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 Below.
It did take a while for them to navigate through the London Below, and Richard Mayhew didn't hesitate to inform them that it took him some time to familiarise himself with certain nuances of Below and that they shouldn't feel ashamed by the fact that they could feel slightly disoriented or experience some difficulties with navigating there.
They were now walking along some underground river that ran inside some old tunnel, probably build there when the London grew larger and needed more land to expand. Richard babbled happily about how it was now easy for him to find his way around but somehow he still wasn't too fond of some people one could meet around, especially near the places the Floating Market took place.
"You seem to be irritated Mr Atomic Robo." He stopped and looked at the robot with what looked like concern and uncertainty.
Robo was shorter than him, that much was true, but he was also several times heavier and stronger than Richard cared to know. Lady Door told him what he had to know about the men he was about to bring to her, so he was aware just what kind of company he was having.
"You could say that." Robo replied without enthusiasm. "And either call me 'Atomic Robo', 'Robo' or 'Doctor Tesla'."
"Oh, of course." Richard smiled awkwardly. "Sorry, it's the first time I actually see you. I mean in person. I've seen you in papers and on TV back when I still lived Above. In reality, it's the first time I met any robot at all." He laughed nervously. "You're kind of famous and I never thought I'd meet you. It must me weird for you to be in here, in London Below, most people don't know that this place exists. I didn't. It was a bit of a shock to find myself here, and then it took me a while to get accustomed."
"I imagine. Can we go?" Robo sighed, or sounded as if he sighed.
"Of course." Richard smiled again and started to walk again. "One of the weirdest things I've noticed is that wireless phones don't work in here, as it happens computers don't work in here either and you can forget about radio and TV."
"Wait!" Robo stopped and grabbed Richards arm. "No radio? And no wireless phones? You mean that this place disturbs radio waves?"
"What? Oh, no. This place doesn't disturb radio waves, or at least I don't think so. Some workers who wander in the tube tunnels have working radios, but they belong to the Above." Richard shrugged. "I've been told that when someone belong to the Below it gets tricky. Radio waves work funny with us but wires are all right."
"You can use wire technology, like wire phones but no wireless? You mean there's no Wi-Fi or satellite connection here?" Robo's optics shone brighter.
"I don't know what Wi-Fi is, but yeah, no satellite." Richard nodded. "And the radio transmissions will be distorted so you either won't get a signal or it will be illegible so you won't make any sense of it." He explained. "But don't worry. Lady Door said that in your case it will only be temporary, because you're Below only as a matter of exception made in the Charter for the Duke Prospero and his agents from the League."
Robo didn't reply to that, he looked around and then checked his connectivity. He didn't have all the modems and radios included when he was first build by Mr Tesla, it was all a later addition, but he had it all for so long that he wasn't even thinking about it. It was so natural for him to have the connection that he thought it was only natural. In rare cases when he knew he would be cut off of communications he usually simply disconnected his comms for the time being. But this time he was to be in London and so he assumed that lack of connectivity wouldn't be a problem. That was why he felt so unnerved and why everything and everyone worked on his nerves ever since they followed that hobo. His comms didn't detect any silent chatter in the background; there wasn't even the usual white noise of empty radio channels that he could assume was what silence sounded for organic people. Now, not having that 'sound of silence' in the background was as enervating as the persistent ringing in the ears for a human. Or so he assumed it would be.
"That would explain a lot." He murmured and closed his optic shutters. There was no way that he could disconnect his comms physically now. And to just turning them off wasn't an option either because computers didn't work here.
"Pardon?" Richard glared at him in surprise.
"Nothing." Robo shrugged. "It just seemed unnaturally empty in here and now I know why." Then he turned to Kroenen. "Is that why you didn't take your computer?"
"Slenderman forewarned us that electronic equipment would most likely fail." Spike explained.
"I wonder how he failed to forward me." The robot complained.
"You are in no danger." Kroenen assured him. "You are under Charterer's protection, this gives you considerable immunity, but it doesn't include certain aspects that are merely auxiliary, supplemental in nature. You do not require radio signal to function."
"I was wondering." Richard admitted. "But I guess that Atomic Robo is recognised by Charterer as a person and not just walking computer."
"He is not a walking computer." Kroenen corrected the man. "Atomic Robo is not digital but analogue, and as I understand he is just as close to being a computer as an average human."
"What he said." Robo waved his hand in the German's direction. "Technically I am what is known today as an Artificial Intelligence. But back before computers existed I was called 'Mechanical Intelligence', which is more accurate because, like humans, I am based on chemistry and physics, not mathematical equations."
"I see." Richard nodded. It made more sense to him now. And, frankly it made sense when he recalled just how old Atomic Robo was, and that he really didn't behave like a computer would. "And here we are."
They were standing near a manhole, or rather underneath a manhole. They all looked up, there was a ladder leading up.
"We're going up now?" Spike asked eyeing the rungs in search of signs on rust.
"Yes. You see, unlike Above, where streets are on, street level I guess; the Below is 3D." Richard explained and grabbed the ladder. "And sometimes the Below is above the Above, hmm... for example, some locations of the London Below are on the rooftops. And sometimes Above and Below take the same space, yet they do not merge, they just exists simultaneously."
"Ahh, a paradox." Kroenen nodded. And then looked at the ladder and carefully avoided shuddering.
"Control your mysophobia1), Kroenen." Atomic Robo had no sympathy for the Occultist. "Lead the way Mr Mayhew."
"Okay, follow me. We're going to go to visit Marquis de Carabas in his dwelling on Fleet Street where you will meet Lady Door." Richard said and started to climb as if it was the most natural thing to do. They looked at each other and followed without a word.
?
Marquis de Carabas' lodge. Fleet St.
It did look as if they were back in London Above, but after just few steps they knew that it wasn't so. Everything was different. People around them seemed to simply flow around them as if they weren't there. They were in London Above, but somehow still Below. Richard Mayhew led them to one of the houses and entered. Somehow it seemed so natural.
Inside they found themselves in a flat, it was large and elegant but it did scream 'single man' somehow. There was the air of masculinity in it, or perhaps it was complete lack of lasting feminine presence, it was simply in the air, perhaps it was the smell, whatever it was, it announced that this was a place belonging to an unmarried man.
And there, in the middle if it all stood one Marquis de Carabas. He didn't look anything like the four men imagined him to be. His skin was jet black2) and his hair was white. He had full, carmine lips and hazelnut eyes. He was dressed in light turquoise XVIII French style clothes, complete with culottes3) trousers and impeccably white stockings.
The man himself was tall but not lanky but he wasn't stocky or obese either. He was well build though, athletic if anything could've told without removing his clothes. But above and beyond all he radiated confidence of someone who not only can but also did fight and win.
"Ah, my esteemed guests." He said with impeccable manners. "Welcome. Her Ladyship should join us shortly."
"I assume you are the Marquis de Carabas?" Robo narrowed his optics. This was getting more and more surreal.
"There is no other." The Marquis smiled. "Gentlemen, please, make yourselves comfortable while we will await her Ladyship. It shouldn't take long for her to arrive, unless she was delayed by some unpredicted circumstances."
"I do not expect you to be the one Marquis from the story?" Robo chose to remain standing.
"Ah, of course, but what is a name?" De Carabas shrugged nonchalantly. "Merely a label by which others address us. Some people are lucky for the names they are given by their parents to fit them. Some, less lucky, have to make themselves fit for their names. And others make their names fit them." The man explained with a smile that was not wide enough to be grin, but too wide to be simply a sign of good humour. "Let us take you for example, and what a colourful collection are you."
"What do you mean?" Spike asked something in that man was off and the Wraith wasn't sure if it was a good or a bad thing.
"Lady Door talked about you after she made her way back last year." De Carabas explained, his smile suddenly evaporating. "That little adventure made her a living legend, more than she already was that is, but few had the privilege to learn the entirety of it." He continued. "Richard here and I were among those few who were able to learn everything, or at least everything that her Ladyship chose to share."
"And what did she tell you?" Robo glared. He wasn't entirely sure if he was all right about what the man here knew. Even if Door trusted him, he himself didn't.
"She described you." The Marquis was now grinning like a Cheshire cat. "In her opinion your names fit you perfectly. I am yet to reach conclusion in that subject."
"And what did she say about us?" Spike asked, he was now pretty curious. Not that he usually cared much, but this man here was not a sustenance source. There certainly was more to him that met the eye, especially that there was so little of him that the eye could really see.
"Superlatives mostly." De Carabas waves his hand dismissively. "She was amused by your lack of belief in what you cannot analyse. She was intrigued by Spike's telepathic skills. She was in awe of Slenderman's power. And she was bemused by Kroenen. Namely by his past."
"Which I don't really get." Richard chimed in. "She never specified."
"Oh, you poor soul." De Carabas laughed silently. "Sometimes I forget that in certain areas you are ignorant to the point of being clueless."
"History was never my thing." Richard shrugged. "I was always more into math. That's why I became an accountant."
"You see, Karl Ruprecht Kroenen here is a Nazi, a Waffen-SS Oberststurbmannführer." Atomic Robo explained.
"Ex-Nazi." Kroenen corrected. "And only because I was ordered by Rasputin."
"What's an umber sturmer fury?" Richard pulled confused face.
"Oberststurbmannführer." Kroenen corrected again.
"That's a funky Nazi SS word for Lieutenant Colonel." Robo cleared out. "And see, that's why I don't buy that story of yours about being ordered by Rasputin to join in to the corps for the resources for your occult nonsense stuff! All SS-men swore an oath of fidelity to Hitler and to put their service before everything else, including their families."
"Ah, yes. Indeed." Kroenen nodded slowly. "I guess that makes ma a perjurer, doesn't it?"
"And that supposed to convince me that you're an all right?" Robo snapped. "Hellboy told me all about you commanding of Auschwitz-Birkenau KL!"
"Nonsense. I never commanded any KL in my life." Kroenen denied. "I would know if I did, it'd be hard to forget."
"And I'm supposed to believe you? You've got yourself an Iron Cross for serving a full round there."
Everyone's eyes moved back to Kroenen.
"You're old enough to have fought in that war and you're supposed to know history. As I said to you a year ago, I wasn't even in that part of Europe at the time. I stationed in France for the most part." Kroenen replied calmly. "And if you have any doubts, do check the historical records of Auschwitz-Birkenau commanders4)."
"Then how did you get that Iron Cross?" Atomic Robo crossed his arms. "Knitting contest?"
"Civilian evacuation during one of the Allied bombardment of Koln5)." Kroenen replied. "By chance I was there at the time to pull some civilians from the danger zone. One of these civilians was some general's niece, it was all pure coincidence but they did slap me an Iron Cross." He explained further. "The Auschwitz story is but a rumour. I have never been in General Government or any of the Polish lands incorporated into the Reich during the war6)."
"Even then, you did escape us the last time we worked." Atomic Robo reminded.
"What can I say? I was in no mood to be locked up again after the mission." Kroenen shrugged.
"And what guarantees us that you won't bail out in the middle of this mission?"
"Because he's stuck in London Below?" The Marquis tipped. This exchange was slightly amusing but was bound to become boring if it continued.
"That is true." Kroenen admitted. "But I will definitely bail out after it is completed."
"So! You admit it!" Robo exclaimed triumphantly.
"Sorry, but how did you escape the previous time?" De Carabas asked intrigued. Door told him about it, but never said anything about the method of his retreat.
"Sea turtles7)." Was all that Kroenen had to say on the subject.
"I do not follow." Spike blinked. What did have aquatic reptiles to do with the last year's events?
"It's a pop culture reference." Robo face palmed. "It means that he won't tell. But my money goes on Slenderman's involvement."
"That would be the logical conclusion. Especially that they did vanish in the same time." Came a calm and melodic voice from behind them. "But we cannot prove it and I do not think they are willing to admit anything."
Everyone spun around to see Door standing in a corner, looking as if she was there all the time. The girl smiled faintly.
"Lady Door, it is good that you managed to join us." De Carabas bowed to her. It was hard to tell if he was genuinely glad that she finally arrived or if it was a jab at her punctuality. Or it could be both. Everything was possible with Marquis the Carabas.
"Apologies. I have been delayed because of the meeting that majority of Lords of London Below organised to address this situation." Door explained patiently. "You were informed of the situation I presume?"
"Yes. But not with details." Robo confirmed.
"Before I will go into details of the crisis we're facing here, I will tell you that the Lords were very pleased with the League's involvement." Door revealed. "The League is held in pretty high esteem in here because of its creation by Duke Prospero on Queen Gloriana's request. Both are important historical figures Below."
"So this means that we have full acceptance from the local authorities?" Kroenen asked. He wanted to know if he understood correctly.
"More or less. Those who do care about their subjects and retain the remains of sanity are very pleased and relieved that the League is engaged in this affair. The rest either doesn't care or care so little that they will not get into our way. Some may even consider it an amusement." Door admitted. "For us it means that no one will get into our way, but we can't always count on full cooperation. It shouldn't be any more difficult than similar situation Above."
"What can you tell us about this case?" Atomic Robo re-focused on the reason for their involvement. "All I know so far is that people disappear and when they reappear they look as if it was better for them to stay missing."
"Yes. People going missing Below is no more usual than Above, the main difference is that we do not have any police forces. The law enforcement in any of the Fiefdoms or Baronies is entirely dependent on whoever is the ruler of the domain." Door explained. "Usually people just bear with it, but not this time. Now it's not just people going missing but people being brutally murdered just like that, for no good reason. And it's not some assassinations, these are random people. Everyone is scared to the point where the last Floating Market didn't happen, after three people got missing during the past two Markets and despite of the Market Truce."
"In any normal situation this would be solved swiftly and with utmost brutality." The Marquis chimed in. "But this time no one knows who to mob-lynch since no one ever saw the villain responsible. Not even the Seven Sisters know who it is, and there's not a living soul brave enough to inquire if they're willing to speculate."
"So this is some serial killer." Robo summarised.
"Not just some serial killer. A very brutal one." De Carabas corrected. "Trust me; I've seen some brutality in my life." He continued wincing. "And I've witnessed serial killer sprees; I still remember when Jack the Ripper stalked the streets of Whitechapel."
"What now?" Spike asked.
"We will visit the people of the latest victim." Door decided. "Or rather, the latest victim that was found." She corrected herself. "After that we will retreat and rest, we will start proper investigation tomorrow morning."
"Sounds like a plan." Robo nodded.
?
It didn't take them long to reach their destination even if the road they had to take was a bit of a maze. They had to walk down again, back to literal below. The paths they've taken led them through some tunnel and couple of catwalks but they finally arrived. To the men's surprise, they were back where they have started their journey to the London Below – the Ratspeakers' lair.
"You again!" They've heard distinct voice of the Lord Ratspeaker.
They were now surrounded by crowd of Ratspeakers and they couldn't see him, but he certainly saw them. Or what was more probable, he noticed Slenderman and deduced that the tall being was accompanied by the rest of them.
"Lord Ratspeaker." Door turned to the direction the man's voice was coming from. And indeed, the man pushed his way to them. "We came as soon as we could. I was informed that you have found one of your own?"
"Lady Door." Lord Ratspeaker bowed with respect. His angry scowl evaporated instantly. "We have just discovered her remains." He confirmed. "But what are you doing in company of these… individuals?"
"These are my companions from my latest journey that took place last year. Together we were honoured with privilege of forming the newest group of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." Door explained patiently. "We have reunited in effort to find the one who is responsible for the recent incidents and contain that person to end the unrest."
"I should expect that much." The man sighed tiredly. "Very well, please, your Ladyship, follow me."
Lord Ratspeaker led them away from the main chamber where the Ratspeakers resided and to one of the quieter areas. There a small group of people were huddled together, some woman was weeping silently.
"This is the family of the girl that was discovered." Lord Ratspeaker gestured at the people and left immediately.
They approached the mourning family silently as an elderly man, probably an elder of the family, noticed them.
"Lady Door." He spoke silently and bowed his head respectfully. "What can we do for you?"
Door sighed. Lately she spoke with way too many families that have had lost their loved ones only to rediscover them in a state that no-one should see their relatives in. Each of such conversations was difficult and it wasn't getting any easier, but finally she had her team and she could actually promise that they would work hard to find the person responsible and bring them to justice.
TBC.
1) Mysophobia – fear of germs and contamination. The movie Kroenen suffered from mysophobia. There is no mention of him suffering from it in the comic books to which I stick closer than to the film, so my Karl isn't really mysophobic and Robo was just messing with him, but that doesn't mean that KRK is fond of filth. This is merely an eye-wink for all those who watched Hellboy.
2) As in the comic book, not in the TV show. His skin absorbs all light, so it is impossible to tell how'd he look if he was normal man. And frankly who cares? Marquis de Carabas in one of the kind, impossible to anatomize and counterfeit – by his own admission.
3) Culottes – that's historical, manly culottes, commonly known today as britches; not the girly trousers. I used the term 'culottes' and not 'britches' due to the fact that de Carabas is wearing old style clothes and historically the term 'culottes' is proper here.
4) For more see this page: en. wikipedia. org slash wiki slash SS underscore command underscore of underscore Auschwitz underscore concentration underscore camp .
5) There were numerous bombardments of Reich's towns and cities during the WWII, just as Reich's Luftwaffe bombarded non-Nazi towns and cities as well (like Rotterdam, London and Warsaw – to name just three). I used Koln because it was bombarded 262 times [sic!] so there was a wide timeline for Kroenen to be there. I didn't want to name any particular bombardment for the same reason why I establish in my stories that he was not KL commander – it would be unfair for the people who were victims of the war. The most famous blitz of the city was performed by RAF on May 31 1942 – but that wasn't the one that Karl was in.
6) As Poland was the first country to actually engage the Nazi Germany during the WWII (they were incorporating lands before that, but Poland was the first one to fight back), parts of the Polish territory were incorporated into The Third Reich, parts were incorporated by the Soviet Union which at the start of the war was allied with Hitler (Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 1st 1939, the USSR invaded on September 17th), and what remained was made "General Government" and was a nasty place to live in where Poles who were evicted from the incorporated lands could be sent to (because even Nazis couldn't execute that many people at once).
7) For reference check out the "Pirates of the Caribbean", namely the first and third installation.