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.
Epilogue.
?
Pegasus Galaxy. Todd's Hive.
The trip back to Area 51 went relatively smooth, excluding Atomic Robo's rants about how all that was illogical. Spike paid him no mind, the robot didn't really need him to pay attention and listen, the mechanical being needed to vent out his scientific frustrations an audience wasn't required to react to them.
The trip to Pegasus Galaxy was instant thanks to the Stargate (as Atlanteans called it) but he emerged in their base, in the City of Lanteans (or now City of Tau'ri as they were apparently knows in their own Galaxy – Spike decided that too many names caused more problems than it was worth). That wouldn't be problem in itself if not for the fact that the moment he has set his foot in the City, the Satedan Runner (Ronon Dex, Spike was perfectly aware that the large man had a name but the man's anger was amusing so he continued to call him 'Runner') was breathing on his neck. Then it took an hour for the Atlanteans to contact his Hive, and another hour for him to be transported there.
And finally he was home... or as close to the idea as a Wraith could have. He was now thinking about a bath with little (or a lot) help from some nice worshippers and then rest. Yes. And the rest would involve worshippers too – he was hoping that a nice massage could be arranged.
His daydreaming was interrupted however by Hive's Commander's orders for him to immediately report on the bridge and... Well... report. Spike sighed and went to the bridge – he could count on his Commander to summon him like this. He could swear that the old Wraith has made it his hobby to make Spike's life miserable. Then again, there would be a reason or two for that. Spike winced internally, it was just his luck: he chose to just do his job and follow orders no matter whom they came from and in turn was now paying for it (because he followed orders that didn't came from his rightful Commander), if he chose to follow the rightful Commander he'd be dead now (and it was his luck that the rightful Commander whom he chose not to follow made it alive and regained his position even if it wasn't in the same Hive that he'd lost it on).
But no matter how mean the Commander was being to him (though never cruel or downright hostile), the familiarity of a Hive was refreshing for his mind like no other place. The comfortable darkness of the corridors, the organic walls surrounding him and the mental presence of other Wraith was just what he longed for ever since he left for the last mission, Slenderman's presence could never make up for this (even if it was good to be around another telepath).
He reached the bridge without thinking about it – his legs simply knew the way – and entered it without a pause. The familiar figure of the Commander and the Second in Command known as Bullseye by some of the humans came to his view. He carefully did not roll his eyes – the younger Wraith was related to the Commander and also behaved like a paragon of all SICs.
"You return faster than I have expected. Did you succeed?" The Commander known to humans as Todd spoke with suspicious calmness (Spike suspected that it was meant to hide Todd's curiosity).
"Yes, the mission was a success. The objective was achieved." Spike replied truthfully. "Although it was not what I have been expecting." He added.
"Specify." Bullseye demanded. He was just as calm and polite as the Commander.
"I was expecting another global security issue, just as it was the last time, but it was a criminal case this time." Spike revealed. "Granted, the circumstances and locality was rather exotic, the modus operandi of the killer was particularly disturbing and his motive was most unusual, but it the end it was series of murders."
"I am expecting more detailed relation than that." Bullseye pressed.
"If I told you, you wouldn't believe." Spike avoided wincing, he suddenly realised just why Atomic Robo was ranting. To someone who lived through it the events were perfectly clear and reasonable, but to someone else it would be nonsense. How was he to explain all that?
"Nevertheless I would like to hear it." Todd gave Spike a piercing look of someone with experience regarding outlandish yet true stories.
"I believe that it might have involved a quantum mirror of some sort. And perhaps even inter-dimensional travels. Although not directly – the case itself was a series of murders."
"I expect a full written report by the start of the next round of shifts1)" Todd ordered. "Your previous report was most interesting and I expect to learn just as much from this one as well."
"You've probably learn much less. Maybe some of their history." Spike revealed. "If I was to read what I am about to write, not living through it all by myself, I would consider it to be ravings of a feverish lunatic."
"Regardless, I want that report. Present it as you saw it." Todd insisted. "If it will make you feel better, you may add your personal observations to the nature of what you have witnessed."
"Yes Commander." Spike bowed his head.
"Dismissed."
"Yes Commander." Spike immediately turned on his heel and marched off the bridge. This went rather well.
As the door closed behind the dart pilot, Bullseye turned to his uncle with a slight smirk.
"You know that this means that he will spend the rest of the round writing that report instead of resting or humping all the Worshippers he can get to stay still long enough?" He spoke with humour.
"An added bonus." Todd admitted. "But I am curious about his adventure on Earth."
"Is it that important?"
"By being part of that 'League' of theirs, he is becoming one of my most promising intel sources." Todd explained. "We may have an alliance with Atlanteans and a working one, but it always pays to have some extra leverage when dealing with them."
Bullseye didn't reply to that. He knew that his uncle and the military commander of Atlantis were 'brothers' due to Gift of Life, and that Todd trusted the man more than he trusted most of his own kin (especially given Todd's personal history), but respect is one thing and leading someone by their nose is another. And Todd never saw anything against manipulating Sheppard into doing things.
?
Tesladyne Island.
Atomic Robo sat behind his desk and looked around. He was away for merely few days but it felt like ages. Dust didn't have a chance to settle but the impression remained. And then the sensation of being back flooded him like a warm air: home, sweet home.
It was his kingdom, his domain, where everything had explanation and the things that didn't were examined and scientifically explained. And if they weren't, it was merely a matter of time before his action scientist would have better equipment to try again.
Robo leaned in his chair, it was sturdy one so it could take his weight, and thought about things to do. There were few projects awaiting his approval, some reports to read and tasks to assign, but every time he thought of something his optics drifted to portrait of Nicola Tesla. The photograph of his constructor (and de facto father) seemed to have gravity of its own.
Robo stared at the picture for a moment and gave up. There was no point in delaying it. He knew he would make that call sooner or later, probably sooner. Being socially connected was important for him, especially to that one person who could almost match him in years and knew exactly how it felt to see people come and go constantly.
He dialled up and waited for his in-build set to connect him to the other end of the line. It seemed to take forever but after three signals he heard a voice on the other end.
"Hey HB2)… Guess what, yeah the League… Care to drop by? … Who escaped? "
?
Belarus, near the Estonian border.
Slenderman sat on a thick tree branch with his hands behind his head, his nimble tentacles twined around the trunk that he was leaning on, keeping him safely secured on his perch. He was dangling one leg and seemed to be pleased with himself. His entire being radiated satisfaction.
His carefree mood was suddenly disrupted by sound of broken twigs and steps in the fallen leaves. He turned his attention to where the sounds came from and saw two men sneaking in the forest. For a moment he wondered what the meaning of this was but then he realised that they were trying to get to Estonia illegally… He pondered for a moment and came to a conclusion that they had to be either Belarusian KGB or Russian FSB agents, or perhaps some other spies of one kind of another.
Slenderman was well fed lately even though salty water of the Mediterranean Sea destroyed several business suits, and even if he wasn't, adults were not nourishment source for him. They could prove to be entertainment though… With that in mind he vanished from his sitting spot. It would definitely be fun; especially that it was already getting dark.
?
Texas. New Mexico.
Black Volkswagen Golf drove smoothly on an empty road, it was getting late and the sun was slowly setting down. The driver was nearing the speed limit but never crossing it as if he was in a hurry but wanted no trouble whatsoever.
"I never knew you had it in you." A short, man with black hair said. He was short enough to have to have a booster seat.
"You didn't think I would leave you like that, did you Leopold?" Kroenen asked with just a note of offense.
"You did. You have escaped a year ago." The other man, Leopold Kurtz huffed.
"I didn't have opportunity to help you. I knew you were in no immediate danger so I waited for opportunity to act." Kroenen shrugged, not tearing his eyes from the road. "You never were a patient kind."
"I am patient enough." Leopold Kurtz growled. "And where are we going? Don't tell me you want to go and try to find von Klempt's hiding hole in Southern America? The man... "
"Why would I want to do that? He's not there and I have no use for his laboratory." Kroenen sighed. He knew that his old friend disliked the other scientist with passion. "And I do not know what happened with his head."
"Good riddance of bad rubbish." Kurtz almost laughed. "You do know that he was using you for your resources."
"The man was a genius... perhaps he still is..." Kroenen replied without much conviction. Sure Herman von Klempt was a mad scientist, but he was a genius... then again so was Leopold Kurtz and himself... and Ilsa was too. And Rasputin never trusted von Klempt... Still, when it came to certain fields Herman von Klempt was the only other person with whom he could truly talk with. Not even Rasputin could do because Rasputin was a Master, a teacher, and von Klempt was a peer.
"Karl, please don't tell me that we're going to look for him." Kurtz whined. If he never saw the damn head in the jar again it would still be too soon. "I know that you owe him for helping you avoiding that Gestapo officer, but you repaid him with excess when you saved his life, you owe him nothing. If anything he owes you."
"We are not going to look for him. If he is alive, he is hiding and the last thing he needs is for someone to find him. And if he is not, then someday I will discover what happened with his remains." Kroenen assured his friend. "And when I do, then I will see what I can do for him, even if it will be only a funeral."
"You don't owe him even that."
"He helped me more than once."
"He didn't have to help you if you weren't keeping that contraband books3)." Kurtz reminded Kroenen4).
"But I needed them for my research." Kroenen insisted.
"You could wait; they were not prohibited after the war."
"What if Fuhrer would win?" Kroenen asked, glancing at his passenger briefly.
"Then you could always assassinate him." Kurtz grinned.
"Oh for the love of... I was never... Leopold, not you too..." Kroenen whined but with his damaged vocal cords it sounded more like a consumptive's grunt.
"I know, it's just the post-war rumour, I was joking." Kurtz smirked. He learned about this during his imprisonment and he decided that it would be a perfect device to torture his old friend every now and then. "But if we're not going to find von Klempt, or his laboratory, then where are we going?"
"The first step is to leave the USA, neither of us cannot stay here, B.P.R.D is searching for both of us." Kroenen replied. "Then we will find a safe hiding place to stay so I can find a way to navigate a safe way to my secret lair through the L-space, or to contact Slenderman and convince him to help us."
"Who is Slenderman?" Leopold Kurtz blinked. He heard the name spoken once or twice by the B.P.R.D agents but that was it.
"It is complicated, but I consider him to be... not an enemy, perhaps strange kind of a friend. Certainly someone with great knowledge."
"Aahhh... "Kurtz smirked again. "You have found yourself new freak friend to replace von Klempt."
"I swear Leopold; you have an obsession with Herman." Kroenen sighed. "Slenderman is an ally, perhaps you will meet him and then you will understand.
"Whatever you say." Kurtz shrugged. "Ummm... how long until we can stop?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I need to go."
?
London Below. House of Arch.
Door let Richard in immediately as he arrived, the man was breathing hard and looked as if he ran. He was bent; supporting himself on the wall, in his right hand was a single white envelope.
"Do you need water Richard?" Door asked. Richard wasn't a man to run around like that. To force him into such a hurry it had to be something urgent.
"I'm fine, just bad condition… huff huff… I need to work on my cardio." He managed to say before having a coughing fit.
"Maybe you should sit?" Door gently led him to a comfy chair. He didn't resist.
"This is for you." He offered her the envelope. "I was told that it was left in a train, and it is Earl's demesne, so he took it but it was addressed to you." He was slowly managing to breathe normally again. "He sent one of his guards to me so I could pass it to you. Looks like someone knew that it could reach you this way."
"Really? But who can it be?" Door took the envelope and examined it.
It was plain white envelope, the kind that anyone can buy in a post office. There was an elegant handwriting on it spelling 'Lady Door of House Portico' and nothing more. But in London Below that was more than enough to let anyone know who this should go to.
"Maybe you can find some answers inside?" Richard suggested. "If you don't want me to be here then I can go." He started to get up.
"No, Richard, stay. I fear it may be connected to the recent events." She took in a sharp breath and opened the envelope. There was a short letter in it. She quickly read it and visibly paled.
"What is it?" Richard wanted to get up instantly but he stumbled a little.
"It's from Slenderman… I didn't expect him to be able to use our language… "Door swallowed. "He has found my sister… And… And he wrote this to tell me where she is."
"Your sister? He gave you your sister's whereabouts?" Richard was shocked. "But why? Not that it's a bad thing, but what do he cares?"
"I do not know, Richard. Slenderman does things for his own reasons and no one knows them but Slenderman himself. Maybe it is a whim?" Door shrugged. "Whatever the reason is, I am going there… I think I know a good route."
"Wait! I'm going with you." Richard decided.
"Why?"
"Just in case, it may be trap." He said and frowned upon seeing Door's reaction. "Hunter didn't give me her knife for no reason."
"Fine. Let's go."
"What, know?"
"I will wait not a single moment longer." Door stated. "I want to know what happened to my sister. I want to see her, even if it will be nothing more than her grave."
Richard didn't argue further. Door indeed knew a good route. There was a picture of a place that she said wasn't far from their destination. And so they went.
There was quite lengthy walk from where they have landed to where the letter was directing them but Richard didn't complain, when he first met Door they have walked a lot more. As long as they wouldn't have to run he was all right.
It was a dark alley, filthy and smelly. It looked like it could be in any city or town on the planet. A place where huge metropolises showed its true, ugly face. The shiny skyscrapers were for tourists and corporation workers. This was what ordinary people often saw; post cards never showed such places because no one really cared about stench, trash, bugs, rodents and homeless. That was where the letter directed them.
The place seemed to be empty, but Door walked into it anyway. The other end was closed by some fence.
"Hello? Is there anybody here?" She asked and stepped further into the smelly shadows. "I was told I would find someone here…"
"I'm not going back." There was a defiant voice coming from behind one of the large dumpsters.
"Not going back where?" Door asked. The voice seemed familiar, yet… different. She wasn't sure if it wasn't just her imagination.
"To the foster home. I ran for a reason, you're not taking me back." The voice replied, there was determination in it.
"I'm not here to take you anywhere." Door assured. "I just need to talk, can you show yourself?"
"Why should I?"
"I was told that… I'm looking for my little sister. We were separated and I was told I could find her here." Door explained. "Can you help me?"
"I don't know who your sister is, lady." The voice was determined to not comply.
"Her name is… Back then her name was Ingress." Door didn't give up. "And he has… she had, a tattoo over her right eye. Perhaps it was removed but it would leave a mark…" Door wasn't sure if someone wouldn't try to remove her family's markings from her sister. "She has light brown hair… I remember that it was long, but it may be short now. And she has darn green eyes."
There was silence for a long time, but then a single figure stepped from behind the dumpster. It was a young girl, a teenage, but she was very thin. So thin that it was obvious that she was malnourished. She had light brown hair but it was short and dirty. The tattoo around her right eye was there though.
"I remember people called me Ingress when I was small but then… I don't know what happened… and other people were calling me different name and said that Ingress was stupid one." The girl spoke silently. There wasn't a trace of previous defiance. She seemed scared or shocked now. "They wanted to remove my tattoo but a doctor said that it would leave a bad scar and that I was too young."
Door stared, petrified. It was her sister, but she looked so different now. Taller… and in strange clothes… and looking terribly.
"And they barely noticed me." The girl continued. "I remember having a mother and brother, and sister and father… and they always noticed me. But later, I was taken and no one noticed me anymore. So I ran."
Door covered her mouth with one hand. She had finally found her sister.
"Ingress… I thought you were dead!" She finally spoke. "All these years I thought you were dead! I have lost all hope!" She spread her arms. "Come home with me."
The girl took one step back, unsure.
"Please, don't you remember me? Look, we have the same tattoo." Door stepped closer. "I want to take you to our home, to where you belong. Away from here."
Ingress glanced at Richard and then at Door.
"He is a friend. He helped me a lot." Door assured. "He helped me to defeat the people who took you away."
"Why I was taken away?" Ingress asked. "I don't remember much, I was scared and then they said that I was too young for something and then they didn't come back. Who took me away?"
"Bad people, but they're gone now. You really don't remember much?" Door beckoned for Ingress to come to her. "You must've been very scared, or maybe they gave you drugs? Or a spell? Doesn't matter. I will tell you everything when we're home and you're rested."
"I haven't slept in a bed for months." Ingress admitted. "Are you sure I am your sister? This seems too beautiful to be true."
"Yes. I remember, and you bear our tattoo. I am sure. You are Ingress of House Portico." Door smiled.
"Actually, I think now it is House Door." Richard interrupted shyly. "Lady Ingress of House Door, you are first of the family, Door."
"Lady?" Ingress blinked, she seemed to recall something. "My mum was a Lady." She said. "Lady… Portia. Sometimes I can remember her face."
"Yes. And our father was Lord Portico." Door nodded. "Come. It will take only a moment, I will teach you everything you need to know."
"All these years they have never believed me. Though me to be delusional. Mentally damaged." Ingress grabbed her own head. "Called me a liar and told me to stop make up things! And I was ready to believe them!"
"I will show you the truth, Ingress, and no one will dare to call you a liar again." Door promised. Things would be good now, she has found her sister. Finally, she wasn't the sole survivor of her family.
"I hope you know a good route back." Richard interrupted.
"Any door will do." Door smiled. "For us, all door lead home after all."
The End.
I wanted to make a happy end for Door. It is not perfect, but there is no such thing as perfect happy endings. Or perhaps there is no such thing as happy endings at all but there are endings that are not horrible tragedies, and that's already better than nothing.
1) On a Hive there is no day and night because they're in space. But I imagine that their equivalent of a full day is a "round of shifts" or "shift round" which is the time needed for full shift change – when the cast of the bridge (and the rest of the Hiveship) starts their shifts again.
2) Hellboy, naturally, originally I wanted to write a scene where they talk face to face about London Below, but decided that phone call will be way more climatic.
3) The ones mentioned in chapter 12 "Mad Man's Mind, p2". Herman von Klempt may have had an opinion of a certifiable case, but he was still capable of providing an alibi or help in some other ways.
4) Have you noticed how all the male Nazis in Hellboy have names starting with 'K'? And some females too (Inger von Klempt).