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.

Poison Girl.

"(…) I did it all just for her

I did it all just for her

And love's heart is death

For me and my poison girl

And the taste of the poison on her lips is of a tomb

(…)

And love's heart is death

For me and my poison girl

In this poison world." – HIM "Poison Girl".

oOo

London. MI6 HQ. The next day.

Mina entered the office of the "M" and sat down. She placed all the materials she has received the day before on the desk. The "M" regarded her for a moment and then took the items.

"I understand that you have chosen the candidates." He finally spoke. His voice was strong, but his hands were slightly trembling and not with nervousness or anticipation. Mina noticed that they shook the day before, which was why she believed him that he was leaving due to health problems.

"I have. You will find them in the Dossier. I have allowed myself to unsheathe them and place them on top of other charts." Mina explained.

"Good. Let's see." The "M" opened the binder and took out the loose pages. "Tell me, are you ready to take over all of the responsibilities that this office holds?"

"I believe I am ready for all kinds of responsibilities." She replied boldly. She knew that she would have to perform ALL the duties of an "M" not just the ones she was specifically recruited for, but she was confident about her skills and knowledge. After all, her experience reached for over a hundred years, which was already more than any other candidate could ever dream of. Additionally her expertise in the field she would be currently working was also impressive, if from the more practical approach.

"No, you're not." The "M" smirked. "But no-one is. Fortunately Miss Moneypenny is here and will help you with everything during your adjustment period." He assured. "I want you to take over as soon as possible."

"How soon it would be?"

"As soon as the new team will be assembled and ready to go." He finally focused on the pages that he took out of the binder. "Now, back to the team." He studied the pages. "A reasonable choice, though also ambitious. It won't be easy to recruit them."

"I realize that." Mina's eyes focused on the pages. She and Orlando spent half of the night picking these particular candidates. "And this is why I would want to recruit them all personally."

"No. You will personally recruit only the leader of the team. After that you will send them to recruit the rest. After they will be back, you will brief them about the mission and subsequently replace me." The "M" decided. "Your role in that stage will be the same as the person who had recruited you, if I am not mistaken it was one Campion Bond. After you will assume your duties as an 'M', that function will be re-taken by Bill Tanner1), whom you will certainly find just as helpful as Miss Moneypenny."

"You said that it won't be easy to recruit them, this is why I wanted to do it myself! I don't want to put anyone in the same position that I was put in upon being recruited." Mina exploded, if it was her assembly then why wouldn't it be her job to get them?

"If the person you have chosen to be the leader of this team is to have any kind of authority over them and be able to command them, it must be them who will acquire them for your employment." The "M" patiently explained. "This was the reason why it was you who went to gather your own team."

"I've learned that I was chosen by Professor Moriarty for a different reason." Mina huffed with distaste.

"I am aware of why you have been chosen as the leader. What I am referring to is why you have been pursuing your group's members by yourself." The "M" carefully ignored her tone and returned the charts of her chosen agents to her. "And this is why whomever you have chosen to be the leader will have to do as you did. Now, that it is clear, you are free to go and engage the leader of your team."

"I see." She got up and took the charts.

"Take the Jihadists folders too. You will need them." The "M" pointed to the two yellow folders. "Before you will leave, Miss Moneypenny has documents for you to sign."

"Of course." Mina grabbed the folders and turned to leave. She wasn't happy about not participating in recruiting the team but she understood the reasoning that "M" presented. "Good day to you, sir."

"Good day to you too." She heard as she left.

oOo

Mina closed the door behind her and sighed reminding herself why she was doing any of this. She lifted her head and noticed that Miss Moneypenny was already holding a handful of paper sheets for her to sign without a doubt. She approached the secretary's desk and took the papers.

"What are these?" She asked.

"Documents regarding your official employment." Miss Moneypenny informed her smiling. "Your contract, security clause and insurance papers. All in two copies, one for you and one for me. And this is a form for your pass, if you will send me your photo by e-mail it should be ready for you by the next time you will visit."

"Thank you." Mina quickly skimmed through the documents, all seemed in order and she signed them. "I will send you the photo as soon as I will arrive home if you will give me your e-mail."

"Splendid." Miss Moneypenny took the documents and put both sets in white folders. She quickly scribbled something on yellow sticky note and put it in one of the folders. "Here you are. And have a nice day, Miss Murray."

"Good bye Miss Moneypenny." Mina nodded and headed out. It felt strangely natural for her to say that.

oOo

Mina watched as the computer screen displayed message that her e-mail has been sent. There it went. She logged out and shot the computer down; she wouldn't need it for now. She turned her attention to Orlando, who was at the moment munching on some sandwich; it sounded rather crunchy and reminded her that she should also eat something before she will go on her head-hunt.

"Mind if I help myself?" Mina asked while reaching and snatching second sandwich from Orlando's plate.

"I could say I do, but it's already too late." Orlando observed as her friend bit into the bread. "You're going today for the search?"

"Yes. But I don't expect it to be easy one." Mina swallowed her food. "I've talked with Norton on my way back."

"What did he say?"

"He gave me few clues." Mine finished the sandwich. "He told me to find a Ratspeaker." She got up. "Whatever that means."

"Oh! I think I may know." Orlando groaned. "But to find a Ratspeaker you need to find someone to take you to them."

"Great. Do you know how can I find someone that will take me to a Ratspeaker or do I have to go back to Norton?"

"No, I think I know where to find someone like that. At least I used to know." Orlando shrugged. "Two block down the street, next to a cash machine you should find a homeless man. His name is Iliaster. And if you won't find him there, ask any of the beggars, they will tell you where to find him."

"OK." Mina grabbed her purse and went to the door.

"You want me to go with you?" Orlando asked.

"No, I got it. How do you know all this?" Mina stopped with her hand on the door.

"I'm really old, you know." Orlando replied with rather grim face. "You've been to Blazing World so you should be immune, but just be careful."

"Immune? OH GOD! What about others?" Mina turned pale.

"They should be safe. I'm not sure how it works though, we had contacts with the London Below back when Prospero led the League but I didn't pay attention back then. You will have to ask when you get there."

"First I need to get there. Wish me luck." Mina sighed and left.

oOo

She found the man easily. He sat at the pavement, covered in dirty, grey blanket, his hair and beard were grey and he had sandals on his feet even though the autumn air wasn't all that warm any more. The man had a cardboard sign telling 'PLeeSe Give Jenerus' and below that was 'KriPPles'. It was terribly spelled but she got the meaning. She stood in front of him.

"Hello, my name is Miss Murray; I am looking for a man named Iliaster." She spoke hoping that the man would react.

The beggar looked up at her and narrowed his eyes. "And what do you want from him?"

"This is a business between him and me. But I am willing to indemnify your losses if you will take me to him." She replied. She didn't want to waste her time explaining anything to a random man who would take her for a crazy woman.

"I would say that I need to know what you want from him, Miss, I do not know your intentions."

Mina sighed, she could stand there are argue for the rest of the day and it would get her nowhere. "I need him to contact me with someone." She decided to tell as little as possible. "Someone whose services I am in need of. Is that sufficient answer for you?"

"That someone whose services you are in need… be they someone who speaks to… someone else?" The man asked smirking. "And be that someone else a rodent?"

"So you know what I need?" Mina glared at the man.

"Aside for a man? Yes. Come with me, I will take you to the Ratspeakers." The man got up.

The beggar was taller than he seemed when sitting but at the same time he was thin and elderly. Or looked like that. This reminded her of how Allan looked when she met him last time. These were bitter memories that brought tears to her eyes but she had to supress them. This was not the time or the place to mourn.

oOo

The man led her to an old ruined building where some other beggars resided, then to the smelly basement and then even lower. Mina estimated that they had to be at least at the Underground level but she didn't knew how much deeper they would get. Finally after second flight of stairs, long and steep stairs as Mina noticed, they have reached a room filled with all kinds of rubbish. It smelled of mould and wet paper. At the far end of the room there was an old closet or large, man-sized cabinet with plastic stripe curtain instead of a door. The man walked to the closet and looked at her, then went inside. Having no other choice she followed in anything would happen; she had a pepper spray with her.

Behind the plastic stripe curtain however she didn't found the old beggar, or rather not only him. There was a whole new world. World filled with people dressed in all kinds of clothes from all historical periods. And these people were busy doing all kinds of things in most noisily way possible.

"Lord Ratspeaker!" The old beggar called somewhere below.

Immediately someone put a ladder for them. The beggar immediately climbed down and Mina followed him quickly. She didn't want to get lost in the crowd.

"Iliaster, who have you brought to us on this occasion?" A man with rat-face half-mask asked. He wore XVIIth century clothes with matching hat.

"This young woman looked for Ratspeaker." Iliaster replied. "Whatever she wants from you, it is not my business."

"Very well, Iliaster, I am not holding you any further." The Lord Ratspeaker turned his attention to Mina. "And you, who might you be?"

"I am Miss Wilhelmina Murray." Mina introduced herself. "I am looking for Lady Door for reasons of my own. I have been informed by Mr Andrew Norton that the easiest way to find her would be to do it with your help."

"And why would we help you?" The Lord Ratspeaker asked squinting at her from behind his obnoxious mask.

"You would do so because I am an associate of Duke Prospero and work for the Government." Mina replied dryly. Prospero probably wouldn't be thrilled about her making references to him, but she wasn't lying. "I do not ask you to do anything inappropriate either, I merely wish you to pass a message."

"A message." Lord Ratspeaker rubbed his chin. "To the Lady Door." He pondered more. "I highly doubt that she would like to talk to you, but I believe we can arrange a message to be sent to her." He finally decided. "Wait here if you will, I shall presently request a message to be sent, and the reply should arrive soon after."

oOo

Mina spent an hour waiting for the reply. In that time she has been proposed with a meal that consisted of roasted cat, which she politely refused, and a cup of tea, which she accepted. Aside from that nothing really happened and she was on a verge of passing out due extreme boredom, when the Lord Ratspeaker returned with an unhappy face. Or at least it seemed so from underneath the mask.

"You have your answer." He spoke calmly. "You are to go to this address and wait there." He handed her a scrap of paper. "I trust you know your way out?"

"I do." Mina took the piece of paper and headed to the doorway she had arrived by.

The ladder awaited her and she climbed in quickly, then she navigated her way up and emerged to the fading light of early autumn evening.

oOo

When she got to the address it was already dark but she was apparently expected because the lights were on and when she knocked, the door opened immediately. The man that opened her seemed normal enough, he had brown hair and brown eyes and wore brown business suit. After giving him a second glance he looked like some boring type of a man that slips in the background. When he saw her he smiled and he had quite nice smile, for someone so unassuming.

"Hello, my name is Richard Mayhew, are you Miss Murray?" He asked letting her in.

"Yes, I'm looking for Lady Door."

"She's not here. I'm sorry but some time ago there was… er… a situation and ever since she prefers to be safe than sorry." He explained. "She needed to know that you are indeed the one that you claim to be."

"If you need any ID…"

"No… well… I'm still new to all of this…" Richard explained with slight embarrassment.

"And what do you actually do?"

"I'm an accountant." He admitted. "Look, I was to make sure that you really are you and not some goon. Okay? And if you are not, I was to call for someone that would take you to Door."

"Well, do I look like a goon?" Mina asked smirking. "I warn you, it's a tricky question."

"I don't think you look like someone we'd fear." Richard blushed a little. "Your guide awaits you in the basement. If you will follow these stairs you will find him easily."

"LORD, another basement." Mina rolled her eyes. "Thank you." She muttered and went to the stairs.

oOo

This time there was only one flight of stairs and there was electric light there. It didn't smell badly either, or at least not worse than basements usually do. There too were doors, only this time they were in a wall and they were made of wood. She knocked and heard "Come" so she opened them and entered…

… To chamber brightly lit with candles which light reflected from mirrors. The effect was so much stronger thanks to impeccably white walls and lightly coloured furniture. And in the middle of all that sat a man. Mina had to take a double take because his looks were disquietingly familiar, yet she knew it was nothing more than coincidence.

The man had jet black skin that seemed to absorb all light, his hair was silvery-white and he had crimson red lips2). Aside of that he was tall and wore XVIII French clothes. Seeing Mina he smiled and stood up.

"I take you are Miss Murray." He said and his smile evaporated. "You claim to be associated with the Duke of Milan?"

"Prospero. Yes." She nodded. "Currently I work for British government though."

"These two things don't exclude each other." The man narrowed his eyes. "Have you been to Blazing World then?"

"I did." Mina repaid the man with similar stare. "And who are you?"

"Forgive my manners." He blinked and bowed. "Marquis de Carabas. Now, can you tell me how the Blazing Wold looks like?"

"It does not unless you have what is today known as 3D glasses." Mina replied still narrowing her eyes at the Marquis. "And when you do it blazes hence the name."

"Have you met Orlando?"

"I have not only met Orlando, I continue to know her."

"Ah. She shifted then." The Marquis grinned. "I believe I have successfully confirmed that you must be indeed who you claim to be. Apologies for this interrogation, Mademoiselle, but I like to be sure with whom I am talking with. And Lady Door is still careful of who she meets."

"So, will you take me to Lady Door or will I waste more time?" Mine rolled her eyes. The man's manners were balancing on the edge of being annoying.

"She is waiting for you in neighbouring room." He pointed at the doors that Mina managed to miss. "And, since chances are that we will not see each other, please give my best regards to Orlando."

"Why wouldn't we see each other again?"

"Because the passage you will leave may not be the same that you have arrived through." Marquis de Carabas explained. "It sometimes happens when Lady Door is involved, but if you know of Lady Door then you also know that."

"I suppose." Mina sighed. She read about Door's abilities but she wasn't sure how it worked. "I shall pass your regards, pray that Orlando harbours good memories of you though, else she may come to find you."

"Does she still have the Durendal?" He asked curiously.

"Yes, she does."

"Then I do hope she has good memories of me." He laughed.

Mina ignored the laugh and opened the double door.

The second room looked almost the same as the first one, only it had less mirrors. In the middle there was small, round table with two chairs. One of the chairs was already occupied.

The girls looked almost identical to the picture Mina had. She wore red-green coat with green-red corset and some sort of skirt with golden belt. She was a brunette, her hair was odd, falling down and curling in separate strands. Her complexion was light and contrasting with both her dark hair as well as her dark cherry lips. Around her right eye there was what seemed to be a tattoo of a keyhole – dark like filled with chalk-white. But this here was not a teenage or adolescent that the photography showed. This was a woman as young as Mina herself was when she first met Campon Bond, and just as experienced by fate.

"You must be the associate of Duke of Milan." Lady Door stood up. "I am Lady Door of house Portico."

"I am pleased to finally meet you, Lady Door." Mina reached to offer a handshake that the younger woman accepted and they both sat. "I am Miss Wilhelmina Murray."

"I seem to recognise the name." Door gave the other woman a curious glance. "But the Wilhelmina I know of lived in London Above in over a hundred years ago."

"Indeed, I do not look my age." Mina smiled faintly returning the stare. Two sets of green eyes met. "But this should not be surprising. Prospero attracts extraordinary gentlefolk and inspired extraordinary in ordinary ones."

"I was informed that you came looking for me. What does Duke Prospero want from me?" Door asked. In London Below Prospero was historical figure that still was greatly respected."

"I was not sent here by Prospero, even though what I come with is generally a continuation of his work." Mina shook her head. "I am re-constructing the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen for the British government."

"League of Extraordinary Gentlemen? As in the same league that Prospero assembled to honour Queen Gloriana's wishes?" Door's eyes grew round. Gloriana3) was yet another great historical figure in London Below.

"Yes, or rather no. It would be its fourth instalment that I am aware of." Mina began to explain. "I come from third one that was called 'Murray Group' and just like the second one it was gathered not by Prospero but by British Intelligence4)."

"But you said that you know Prospero."

"I do. He re-took command of the League after the Space Invasion in 1898." Mina continued. "At this point I am charged with re-creating the League for the fourth time."

"Where is my place in all of this?" Door asked. It all sounded fascinating, but she wanted to know what this woman wanted from her.

"I come to you with proposition of holding the very same position I used to: leader of your own group." Mine leaned back in her chair. "I have chosen you just as I myself was chosen by the then 'M'."

"How can this be? I am not part of the Above government services."

"It is always this way with the League. Its members are always chosen from the outside. Its whole idea was to gather adventurers and people of unusual talents or experience." Mina elucidated. "I will not lie to you. It is not lady-like occupation and it is hazardous one. Things can and will happen, that you will not like."

"Things that I didn't like already happened to me." Door sighed and behind the slight anger in her voice was great grief. "And I did things that weren't very lady-like."

"Then you have just as much experience as I did before I joined." Mina allowed herself a sad smile and touched the scarf covering her throat. "And you should do well if you will take my proposition."

"Why do you gather the League?"

"I am only allowed to tell you of the reason after you agree. But it is a threat to not only Britain but whole Europe and perhaps the World. And it may affect London Below just as much." Mina became deadly serious. "I can tell you, however, that your first task would be traveling to each of your team members and convincing them to join your group."

"Why me?" Doors seemed to be surprised to hear that.

"So they will perceive you as their natural leader. You gather the team and you lead it. I would prefer of doing it myself, but I was denied. Do not worry. If I managed to do it back in XIXth century, then you should have little trouble with managing in XXIst."

"I need to think about it." Lady Door decided.

"Of course you do. But we do not have much time." Mine got up. "I need to know your answer as quickly as possible so I can send you on your journey or find someone else."

"I see. But I have a question." Door rose as well. "Why me? I mean, why do you want me to be the leader?"

"I do not know where we got information about you from, but it stated that you have strong personality. Call me a feminist, which I am naturally, but I believe that a woman with strong personality is the best leader for an adventuring bunch."

"So it is not my opener nature?" Door narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Your skills got you on my list; your personality placed you in the first position." Mina ignored the stare. "Does that answer your question?"

"For now. Last question. Who would be in my team?

"Four individuals. But this is all I can tell you now." Mina decided that she revealed enough already.

"I will give you my answer tomorrow." Door decided that it was the end of their conversation. "I will let you out now. Will the Oxford Street will be fine?" She walked to a large view of a street.

"Thank you. And yes." Mina approached the photograph. She didn't know what to expect, but it looked like she would now learn how the whole 'opening' worked. "How will you contact me?"

"Meet me by Edward Hyde's statue in Hyde Park tomorrow at noon." Door instructed and touched the photograph.

A blot of blue spread from her fingers flooding the photograph and then spreading on the wall until it became as large as a doorframe, then the wall beneath it opened to the street from the photograph.

"Amazing." Mina observed the process with fascination. "Thank you for your time and see you tomorrow."

Mine walked through the 'doors' and found herself on Oxford Street, when she looked back the passage was gone, it just melted back or maybe evaporated. She called for a cab that would take her home.

oOo

Later, Mina and Orlando flat.

"And you had no problems calling a taxicab?" Orlando asked after Mina told her about what happened.

"No. I guess the immunity does work. Do you really think it is only thanks to the Blazing World or that the Pool too?"

"Blazing World." Orlando replied without moment of hesitation. "The London Below is a relic5) from the time of the faerie purge of Jacob3). Prospero told me once that before Oberon severed all ties with our realm, he left himself a failsafe option to return here if something happened to Faerieland."

"But people live there."

"The London Below was originally populated by few chosen families related to faerie race. To secure them from Jacob, Oberon had the London Below enchanted so you can enter it but never leave. Then he constituted its own laws and gathered them in a document called The Charter. Aside from actual legal acts it also states who has immunity of enchantment and who and how can leave the London Below." Orlando continued explaining. "The people that live there are either members of these faerie families or random people who stumbled across it and never managed to leave."

"Speaking of which. I would almost forget. Marquis de Carabas sends his best regards." Mina almost smirked. "He was familiar with you."

"It's possible he does. He met Prospero's League when he was but a small boy." Orlando sighed. "He has a lot of faerie blood in him, which shows in his personality."

"He is all grown up now, I can tell you." Mina noted.

"I didn't expect him to still be alive." Orlando laughed an evil little giggle. "He was a pesky little brat but he was amusing too."

"I think he is now pesky large brat." Mina summarised the Marquis. "Door wants to meet me tomorrow to give me her answer."

"You want me to go with you?" Orlando asked.

"You don't have to."

"I'd like to meet her in person. Her family was one of the most influential of the faerie half-breeds during Queen Gloriana's reign." Orlando admitted. "I am curious."

"Suit yourself. She wants to meet tomorrow at Hyde's statue."

"Hyde park is now closed."

"It's probably why she wants to meet there." Mina shrugged. "We will be alone there."

oOo

Hyde Park, statue of Edward Hyde, the next day.

It was beautiful autumn midday; the sun shone nicely warming the air. The statue of Edward Hyde was covered in green rot. The nearby tripod was so rusted that it seemed it would fall to dust at the first stronger gust of wind. The place was closed now, it was meant to be renewed for the past couple of years and some works were indeed performed, but it dragged due to bureaucratic reasons and lack of funds. It just showed how modern society cared about its past saviours and their sacrifices. Of course anyone with understanding of history better than events of last weekend would admit that Edward Hyde was no society loving humanist, quite the contrary but his personality traits didn't make his sacrifice any smaller.

Mina walked to the crumbling concrete pedestal and circled it to find the place where a plate covered with green patina read 'Monstrous, he died for Mankind." The names of the persona were barely readable. She gently struck the place and looked back at Orlando.

"You know, I've been there when it happened. I saw him dying there. He said that he will end up looking noble while he only wants to slaughter something. I remember as if it happened last week." Mina said and looked up at the statue. "Nemo said that he taught them terror."

"He probably did." Orlando agreed. "But they have deserved that I guess."

"They were the enemy." Mina sighed. "And their deeds were horrific."

"Who would be the enemy you want me to fight?" A strong voice startled both women.

They looked around but there was no one to be seen and they would hear someone approaching them since except for them the park was empty. Only after a moment a lone figure emerged from behind the memorial.

The girl wore green and red coat, knee high leather boots and some sort of skirt. She looked generally punk.

No ordinary person could approach them without their knowledge, but this young woman was extraordinary.

"Lady Door, it is good to see you. I understand that your question means that you have made your decision?" Mina momentarily regained her composure.

"I do and it didn't come easy." Door admitted. "I had to make sure that the people I would work with were safe and the Marquis was discouraging me, claiming that it was too dangerous."

"But you came here and from your question I assume that you agree." Mina spoke, she felt odd, it looked like she succeeded but it didn't feel half as good as she thought it would.

"The Charter allows certain exceptions of the enchantment." Door nodded. "And while I am now the only remaining member of House Portico, I am also a woman. As unfair as it sounds I need to make a name for myself and gain authority by courageous deeds so when the time will come for me to restore my family I will not be seen as just a wife to a husband but the first of house that I truly am."

"Does that mean that you are ready?" Mina asked.

"I will be after I change to travelling clothes." Door admitted. She now realised that if she would to move outside of enchantment people from the World Above would start to notice her and standing out would not help her. She was also starting to feel little cold. In the London Below the seasons weren't as evident and Above.

"In that case, meet us at QueeQueg's in two hours." Orlando proposed. "And be sure to have a change of clothes."

"I will be prepared." Door assured. "And you are?"

"This is Orlando." Mina gestured to her short haired friend.

"Orlando… Marquis de Carabas told me about you." Door smirked and then vanished behind the memorial. When they peeked after her she was not there.

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.

I am leading Mina to be more like her Victorian Era self. In 1969 Mina admitted that she was trying to stay young and behaved due to the epoch, in 2009 she admitted that London looked Victorian and she could almost feel at home there.

1) What can I say? Moneypenny and Tanner – a small treat for all the Bond enthusiasts.

2) Naturally I base this on the comic book or graphic novel (which is just a fancy name for a comic book) and not the TV show or its direct novelisation. The comic book allowed more freedom of expression than the TV show did and fits better to a story built entirely on comic book characters that are throws into yet another comic book reality.

3) Gloriana is the LoEG version of Queen Elizabeth I, and just like in real world she is succeeded by King Jacob I Stuart.

4) Originally it was MI5 but then again they got involved with MI6 in Black Dossier (Jimmy Bond is based on James Bond after all), and in Century: 2009 Orlando goes to MI6 to get help with finding Mina. And finally, most people connect "M" with James Bond who works in MI6. How it all would get so tangled then, you ask? My explanation: reforms and shifts of responsibilities, blame it all on bureaucracy and politicians.

5) Its a crafty explanation for why Mina didn't share Richard's fate. Plus it places Neverwhere in LoEG nicely.