringing strays all the time." Iliaster retreated and Robo could hear him brushing past the rest of the group.
"Only two options left." Robo shrugged and looked at Spike who stepped to the ledge replacing Iliaster. "Down there or turn back."
"After you." The Wraith looked back at Slenderman and Kroenen who stood behind them.
The ladder held even though Robo had some doubts. It did look flimsy, cheap aluminium junk, but it proved to be sturdier that he gave it credit. At least that went better than expected.
"We have no rest here with random new comers!" A man's voice spoke.
Robo turned around and saw a man, roughly his own height but slightly heavier that it looked healthy. He wore VIIth century attire completed with a matching hat and a rat half-mask covering the upper half of his face. He had dark, greying hair.
"Confounded!" The man announced. "Iliaster didn't even stay to explain himself! This means you will have to do the explaining!"
"I was instructed to find Ratspeakers." Robo declared. "Not to make explanations to anyone."
"Well, boy, you have found them." The man said, his face, or rather the parts of his face that were visible, contracted in anger. "And you better make the explanations." And in cue, a vast variety of blades was directed in their direction. "Or we will test how thick the tin you're covered with is."
Robo was about to reply something along the 'come on if you think you're hard enough' lines, but then he remembered that he wasn't there to start fights. He was irked from the start with all the circumstances he found himself in. The place he was in and the fact that it made absolutely no sense to him didn't help either. Instead of saying something stupid he only narrowed his optics.
"It's an alloy not a tin, and I'm not covered in it, I am made of it." He replied. "And we are here because we're to meet Lady Door of House Portico, on business." He added.
It was then that the man looked past Atomic Robo and saw the other three. He gave Spike and Kroenen only passing glances but when he looked at Slenderman he huffed with disgust so absolute that it was obvious that it was masking something else.
"And what is HE doing here? Speak! Speak! Speak!"
"He is part of my team." Robo spoke with growing irritation. "And Lady Door knows him."
"This remains to be seen." The man sighed. "Outsiders dragging that THING with them, this is irregular enough to demand inquisition!" He barked pointing at the Slenderman. "If you declare to be in charge of this team of yours, then what is your name, so Lady Door will know who to deny."
"Tell her that Atomic Robo came." Robo replied coldly. "That's all you need to know."
"You shall wait here until you're called for." The man spat and left them with nothing to do.
"That could have gone better." Spike commented with the calmness typical to all the deadly predators.
"What is happening? You seem uncharacteristically irritated, Doctor Tesla." Kroenen asked. He knew that Atomic Robo wasn't his fan, nor Slenderman's, but he usually managed to keep his cool. This was highly unexpected.
"This place unnerves me." Robo replied. "It shouldn't be here, it shouldn't be possible."
"It is possible and it is here. There are many empty spaces under any place with underground public transport systems as old and well developed as London. Same could be said about New York City." Kroenen did his best to put some reason behind their location for Robo and Spike's benefit. He and Slenderman knew that it was more complicated than that but such a simple explanation could soothe the AI at least to a degree.
"Slenderman says that London has been rebuilt and that there were some underground rivers and tunnels build here as well. That gives plenty of space to begin with." Spike looked around while repeating Slenderman's words. "And I think that people here could take it from there and improve the space they have been granted. It makes sense. In Pegasus there are people called Genii5) who built vast underground bunkers to hide their technological progress from us. It is doable."
Atomic Robo gave them a cold glare. He lacked actual face and yet still he managed to look sceptical.
"Of course this is more complicated than that." Kroenen added. "But in terms of physical space our explanation covers the issue adequately enough. And you have no reason to worry about safety; the architecture of this place appears to be more than satisfying. Notice, if you will, that the arches and the structure of the neo-gothic ceilings. These guarantee sturdiness of the construction. This place is as safe as they come."
Robo looked up and indeed, the dome they were under bore the shape of gothic arches and it looked like people here took great care in making sure it stayed in good condition. This made him feel a little better but he was still wary. He could survive a collapse but it didn't mean that he would enjoy such an occurrence. And the place felt just weird, he couldn't put a finger on it just yet.
Before he could think of it too hard the man in the rat mask returned, scowl on his face lesser but still present.
"You're lucky. Your identity was confirmed." The man said coldly. "You will be escorted to the Night's Bridge, there, after you'll cross it, on the other side you will meet your guide sent by her Ladyship." He looked the group up and down. "If you'll even make it through the bridge that is." He added. "This will be your guide to the bridge." He presented a teenage boy, no older than seventeen. "He will take you to the bridge and not a step further."
"We get that." Robo nodded.
"Go now. And, remember boy, you're not to go with them." He instructed the young Ratspeaker. "Return here immediately."
"Yes Lord Ratspeaker." The boy bowed and beckoned the group to follow him which they did without a word.
They walked through some corridors and a flight of stairs. The boy looked pretty normal, or would look pretty normal in the '80s anyway.
"Where are we going and what is that bridge your boss talked about?" Robo asked when the kid wouldn't utter a single word on his own.
"The Night's Bridge is a bridge, but very dangerous. It least to the Floating Market but I guess you're not going to the market." The boy spoke. "Lord Ratspeaker said to only take to the bridge itself, I guess your guide will be someplace between the bridge and the market."
"What is wrong with the bridge that makes it so dangerous?" Spike inquired further. This situation was highly irregular and he would rather be prepared as much as possible for whatever was about to come. "Is it that devastated?"
"No, the bridge itself is good." The boy shook his head. "It's just that it is the Night's Bridge. There is a price to pay for being bold enough to dare to cross it. You will see yourself, sir, we're almost there."
The boy pointed at a large group of people, they were all walking in the same direction. When they finally cleared the corridor that led them from the stairwell they've used they saw that they've been in enormous cavern, it was dark enough so they could not see its ceiling but they were surrounded by ruins. Shattered columns and statues were everywhere around them, and the street they've been walking had ruined houses.
The crowd wasn't that large, but it was more people that they have expected to find here. The kid did mention something about some market.
"Are all these people heading to that marked you've mentioned?" He turned to the boy.
"Yes, people usually don't cross that bridge if they don't have to, but if you travel from outside the London Below or even from the Above, that's the only way to reach it." The teenage looked around nervously. He didn't look comfortable. "Same if you want to reach some of the fiefdoms or baronies, at least if you're an outsider that is."
They have finally reached their destination. Neither Robo nor Spike seen anything unusual in the bridge in front of them, aside that it was underground and that they couldn't spot any river.
"That's as far as I can take you. On the other side follow the people." The boy backed few paces. "Just as Lord Ratspeaker said. You're on your own now. May the Charter guard you." And then he was gone.
They turned to the bridge and saw that the people were slowly gathering into groups. They joined one of these groups and stepped into the bridge.
At first it didn't seem all that dangerous at all, at least not for Atomic Robo. The bridge itself has seen better days perhaps but it looked solid. It was surrounded by darkness from all sides but Robo figured it was because there was no light source there. They he looked at his companions and noticed that no one had a happy face. The people they joined looked downright scared. Spike was looking around nervously, Kroenen was stiff and seemed uncomfortable and Slenderman radiated edginess and if he was expecting something to happen, as if he was preparing to fight.
"What's the matter?" The robot walked closer to Spike.
"This place is wrong." The Wraith replied.
"Perhaps you're sensing other people's stress?" Robo asked recalling that the alien was a telepath.
"No. Yes. I sense that they're scared. The reek of fear. But that's not it." Spike sniffed, both sets of nostrils6) pulling the air in. "I feel as if there was something in the darkness, something very hungry."
"I concur." Kroenen nodded. "I lack our extra-terrestrial friend's supreme senses, but the darkness around us is not natural, there's something in it."
"Nonsense." Robo shook his head.
"Do not reject your friend's explanation so easily." An elderly woman spoke to Robo. "This bridge takes its toll every time. Not everyone makes it to the other side, some stay here forever."
"Seriously…" Robo began but he was interrupted by Spike, who seemed outright spooked now.
"Slender says to brace ourselves because it is coming." He passed the pale creature's message. "Whatever that means." He added silently.
Robo wanted to say something, but suddenly all was flooded with darkness so thick that he could not see anything, not even his own hands. Whatever was happening he had no control over it and that wasn't a good thing.
Spike stopped in his tracks when impenetrable blackness surrounded him. He never encountered anything like this in the past. He felt the hair on his neck rising as all his senses screamed in warning – something dangerous was closing in. His eyes could not see, his ears did not pick anything, he could smell faint traces of rotting, gangrenous flesh, but it was barely a whiff. He could feel the bridge under his feet but that didn't mean anything to him. The air around him was cold but moist, unpleasant in ways that exceeded ordinary cold day. Or night for that matter. And his telepathy was blocked. Whatever that darkness was it was more than just lack of light, it seemed to be alive, or held something alive… Something alive, hostile and very, very hungry. Spike suddenly felt small and vulnerable. He didn't like that feeling, at all.
Kroenen expected that something like that would happen but he was still caught by surprise. The cold, moist and thick darkness that surrounded him gave him strange feeling, feeling as if it was creeping up his form, slipping under his clothes, under his undersuit and mask. It was similar to Slenderman's tentacles in a way and yet completely different… this seemed to be entity in its own right.
Robo was about to say something, try to see if he could reach any of his companions when he heard it. Silent at first, as if large dog or a wolf growled in warning to anyone who tried to come too close of its comfort. The growling grew louder, a clear warning now. Atomic Robo wondered what it could be. And then the growling stopped for a second, cut clean, only to be followed by teeth rattling, blood chilling, tremendous roar that would send just about everyone he knew to go and try to find a large rock to crawl under and hide for the nearest forever. Robo certainly didn't want to find himself on the wrong end of that roar even if he was made of metal an in theory could survive any animal the good Mother Nature could throw at him… well, any animal that wasn't a bug. The roar was almost animal, but it was hard to tell just what kind of animal would produce sound like that.
Then the darkness started to quickly dissipate as if it was never there. It was as if someone switched the lights back on and the lamp took a moment to start to shine with its full light. Robo looked around, everyone were there. The folk that were walking with them. Kroenen stood rigid in his spot; he quickly shook with disgust as if to shake any sensations of the past moments off of his person.
Spike was next to Slenderman. The Wraith was looking startled but he was paying close attention to Slenderman who in turn stood as tall as only he could and take one, large breath. His mouth, that Robo remembered to be filled with rows upon rows of needle-like teeth and contained ridiculously long, red and flexible tongue; was now vanishing again, the skin melting shut, not leaving any trace.
"By the Charter!" Someone shouted. "We are all here! The Darkness has not taken anyone!"
"How can this be?" Someone else asked. "There is always a price to be paid for crossing this bridge!"
"Let us not tempt our fate. We have been all spared." Another one said. "We should leave the bridge, least the Darkness will decide to return for us."
After that everyone hurried to the other side of the bridge. Robo and his companions followed but kept their distance. Once they were out of the bridge, they slowed down. Neither of them dared to look back, not sure if they wanted to see what was behind them.
"I don't know what just happened, but I have a feeling that we just dodged a bullet here." Atomic Robo spoke silently after a moment.
He wasn't comfortable about this situation; this was way out of his field of expertise. Action science was a vas field, action physics was one of his interests but he lacked equipment and team to deal with it. He had no reason to have his people and toys; after all he was here to solve criminal mystery, not set up a lab and scan some old bridge. Still all this made him feel vulnerable and outmatched.
"I suppose we owe Slenderman gratitude for that." Spike said hesitantly. "I could sense his action telepathically. I am not sure what just happened and what was near us on the bridge, but if not for Slenderman announcing his presence with that roar, it could end badly."
"You want to say that there was something hiding in that darkness?" Robo stopped in his tracks.
"I am not sure if there was something hiding in that darkness, or if that darkness was something or even what that something was. But I know that it was hungry, I could feel its greed and lust for flesh." Spike shook slightly. "It would appear, however, that it did not have appetite for brawl with Slenderman."
"Do you know what it was, why it did not want to engage you?" Robo turned to the tall man.
Slenderman 'stared' at the robot for a moment and shook his head slightly.
"He said that he doesn't want to talk about it." Spike spoke on behalf of the creature.
"If I was to make an educated guess… "Kroenen started. "I would say that whatever kind of entity that darkness was, it is just as old as Slenderman. And perhaps just as powerful. Judging by the fact that the people that walked with us reacted, that thing also has dark appetites."
"He says that he doesn't want to talk about it." Spike repeated, seemingly on Slender's request. "I suspect it is personal."
"I wasn't asking, I was guessing." Kroenen remarked. "But I can respect his reluctance. Besides, there is someone heading our way, perhaps it is the guide that the young Ratspeaker spoke of." Kroenen gestured to a figure walking in their direction.
The man was brown. In a way at least. He was wearing brown business suit and dark brown shoes. His shirt was white but his neck tie was matching his suit – brown. He had brown-ish eyes and dark brown hair. The best way to describe his was 'homely', not as in ugly though, he was simply ordinary and quite boring. And everything about him screamed 'mid '90s', as if he was forever stuck in 19957). Probably some junior accountant in 'corpo' who had to go by the 'dress code' but wasn't important enough to actually have to look posh. Or stylish for that matter.
"Hello." He said as he stopped before them. "I am Richard Mayhew." Despite what his looks suggested, he didn't sound shy, but he seemed to be very polite. "Lady Door asked me to be your guide. Come with me."
No one asked how he knew it was them he was sent for, that much was obvious and there was no way the man could mistake them for anyone else.
TBC.
This chapter and the following one were supposed to be one, but it'd be too large, so I decided to split it in two and post as two separate chapters. I may do so in the future as well.
Also, mind you that for most part I tend to stick to British English (for two reasons: one, it was the one that I was taught; two, my editor is set for British English) so spelling will lean toward the BE and not American English.
1) Just as Richard was stuck in there. He left using the Key, but then returned. I devised the protection to make sure they can get back. To get the details you have to read the prequel of this story, there in the second chapter everything is explained.
2) In case someone doesn't know – London and City of London is not the same. City of London is inside of London. To put it simply, a "City" is a term for a town or part of a town that has a Cathedral, if there is more than one Cathedral in a town then each district in which a Cathedral resides has the title of "City". This means that when there is no Cathedral, it is a town, and if there is a Cathedral, then it is a city.
3) Bobby is the British police officer that wears the iconic high helmet.
4) Vril, yes, these Vril, in LotEG they were showed to inhabit London, in LotEG Century 1969 one was showed during a sex show. And in 2009 there were two bobbies clobbering a kid and they looked pretty Vril to me. That or they've been wearing masks or goggles.
Also in Atomic Robo there is mention of Vril society.
5) Genii build underground facilities, bunkers and other structures with unparalleled notoriety.
6) He's a Wraith. I consider the pits on both sides of their noses to be additional nostrils. Some people call them 'viper pits' but they're placed wrong to be just that. First of all they're pointed down and if they were meant to detect heat signatures they should be pointed forward (not to mention that the Wraith have excellent night vision supported by telepathy, so why would they need pits on top of that, it would end in sensory overload). But these 'pits' are placed just right to lead to the nasal cavity. The way I figure it is that the main nostrils are just to breathe, they're already long but thin so additional nostrils are logical, especially that being placed as they are and being smaller than the main pair, they may lead directly to the olfactory sensors giving Wraith supreme sense of smell.
7) Yeah, I know, some of you don't remember the '90s or wasn't even born yet, but I do remember the '90s (I even remember some of the '80s – yes, I am that old ;P ).