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 © 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.
Walking in my shoes – the conclusion.
"I would tell you about the things
They put me through
The pain I've been subjected to
But the Lord himself would blush
The countless feasts laid at my feet
Forbidden fruits for me to eat
But I think your pulse would start to rush
Now I'm not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Morality would frown upon
Decency look down upon
The scapegoat fate's made of me
But I promise now, my judge and jurors
My intentions couldn't have been purer
My case is easy to see
I'm not looking for a clearer conscience
Peace of mind after what I've been through
And before we talk of any repentance
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes (…)" – Depeche Mode "Walking in my Shoes"1).
oOo
East of Poland. The next morning.
Only Robo and Kroenen descent into the bunker this time. The destroyed golems and the dead Jihadist were not the issue however but safety. Kroenen wasn't sure just how stable the underground facility truly was and he wasn't too thrilled to go there but he knew that he had to show Robo around the place.
Inside he led his companion to what looked like a broom closet and explained that this bunker's ceilings were supported by only a couple of thick iron beams, the reason for such a construction was that in case of retreat the troops would have to destroy the place quickly because of its contents – the bunker's primary function was a secret radio station and if had to hold code books and often secret orders.
Behind the door was a small but comfortable looking shaft that led them up, to maintenance shaft that in turn allowed them access to the beams – which state was less than satisfying. Kroenen reservations were completely excused; the rust was evident and looked thick. The place would probably collapse on its own in a decade or less, but they were not about to leave it be.
oOo
The rest of the Group waited for them at the safe distance, at the wood border. They joined the three others and waited.
"Are you sure it will work?" Door turned to Robo after a long moment of nothing happening.
"Yeah, Kroenen was right, the place was holding together on rust and spider webs." Robo nodded. "And the amount of thermite2) I used there is more than enough."
"Then why nothing happened yet?" Spike questioned.
"Give it a moment, it'll take time, the fuse is slow." Robo put his hands in his pockets, his tone absolutely bored. "And don't expect any fireworks; this will be pretty unimpressive sight."
"What do you mean? If it will not explode then how will it collapse?" The Wraith expressed his surprise.
"Thermite is not an explosive material, Spike." Robo began to explain. "It is made of aluminium and iron oxide and burns in insanely high temperature; it literally cuts through every metal. It will cut through the construction beams of the ceilings that will collapse under their own weight. And the weight of the earth above them."
"It is best to do it this way." Door added in agreement. "A loud explosion would surely alarm locals and we want to avoid that."
"I understand." Spike nodded. Now that he was explained how the substance worked it all made sense.
And then it struck him, their conversation was awfully three-way, Doctor Kroenen haven't utter a single word ever since he and Robo joined them, and the masked human had always something to say. He didn't 'hear' anything from Slenderman either, and now that he actually paid attention to it, his presence was gone too.
"Where did Doctor Kroenen and Slenderman go?" He asked looking around.
That caught the others attention, they looked around too.
"They went to the car?" Door pondered.
"They would say something, not to mention they'd ask for the car keys." Robo shook his head.
"Should we look for them?" Spike proposed.
"What about the bunker?" Spike asked and in that very moment a something like a muffled groan of metal and concrete reached his ears. The ground fissured and then he felt through his feet as the earth rumbled when the ceilings hit the floor of the bunker. Its insides were on fire but the flames were now vanishing under the moist earth.
"Let's go." Robo beckoned.
"What about the fire?" Door pointed at the bunker, it was still burning.
"We'll get back here after we'll check out the car." Robo proposed.
"No." Door shook her head. "Spike, stay here and mind the bunker, we'll be back in a moment. If the flames reach the surface, come for us."
oOo
At the same time.
Karl Ruprecht Kroenen pondered for a moment about taking the car, but he dismissed the thought. The engine would be heard by the rest. It left him with only one option: to go by foot. He had to leave his computer in the hotel; luckily he made a back-up copy of his grimoirs on a pen drive, which he had on himself. Modern technology was so handy at times – in the time of his youth he wouldn't even dream of having an entire library in his pocket.
He quickly passed the woods and made his way through some fields to another patch of trees, it was best for him to stay hidden now. Atomic Robo had good optics and more than a decent zoom, he would have no problem with scanning the perimeter, but he couldn't see him if he was obscured by trees. In addition they didn't know which direction he took which also worked in his favour. Of course he had to reach Chełm at some point if he wanted to leave before the winter would strike, but not at the moment. Right now he had different priority.
He slowed his pace when he finally reached the trees and the protection they offered from any prying eyes. He looked behind him but he saw nothing. Silently leaving the team when they were gawping at the bunker gave him a decent head start. He was free to continue.
"How long were you planning to follow me like this?" Kroenen spoke suddenly. "And I know you are here. You may just as well show yourself."
At that very moment Slenderman walked from behind a tree that seemed way too thin to hide him. In three long steps he joined Kroenen.
"You could hear me the whole time?" The creature asked in what seemed like a whispering, buzzing hiss, barely on the verge of audibility.
"Yes, but only when you were close enough." Kroenen confirmed.
"How?"
"It takes to listen to the white noise in your ears, the sounds of silence. Having musical ears helps a lot too." Kroenen explained. It didn't pay to be rude to such a creature so he chose to be polite. Besides, he actually liked the entity. "Why have you left?"
"What else use my presence would have? The mission is completed." Slenderman cocked his head. "Why have you left?"
"Because the mission is completed. And because I do not wish to be taken back to B.P.R.D. and locked again."
"You have left your belongings." Slenderman noticed.
"Things can be replaced." The Occultist replied. "The most important of my belongings I have here." He produced the pen drive. "Obtaining computer to read it is merely a matter of time."
"Yes." Slenderman agreed. "A matter of time. A short moment." He nodded and reached behind his back. A second later he was holding Kroenen's bag with his laptop and few other things inside.
"Amazing." Kroenen accepted the bag. "I wasn't aware you were capable of bilocation3)."
"I have many talents." Slenderman seemed to be pleased with himself.
"Why do I owe the courtesy?" The German asked.
"I am Slenderman, my motives are mine alone to fathom and I am in no habit of explaining myself." Slenderman stated.
"Really?"
"You helped me with my tentacle. And you're likable." The slim creature replied quickly. "What now?"
"When I'm done here I will try and locate and liberate a fellow disciple of Rasputin4) and an old colleague, Leopold Kurtz. After that I don't know." Kroenen revealed.
"And what do you plan to do here?"
"I want to go to that Kirkut and find Tzadic's grave." The human said. "That book, the most precious book that his son hidden, it must be Sefer Jecirah, the Book of Life, and if it belonged to a Tzadic, it has to contain his notes too."
"Ahh, I see." Slenderman nodded in understanding. "In that case, allow me to assist you once more." He stopped and laid his hands on Kroenen's shoulders. "The best time to visit the Kirkut will be after dark. For as little time as they have, our former companions will look for you; I know a place that you mat lay in wait until they will leave."
"Another bunker without a doubt." Kroenen sighed but whatever more he had to say it vanished along with him and Slenderman. The dirt road they walked was now completely empty.
oOo
At the bunker.
The car was empty. There wasn't a trace of Kroenen of Slenderman. They didn't have the time or means for throughout search, and by the time they would return it would be too late.
When they returned to the bunker Spike was leaning against a tree and the fire extinguished in natural way, snuffed by the moist earth.
"I half expected to find you gone." Robo greeted the green alien. "Why haven't you used the opportunity?"
Spike detached himself from the tree and smirked like a hungry shark. "And to what purpose?" He asked. "We have a deal and I do want to go back home."
"And you have no way of getting there on your own." Robo voiced the unspoken words of the space vampire. Spike didn't say anything to that, he just stared. "All right, stay here, both of you." He decided. "I'll go and check on the fire. If anything still burns in the temperature and carbon monoxide wouldn't be healthy for you."
"At least you're true to your words." Door sighed watching her robotic second in command getting to the fissure and looking around it.
"I do not recall Doctor Kroenen vowing to return with you." Spike reminded.
After a moment Robo returned. "It's out; if there's anything still there it will be out on its own. With this weather it won't take long anyway." He informed. "Let's get back to the car."
"What will you do now?" Spike asked.
"We will return to London. I will give my report about the mission and return the books and documents." Door said plainly. "They will take the Jihadist, probably put him under medical care and interrogate if possible."
"I meant Doctor Kroenen and Slenderman." The Wraith specified.
"We have no reason to look for Slenderman." Door shrugged. "He came to us of his own free will and he could leave after the mission was over as he pleased."
"And Doctor Kroenen?" Spike insisted. "He was imprisoned."
"Just like Door said. We will fill in a report and the rest is 'M's'5) business." Robo shrugged. "Don't worry, you won't have any problems. 'M' said that your transportation is ready, you'll be home tomorrow at this time."
oOo
Tesladyne Island. One week later.
Atomic Robo busied himself wading through the mountain of reports, papers and correspondence that accumulated during his absence. He did pretty good job at managing most of it already, but there was still considerable portion to process. He would do better if he wasn't interrupted all the time by all sorts on insanity that Tesladyne was attracting.
He put yet another complain about Jenkins to his 'consideration bin' which was a pet name for his trusted paper shredder. In his absence Jenkins did splendid job preventing his action scientists from performing any insane experiments, including creating miniature asteroid engines to mount on rocks ('Just for testing the whole theory, it wasn't anything big either, sish!').
His face palming was interrupted by knocking on his door and Jerry's head appeared.
"A package for you, Robo." He held a box wrapped in orange foil. "It just got delivered."
"Have you checked it for explosives, bio-hazard, chemical threat and radiation?" Robo asked. It always paid to be extra-careful when it came to packages addressed for him. He had enemies and God only knew what Doctor Dinosaur could think of.
"Yup, all clear. It's regular package. It was sent from Kaunas in Lithuania." Jerry placed the pack on the desk, directly in front of Robo and left.
Robo glared at the package for a moment. It was scanned and showed no threat. It didn't mean much though. It still could have been something foul. On the other hand there was only one way of finding out (he could simply detonate it but then he would never learn what was inside).
He gently unwrapped the cardboard box, then just as gently opened it. Inside he saw bubble wrap, which he removed. Under the bubble wrap was a single, white envelope and something that looked like a plastic comb binded photocopy of a book.
He inspected the book first; the copied pages looked old and were written by hand, not just printed. He recognised the alphabet to be Hebrew.
Only then he focused on the envelope. It was closed and he gently ripped it open, half expecting something to happen, but the paper remained dormant. Inside he found another, much smaller envelope, and hand written letter.
"Dear Doctor Tesla.
I trust my letter will find you in good condition, forgive me the term but I do not believe that the word 'health' would apply to you. I deeply apologise for my sudden disappearance but you surely will understand that I had no intention of being taken back to New York and be promptly locked back in that underground facility, no matter how comfortable my prison would be. Indeed I have more fascinating places to be and more important duties to attend to.
Regardless of my objection to returning under custody of B.P.R.D. I wish to inform you that I enjoyed our cooperation, no matter of your reservations expressed toward my person. In that spirit I sent you two gifts.
The first one is the copy of Tzadic's most precious book, the one mentioned by that old man from the cemetery, the same one hidden in the Tzadic's grave in the Kirkut. The book the copy of which you now possess is very old copy of Sefer Yecirah – the Book of Life, learn Hebrew, study it and perhaps one day you will understand the process of Golem making.
My second gif for you is inside of the small envelope – a set of coordinates that will lead you to place in Uganda. Memorise them and destroy the paper they're written on. This is a thing that is best left away from any governmental bodies; the temptation for them would be too great as you surely understand how their mind frames work. I realise that what you will find in that place have no application for you, but one day you may meet someone that you will wish to keep by your side: a friend or perhaps a lover; and to them it will apply.
Until we perhaps meet again.
Sincerely yours.
Doctor Professor Karl Ruprecht Kroenen."
Robo glared at the letter for a moment and then quickly checked the small envelope. He looked at its contents for a moment and then shredded it.
He pondered something for a moment and then stood up and walked out of his office.
TBC
OK. Since while LoEG fic, the LoEG is in itself a crossover, so do not worry if you won't be familiar with any of the characters, if the need will arise it will be explain and if you will have any additional questions or something won't be clear, you can also contact me and ask and I will answer you to the best of my abilities.
1) I want to dedicate this sing to any and all villains, be they comic book, novel, cartoon or movie villains. But especially the ones I have chosen for this fic: they deserve all the luv, for being as awesome as they are (by the villains I do not mean the Jihadists, obviously, I mean Spike, Karl and Slender).
2) Thermite is a real thing. It is a mixture of aluminium and iron oxide (there are also many other kinds of thermite with other metals oxide) that after ignition undergoes the redox and produces aluminium oxide and liquid iron (and a lot of light). The temperature of thermite burning reaches 300 Celsius degrees or even more and is one of the highest temperatures achieved in industry. Thermite does not require supply of oxygen to burn for it contains its own oxygen in form of iron oxide. Thermite has both civilian and military use. Don't you just love things like that? But far warning, thermite is volatile and may auto-ignite, it needs to be kept dry and flameless.
3) Bilocation – an ability to be in two (or more) places at the same time. Sometimes the term can be used as sarcastic comment when someone is seen in one place when they should be someplace else at the time (for example when someone should be at work but were seen in a bar instead).
4) Anyone with bright enough mind and at least basic knowledge of historical facts will immediately identify Rasputin as Russian (and Russians are Slavs). Nazis hated not only Jews but Slavs as well, in fact Slavs were but a one step above Jews, and Russians are Slavs. Of course Hitler and Stalin had a pact (that's why they attacked Poland in almost unison) but Hitler double crossed Stalin (before Stalin could back stab him himself, but that's a detail) and that's how USSR (Russia and other Soviet Republics) ended allied with Hitler's enemies (not that it was that friendly to anyone who was not Soviets themselves).
And here enters Hellboy (the comic book, not the character) and places Rasputin in IIIrd Reich working for the Nazis. It is nonsense because no self-respecting Nazi would become disciple to "sub-human" such as Rasputin. Of course Nazis had no problems with using those who they thought to be lesser humans for their own benefit, but it could hardly be the case with Rasputin, who was one of the key figures in Ragna Rok project, let alone that any of the Nazis would actually treat them as their Master (and three of them actually do). This leaves me with only one conclusion: neither of the three (Ilsa Haupstein, Leopold Kurtz and Karl Ruprecht Kroenen) were actually in the NSDAP metal frame mainstream.
I'm not sure about the other two but I can guess what Kroenen's case was. Regardless of which biography (movie or comic book) we're talking about, he clearly is not typical SS officer (in his comic bio it's not even clear if he really is an SS, only that he is an officer). My best guess is that someone as proud as him wouldn't be able to work with and become disciple of Rasputin if he actually believed in all the "superior race" nonsense (the fact that his film biography states that he comes from Munich, Bayern doesn't change a bit). What makes him villain is that he is indifferent to all the Nazi crimes – he doesn't care about the on-going genocide as long as he can continue with his own experiments. If they want to kill half of the populace, it's fine by him as long as they provide him with resources (and nice black bodysuits with matching masks).
Because the crime is only possible when people are indifferent.
5) Current 'M', which is Wilhelmina Murray. At least for now.
