Disclaimer: Thank you so much to everyone who review the last chapter! You guys rock!
I don't own LXG, Tom Sawyer, Allan Quatermain, Mina Hawker, Skinner, Captain Nemo, Dorian Gray, Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, M or anything else used in the fic.
I forgot to say this in the last part but Lord Henry is a character from 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' (I love that book.)
In this part Aunt Polly is from 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'. The first six lines are taken directly from the same book. Also there is a mention of Huckleberry Finn, I've deiced to follow the cannon of a deleted scene from the movie so Huck is dead. (That's all you really need to know about him...)
Clez:- Bad things huh? Don't worry Dorian and M will... probably go down.
Drowchild:- That would be cool, but you'll just have to wait for the rest of 'The Bodyguard for that to happen ;)
Cynthia, Ruby of the Rose:- I'm so glad you're enjoying this, and look, another pat and me out of hiding.
Canopus Carina:- Thanks for the info on Skinner. It did help.
Angel32:- Yep, cliffhangers all round. Hope this chapter doesn't disappoint.
Beguile:- I think you might have to get in line to kill Dorian... though you're right, Stuart Townsend is hot.
LotRseer3350:- Here's another part.
Roz:- Thanks for pointing out the spelling mistakes... *blush* But to make it up, this part is double the length I normally write!
Zhane3:- Aww shucks... you should really see the movie.
Tonianne:- Is Tom going to die? You're just have to wait and see.
Mellaithwen-ElvenMaiden:- It was a good cliffhanger, wasn't it.
Graymoon74:- Dorian is indeed a *beep* Will he get his comeuppance in this part? Maybe... maybe not.
Fayra:- I'm so glad someone noticed Lord Henry, I love that novel!
Angharad:- Evil Dorian is best. Well, as there is only two parts left... M dying in a horrible way? Find out next chapter.
Hope you all enjoy this part, please, please read then review!
Black Pawn, White Pawn.
~~~
Part 6:- Barely There.
~~~
"Well hello to you too. And need I remind you I AM naked in the snow. I can't feel any of my extremities, and I mean ANY of them."
~ Rodney Skinner, Gentleman Thief.
~ The League of Extraordinary Gentleman : The Movie.
"TOM!"
No answer.
"TOM!"
No answer.
"What's gone with that boy, I wonder? You TOM!"
No answer.
"TOM!" The voice seemed to come from a long distance away. "Tom Sawyer, wake up this instant!" Tom opened his eyes, to find he was looking at the old face of his Aunt Polly.
"Tom, didn't I tell ya to whitewash this here fence?" she asked. Tom looked around in confusion.
"Aunt?" he whispered in disbelief. He looked around in amazement, he was back in his aunt's backyard and he was a child again. He stood up, his mouth hanging open.
"And shut that there mouth of yours. What do ya think it's for? Fly catching?" his aunt said, a fond smile creeping onto her face.
"Aunt!" Tom said again, before engulfing her in a bear hug. His aunt gave a start, this was most unlike Tom, he would never hug her unless he was in trouble and as far as she knew for once in his life he wasn't in any real trouble.
She gave a chuckle.
"Tom, boy, you can hug me all ya like, but ya still have to whitewash. So hop to it!" Polly said.
"Yes Aunt, right away." Tom said happily. His aunt stared after him, a bemused expression on her face.
"Well, I never did see the like with that boy." she said, before turning and walking back into her house.
Tom groaned and lifted his head, transported back into M's base - or M's summer retreat as he mentally called it. He needed to make these little comments in his head, it was the only weapon he had left. He groaned again, tears stinging at his eyes. That delusion had been so much more real than the last one.
Before he had just seen members of the League rush into M's rooms, to save him. He had seen Allen, Jekyll, Nemo and Skinner - or rather he had seen Skinner's coat and hat. Each time had been fake, mental images conjured up by the drugs Dorian had given him.
"Tom? Tom, I can't take it anymore I've getting you out of here." A voice hissed. Tom wearily lifted his head.
//Great, another Skinner. If I have to have delusions, why couldn't I have one to do with Mina?\\ he thought.
"You're... you're not real..." Tom muttered, closing his eyes again. "Drugged, make me see things, play with my mind."
"You think I'm not real?" Skinner asked. "What would it take to convince you?" he asked, checking Tom's chain's to try and work out how to get him out of them. Tom looked down at the floor.
"As you're not real and just in my head, there is no way you can prove it to me. I'm just seeing what I want, so I'll just get the answers I want."
"You want to see me? Cor, never knew you had a thing for me Sawyer! Sadly I just don't find you physically attractive." Skinner said. He did a loud, fake sniff.
"I'm so sorry." Skinner finished. Tom looked up at the space where Skinner could be and a slow smile crept on to his lips and spread across his face.
"You must be real. No delusion can be that annoying or that idiotic." he said. Skinner laughed but didn't answer. For a while there was no sound as Skinner checked over every link in the hope of finding a weak one. Tom leaned against the wall,watching.
"You know, I never had you figured as a save-people-sort of guy." Tom said.
"Yeah, well, Allen will do me in, if I let anything... else happen to you. 'Sides I was just here, thought I would help out." Skinner said. Tom nodded, a grin on his face. It soon changed to a grimace.
"Promise me something." He said, all traces of laughter wiped from his face. Skinner paused in his work.
"What?"
"Kill me if you can't get me out." Tom said, staring intently at the area where he thought Skinner's face was.
"Don't think like that. You're getting out of here." Skinner said roughly. Tom shook his head.
"M wants to turn me into his pet, make me an animal. I don't want to end up like that. Just promise me that if brakes me, you'll kill me. Believe me, you'll be doing me a favor. I won't be his dog." Tom said, his voice showing real anger.
"Okay." Skinner said. Tom laughed.
"You don't mean that. Say it."
"I promise Kid. Good thing I'll never have to use that promise." he said, tugging at the links. Finally he gave a groan and let go of the chains in disgust. "How the hell am I supposed to get you out of these?" he asked.
Tom suddenly began to struggle against his bonds, a wide eyed expression his face. He was looking past Skinner, staring at something that only he could see.
"No..." he moaned, arching his back in a vain attempt to escape whatever he could see.
"I'm sorry." he begged. "I didn't mean to..." Skinner crossed the distance between him and Tom in a few steps. Pausing for only a fraction of a second he bent down and slapped Tom, twice, round the face.
"Snap out of it!" He hissed. "You're not there anymore. You're right here, with me." Tom blinked, once, twice, three times.
"Skinner...?" he whispered.
"Yeah Sawyer?" Skinner asked.
"Did you just hit me?" The young man asked, his voice devoid of any emotion. Skinner hesitated before replying.
"Yeah."
"Oh." Tom said, bowing his head for a moment. "Thanks... I think there are some keys behind some books in the bookcase." he added limply.
"You only just thought of telling me this?" Skinner exploded. Tom shrugged his shoulders.
"I only just remembered M doing something there after he was given the key." he admitted. Skinner sighed and moved over to the bookcase. They couldn't be there, it couldn't be that easy... A set of shining, silver keys rested behind a stack of 'The Stand' magazines.
Skinner took them and tried to open the handcuffs. The first four keys were older than the others and didn't fit the lock. Skinner tried the fifth, a key, that even though it was still shiny, had several scratches down it from where someone had roughly forced the key into it's appointed lock.
Skinner opened the handcuffs. Tom's hands fell down to his sides. With an effort he lifted them at rubbed at his wrists, trying to get some circulation through them.
"So..." Skinner said, attempting to sound casual. "Any ideas on how are we going to get past the three guards I passed on my way in here?"
Tom's face was shrouded in shadow. Then the American moved, forcing his tried body upwards, into the light.
"Leave it too me." he said, allowing a smile to come to his face.
~~~
Robes stifled a yawn, and stretched his neck slightly. He doing the most boring job possible, guarding the American. Robes didn't know why three guards were needed, after all he had been one of the men to beat Tom into submission.
Robes highly doubted the American had any fight in him, besides the Agent wouldn't be idiotic enough to try and fight... Robes really wished he would. A noise from inside M's room caught his attention. It was the sound of chains being banged against a wall.
Robes smirked and walked to the closed door. It sounded as if the boy was trying to escape. A fact that suited Robes very well. It was about time he did something fun. The guard pushed the door open and marched in. Tom looked at him, a guilty expression on his face, then bowed his head as he dropped the chain he had been holding.
Inside Robes was laughing, it was all so perfect. He wasn't allowed to kill him, but that didn't mean they would stop him having any fun. Robes strode confidently towards Tom and leaned closer.
"Head up Slug!" Snapped Robes.
Tom lifted his head, his blonde hair in his eyes, making it hard to see. Robes let out a short bark of laughter. Without any warning Tom swung his arm, catching Robes in the face. He jumped forward, his arms free of his chains. The two rolled about the floor, each struggling to gain the upper hand. Robes managed to wrench his arm free from Tom's grip and plunged it into his coat, pulling out a gun.
Tom's eyes narrowed when he saw the gun - his gun - in the hands of the enemy.
"Now, now mate, none of that." a voice chided him. Robes turned towards the voice in time to see a floating candlestick smash into him. Robes dropped to the ground instantly, his neck broken. Tom crawled towards Robes and pulled his gun from the other man's fingers. Instantly he felt stronger, more in control. A quick search though the man's clothes reveled Tom's other pistol and holsters.
"Yes!" Tom hissed, holding his weapons and holsters before putting his holsters on, checking the amount of bullets he had. Tom nodded then snapped the pistols shut.
"Well? I mean we managed to take out one, but there is still two others." Skinner said. Tom sighed and shook his head.
"Watch and learn my friend... watch and learn." Tom said. He turned towards the door, where Huck was standing, blood dripping from his chest. Tom gave a sharp intake of breath and blinked. The image vanished.
//It's all in my head, it's all in my head, it's all in my head...\\ Tom thought as he inched closer to the doors. Skinner watched, wondering what his plan was. To somehow lure one guard in at a time?
In answer to Skinner's unspoken question Tom lunged forward, crashing through the gold doors, his pistols firming wildly, one pointed at each guard.
//Guess that answers that question then.\\ An inner voice told Skinner as he rushed over to the wreckage that had once been doors, fearing the worse.
Outside in the corridor Tom, was humming a tune, as he shoot at the guards one last time, hitting them squarely in the chest. The guns stilled, the humming froze as the bodies hit the floor.
Then there was only quiet.
"Well... that was interesting." Skinner said. Tom flashed a cocky grin at him.
"American style shooting. Fire enough bullets, and hope to hit the target." He said, fingering the weapon lovely. If just felt right somehow, as if he had been missing a limb.
"Let's get out of here." Tom added. Skinner grabbed a coat off one of the dead guards and put it on, giving him a vague shape.
"We need to find Boca first." Skinner said urgently, hearing the clank of footsteps that herald the immanent arrival of more of M's men.
"Who?" Tom asked, moving away from the sounds. Skinner moved with him, the two vanishing around the corner.
"Boca, Doctor Boca. He helped us, we have to get him and his family out of here."
"Family?" Tom asked, stopping. He began to reload his pistols. "What the hell is going on here?"
~~~
"Are you sure you know the way?" Tom Sawyer asked as they moved down yet another corridor, some ten minutes later. He suddenly gasped in pain, dropping to his knees as a serving wave of agony rushed through his body, claiming every fiber of him at it's own. He couldn't see, couldn't hear, he was blind to everything except the pain. His fingers froze then dropped the pistols, as he used them to support his weight. It was the withdrawal, he realized with a sinking gasp. The effort of the drugs fading away could very well kill him.
//No... I will not brake...\\ he thought, determination in his eyes. With a snarl he flung himself backwards, pulling himself off the floor only to hit it again, this time on his back. Tom shook his head and began to push himself upwards. Then Skinner was there, helping him up, passing him his weapons. Tom gave a brisk nod to show his thanks.
"Are yo-" Skinner began. Tom held up a hand to silence him.
"I'm fine." he said. His attention was distracted by a slightly open door. He staggered over to it, weaving as a man drunk. His hands began to tremor, the pistols shaking. He pushed on the already open door and stepped inside.
The room was lavishly furnished. Tom's eyes swept the room, ready for any danger. The room was empty of human life. He placed his pistols carefully back in their holsters, concentrating on stopping the shaking.
"Whose room is this?" Skinner asked, having followed Tom inside. "Look at all that gold."
"It's Dorian's..." Tom answered, his eyes finding Dorian's walking stick. They moved, to rest on an open wooden box, to revel a tiny bottle. A bottle Tom knew.
//"It can cause hallucinations and other... unpleasant things. It will not be a pleasant ride." Dorian said as he removed the needle and stopped up the bottle.
"Have fun." he said cheerfully, collecting all the evidence and walking out of the room...\\
"Tom? Tom!" A voice hissed. With a great effort Tom returned to the present and stared at the jacket Skinner was wearing.
"What?" Tom asked. When Skinner answered there was a trace of worry in his voice.
"Come on, we need to keep moving." Skinner told him. Tom didn't answer, he seemed unable to turn his head away from the bottle. Without even knowing it, he stepped closer, his hand outstretched, shaking at he moved nearer and nearer.
"No!" Skinner yelled, leaping forward and crashing into Tom. They both hit the floor, Tom fumbling for his pistols. It was highly doubtful he was even aware of who he was fighting. In his desperation Skinner pulled off his jacket to prevent Tom from seeing him.
At the last moment Tom lashed out, hitting Skinner right in the chest. Skinner fell to the ground and didn't get back up. Tom groaned, and placed a hand to his mouth. When he removed it, a few drops of blood stained his fingers. He stared at them, supreme confusion on his face.
"Skinner? Oh God, Skinner!" Tom said as he realized what he had done. He had no time to search from Skinner however, as in that moment footsteps could be hear nearing the half open door. Tom looked at the door, with despair in his eyes.
~~~
Dorian entered his room, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. The reason for the smile was tom. The thought of him going through the withdrawal - which he should have reached by now - was simply too delightful. Dorian never forgot a debt.
He began to hum, as his eyes swept lazily over his room. A jacket in the corner caught his eye. It was not his. Instantly his whole poster changed ever so slightly. He still looked and sounded like a relaxing man, with not a care in the world. Dorian casually wandered towards his desk, where his walking stick was. His fingers reached out - meeting empty air.
That very second there was a hum of metal was his sword was pulled from the stick. Dorian didn't even have time to turn around to face who ever was in his room.
The sword pieced him from behind, pushing him forward, until he pinned to the wall. Though he tried, he couldn't reach the sword in his back and therefor couldn't pull it out.
"I was wondering Dorian..." a voice said.
Tom Sawyer's voice.
"You know you said this drug wasn't to be used by people who weren't used to it? Well, what I want to know is what will happen if someone who is used to it has more than they should?"
"You wouldn't dare." Dorian snarled. Tom laughed as he picked up the bottle and needle. Tom watched the liquid with a hungry expression in his eyes.
"You want it, don't you." Dorian said, having twisted his neck as far as he could to see Tom better. Tom ignored him and continued to fill the needle, every once of him focused on this simple task and not letting his hands shake.
"Inject yourself... you want it, you want to feel the rush." Dorian whispered. Tom strode over to Dorian and placed the needle in Dorian's arm. His finger hovered over the plunger, torn between what to do.
"Go on..." Dorian said. "Put the drug in yourself..." Tom's eyes narrowed and he pressed the plunger. Dorian gave out a gasp of surprise as he did so. Tom didn't stop, dipping the needle back into the bottle he then filled it and injected Dorian again.
"Slipped up there." Tom said feverishly, as he snapped the lid shut. Tom closed his eyes, breathing heavily, sweat running down his face. "You should have remembered I am very contrary."
Dorian didn't hear him though. He was lost in his own mind.
Tom opened his eyes and staggered out into the corridor. He fell forward, eyes closing, accepting the pain he was about to receive. Tom didn't hit the ground. He forced his eyes open, blearily. He could see the ground, there was nothing between him and it, so why hadn't he fallen?
"Tom?" Skinner asked, shaking the boy. Tom coughed, feeling the pain bubbling up inside of him, rushing towards his mouth, the one escape point. He clamped his mouth shut, refusing to give the pain a voice. For what seemed like forever to him, the pain lapped angrily at his closed mouth, before falling back, out of conscious thought.
"I-I'm okay." Tom said. "Are you? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"It's okay kid. Come on, we still need to find Boca." Skinner said, helping Tom along the corridor.
It took them another five minutes before they came across Boca. He was holding a dark haired woman and she was holding him. Each held on to the other as if there very lives depended on it. Between them, they hugged a little boy, no more than ten years old. The woman gave a gasp of fear as she saw what seemed like a body float towards her.
"Doc?" Skinner said, easing Tom to the ground. "Doc, I need your help. He needs your help." Skinner pleaded. Boca slowly, reluctantly removed himself from his wife and her embrace and went over to Tom.
"He needs rest. At least a nights rest somewhere safe, without any fear. That's all that can help him now." Boca said.
"Peter!" his wife screamed. Boca turned, to see a guard holding his son, a gun pointed at his head. The guard clicked the gun as Boca's wife screamed again, this time a single note, held and held.
In the mist of all this confusion Tom lifted his head. From his vantage point on the floor he could just see the legs of everyone. He could see kicking feet and another pair behind it. Tom heard Boca's wife scream.
//She shouldn't have to scream.\\ Tom thought, pulling out one of his pistols. He pointed it at the older set of legs and took aim.
"Please, please, don't hurt him!" Mrs. Boca begged. The guard smiled. A gun fired. The little boy widened his eyes in disbelief. But no pain happened. The guard behind him froze as a gun fired again. Then he slowly toppled backwards. Tom lowered his still smoking pistol and placed his head back on the floor.
"Shoulda picked on someone his own size." he muttered. Skinner and Boca ran over to Tom, while Mrs. Boca ran over to her son.
"Follow me, we have to get out of here." Skinner said. Boca looked at his family one last time then nodded. He and Skinner helped Tom to his feet and dragged him along, Mrs. Boca and her son behind them.
They stumbled out of the base and into a snowstorm. Mrs. Boca hugged her son tightly and followed the three men into the storm. They fought there way up the hill, the snow whipping into their eyes. As they neared the top of the hill Mrs. Boca fell to her knees, unable to go any further. By this time a tiny layer of snow had fallen on Skinner, allowing everyone to see him.
"Stay here with Sawyer, you wife and child. I'm going to see if who I'm waiting for has turned up yet." Skinner said, gently placing Tom on the ground. He began to run up the hill, cursing the slowness of the League.
He had planned to simply wait in the base until they attacked, but Tom had made that impossible. There was no way he was going to leave the agent in the hands of M for another minute.
Skinner neared a cave. At the entrance stood Allen Quatermain and Mina Hawker. Skinner grinned with delight. He crept up behind Mina and pinched her behind. Mina let out a squeak of protest.
"Been waiting to do that all week." Skinner said. Allen didn't have any time for Skinner's fun and games.
"Where's Sawyer?" Allen asked.
"Follow me. But..." Skinner stopped, placing a hand on Allen chest. "Be warned. He's not in a good way."
~~~
Tom lay covered in blankets, in a restless slumber. Boca and Jekyll were standing a little way away, talking in animated whispers. Finally Jekyll walked over to where Allen was standing by the cave entrance.
"Tom needs rest. There is nothing I can do for him." Jekyll said. Allen didn't turn from the cave entrance.
"Now do you believe that Sawyer isn't on M's side?" Allen asked. Jekyll flushed a bright red and turned away.
"He needs at least twelve hours of sleep. I wouldn't recommend leaving him though... or moving him any more." Dr. Jekyll said over his shoulder.
"So we wait." Allen replied. Boca gave Allen Quartermain a look of horror.
"What if M realizes he's gone?" Boca asked.
"I'll go and have a little scout round." Skinner said, darting out of the cave, glad to be away from the tensions of the League.
~~~
It had taken Dorian over a hour but he had finally managed to reach the sword and pull it out. He sank to the floor, giggling to himself.
One of M's soilders entered the room, carrying a painting wrapped in brown paper. Silently the man placed the canvis by Dorian's bed.
"Your painting." Then bowed stiffly to him before walking back out of the room.
Dorian found the whole episode extremely funny.
~~~
Skinner managed to get back into M's base without any real difficultly. He slipped past guard after guard before reaching M's main rooms.
The evil mastermind was inside, staring at the corpse of Robes with a detached interest. One of his men - Lee - stood by his side.
"Shall I send men out Sir?" he asked. M shook his head.
"Double the guard on all exits and any where we have food. Let's starve the dog out. I'll wait for him to come back here, after all he is only an animal." M said. Lee saluted and turned to follow out his orders.
"Oh and Lee. Don't shoot to kill."
"Sir?" Lee asked in surprise.
"He's no good to me dead." M said, fingering the chains.
~~~
Night had fallen. In the cave where the League were, everyone slept. The Boca family had been taken to the Nautilus by one of Nemo's sailors.
The only person awake was Quartermain who was standing guard. His gaze kept returning to Tom Sawyer who was tossing and turning in his sleep. Dr. Jekyll had said later that this night would determine if Tom could survive what had been done to him, both mentally and physically.
"Hold on boy." Allen said. He would not fail this young man who looked so much like his son.
No matter the cost he would protect Tom Sawyer, to make it up to both his dead son and also Tom himself.
But Allen Quatermain couldn't help Tom in this. No one could help Tom but Tom himself.
TBC...
There you have it, only ONE MORE part left. Yes, that's right, just one part left. Now that you have read please leave a review on your way out.
~Sethoz
I don't own LXG, Tom Sawyer, Allan Quatermain, Mina Hawker, Skinner, Captain Nemo, Dorian Gray, Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, M or anything else used in the fic.
I forgot to say this in the last part but Lord Henry is a character from 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' (I love that book.)
In this part Aunt Polly is from 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'. The first six lines are taken directly from the same book. Also there is a mention of Huckleberry Finn, I've deiced to follow the cannon of a deleted scene from the movie so Huck is dead. (That's all you really need to know about him...)
Clez:- Bad things huh? Don't worry Dorian and M will... probably go down.
Drowchild:- That would be cool, but you'll just have to wait for the rest of 'The Bodyguard for that to happen ;)
Cynthia, Ruby of the Rose:- I'm so glad you're enjoying this, and look, another pat and me out of hiding.
Canopus Carina:- Thanks for the info on Skinner. It did help.
Angel32:- Yep, cliffhangers all round. Hope this chapter doesn't disappoint.
Beguile:- I think you might have to get in line to kill Dorian... though you're right, Stuart Townsend is hot.
LotRseer3350:- Here's another part.
Roz:- Thanks for pointing out the spelling mistakes... *blush* But to make it up, this part is double the length I normally write!
Zhane3:- Aww shucks... you should really see the movie.
Tonianne:- Is Tom going to die? You're just have to wait and see.
Mellaithwen-ElvenMaiden:- It was a good cliffhanger, wasn't it.
Graymoon74:- Dorian is indeed a *beep* Will he get his comeuppance in this part? Maybe... maybe not.
Fayra:- I'm so glad someone noticed Lord Henry, I love that novel!
Angharad:- Evil Dorian is best. Well, as there is only two parts left... M dying in a horrible way? Find out next chapter.
Hope you all enjoy this part, please, please read then review!
Black Pawn, White Pawn.
~~~
Part 6:- Barely There.
~~~
"Well hello to you too. And need I remind you I AM naked in the snow. I can't feel any of my extremities, and I mean ANY of them."
~ Rodney Skinner, Gentleman Thief.
~ The League of Extraordinary Gentleman : The Movie.
"TOM!"
No answer.
"TOM!"
No answer.
"What's gone with that boy, I wonder? You TOM!"
No answer.
"TOM!" The voice seemed to come from a long distance away. "Tom Sawyer, wake up this instant!" Tom opened his eyes, to find he was looking at the old face of his Aunt Polly.
"Tom, didn't I tell ya to whitewash this here fence?" she asked. Tom looked around in confusion.
"Aunt?" he whispered in disbelief. He looked around in amazement, he was back in his aunt's backyard and he was a child again. He stood up, his mouth hanging open.
"And shut that there mouth of yours. What do ya think it's for? Fly catching?" his aunt said, a fond smile creeping onto her face.
"Aunt!" Tom said again, before engulfing her in a bear hug. His aunt gave a start, this was most unlike Tom, he would never hug her unless he was in trouble and as far as she knew for once in his life he wasn't in any real trouble.
She gave a chuckle.
"Tom, boy, you can hug me all ya like, but ya still have to whitewash. So hop to it!" Polly said.
"Yes Aunt, right away." Tom said happily. His aunt stared after him, a bemused expression on her face.
"Well, I never did see the like with that boy." she said, before turning and walking back into her house.
Tom groaned and lifted his head, transported back into M's base - or M's summer retreat as he mentally called it. He needed to make these little comments in his head, it was the only weapon he had left. He groaned again, tears stinging at his eyes. That delusion had been so much more real than the last one.
Before he had just seen members of the League rush into M's rooms, to save him. He had seen Allen, Jekyll, Nemo and Skinner - or rather he had seen Skinner's coat and hat. Each time had been fake, mental images conjured up by the drugs Dorian had given him.
"Tom? Tom, I can't take it anymore I've getting you out of here." A voice hissed. Tom wearily lifted his head.
//Great, another Skinner. If I have to have delusions, why couldn't I have one to do with Mina?\\ he thought.
"You're... you're not real..." Tom muttered, closing his eyes again. "Drugged, make me see things, play with my mind."
"You think I'm not real?" Skinner asked. "What would it take to convince you?" he asked, checking Tom's chain's to try and work out how to get him out of them. Tom looked down at the floor.
"As you're not real and just in my head, there is no way you can prove it to me. I'm just seeing what I want, so I'll just get the answers I want."
"You want to see me? Cor, never knew you had a thing for me Sawyer! Sadly I just don't find you physically attractive." Skinner said. He did a loud, fake sniff.
"I'm so sorry." Skinner finished. Tom looked up at the space where Skinner could be and a slow smile crept on to his lips and spread across his face.
"You must be real. No delusion can be that annoying or that idiotic." he said. Skinner laughed but didn't answer. For a while there was no sound as Skinner checked over every link in the hope of finding a weak one. Tom leaned against the wall,watching.
"You know, I never had you figured as a save-people-sort of guy." Tom said.
"Yeah, well, Allen will do me in, if I let anything... else happen to you. 'Sides I was just here, thought I would help out." Skinner said. Tom nodded, a grin on his face. It soon changed to a grimace.
"Promise me something." He said, all traces of laughter wiped from his face. Skinner paused in his work.
"What?"
"Kill me if you can't get me out." Tom said, staring intently at the area where he thought Skinner's face was.
"Don't think like that. You're getting out of here." Skinner said roughly. Tom shook his head.
"M wants to turn me into his pet, make me an animal. I don't want to end up like that. Just promise me that if brakes me, you'll kill me. Believe me, you'll be doing me a favor. I won't be his dog." Tom said, his voice showing real anger.
"Okay." Skinner said. Tom laughed.
"You don't mean that. Say it."
"I promise Kid. Good thing I'll never have to use that promise." he said, tugging at the links. Finally he gave a groan and let go of the chains in disgust. "How the hell am I supposed to get you out of these?" he asked.
Tom suddenly began to struggle against his bonds, a wide eyed expression his face. He was looking past Skinner, staring at something that only he could see.
"No..." he moaned, arching his back in a vain attempt to escape whatever he could see.
"I'm sorry." he begged. "I didn't mean to..." Skinner crossed the distance between him and Tom in a few steps. Pausing for only a fraction of a second he bent down and slapped Tom, twice, round the face.
"Snap out of it!" He hissed. "You're not there anymore. You're right here, with me." Tom blinked, once, twice, three times.
"Skinner...?" he whispered.
"Yeah Sawyer?" Skinner asked.
"Did you just hit me?" The young man asked, his voice devoid of any emotion. Skinner hesitated before replying.
"Yeah."
"Oh." Tom said, bowing his head for a moment. "Thanks... I think there are some keys behind some books in the bookcase." he added limply.
"You only just thought of telling me this?" Skinner exploded. Tom shrugged his shoulders.
"I only just remembered M doing something there after he was given the key." he admitted. Skinner sighed and moved over to the bookcase. They couldn't be there, it couldn't be that easy... A set of shining, silver keys rested behind a stack of 'The Stand' magazines.
Skinner took them and tried to open the handcuffs. The first four keys were older than the others and didn't fit the lock. Skinner tried the fifth, a key, that even though it was still shiny, had several scratches down it from where someone had roughly forced the key into it's appointed lock.
Skinner opened the handcuffs. Tom's hands fell down to his sides. With an effort he lifted them at rubbed at his wrists, trying to get some circulation through them.
"So..." Skinner said, attempting to sound casual. "Any ideas on how are we going to get past the three guards I passed on my way in here?"
Tom's face was shrouded in shadow. Then the American moved, forcing his tried body upwards, into the light.
"Leave it too me." he said, allowing a smile to come to his face.
~~~
Robes stifled a yawn, and stretched his neck slightly. He doing the most boring job possible, guarding the American. Robes didn't know why three guards were needed, after all he had been one of the men to beat Tom into submission.
Robes highly doubted the American had any fight in him, besides the Agent wouldn't be idiotic enough to try and fight... Robes really wished he would. A noise from inside M's room caught his attention. It was the sound of chains being banged against a wall.
Robes smirked and walked to the closed door. It sounded as if the boy was trying to escape. A fact that suited Robes very well. It was about time he did something fun. The guard pushed the door open and marched in. Tom looked at him, a guilty expression on his face, then bowed his head as he dropped the chain he had been holding.
Inside Robes was laughing, it was all so perfect. He wasn't allowed to kill him, but that didn't mean they would stop him having any fun. Robes strode confidently towards Tom and leaned closer.
"Head up Slug!" Snapped Robes.
Tom lifted his head, his blonde hair in his eyes, making it hard to see. Robes let out a short bark of laughter. Without any warning Tom swung his arm, catching Robes in the face. He jumped forward, his arms free of his chains. The two rolled about the floor, each struggling to gain the upper hand. Robes managed to wrench his arm free from Tom's grip and plunged it into his coat, pulling out a gun.
Tom's eyes narrowed when he saw the gun - his gun - in the hands of the enemy.
"Now, now mate, none of that." a voice chided him. Robes turned towards the voice in time to see a floating candlestick smash into him. Robes dropped to the ground instantly, his neck broken. Tom crawled towards Robes and pulled his gun from the other man's fingers. Instantly he felt stronger, more in control. A quick search though the man's clothes reveled Tom's other pistol and holsters.
"Yes!" Tom hissed, holding his weapons and holsters before putting his holsters on, checking the amount of bullets he had. Tom nodded then snapped the pistols shut.
"Well? I mean we managed to take out one, but there is still two others." Skinner said. Tom sighed and shook his head.
"Watch and learn my friend... watch and learn." Tom said. He turned towards the door, where Huck was standing, blood dripping from his chest. Tom gave a sharp intake of breath and blinked. The image vanished.
//It's all in my head, it's all in my head, it's all in my head...\\ Tom thought as he inched closer to the doors. Skinner watched, wondering what his plan was. To somehow lure one guard in at a time?
In answer to Skinner's unspoken question Tom lunged forward, crashing through the gold doors, his pistols firming wildly, one pointed at each guard.
//Guess that answers that question then.\\ An inner voice told Skinner as he rushed over to the wreckage that had once been doors, fearing the worse.
Outside in the corridor Tom, was humming a tune, as he shoot at the guards one last time, hitting them squarely in the chest. The guns stilled, the humming froze as the bodies hit the floor.
Then there was only quiet.
"Well... that was interesting." Skinner said. Tom flashed a cocky grin at him.
"American style shooting. Fire enough bullets, and hope to hit the target." He said, fingering the weapon lovely. If just felt right somehow, as if he had been missing a limb.
"Let's get out of here." Tom added. Skinner grabbed a coat off one of the dead guards and put it on, giving him a vague shape.
"We need to find Boca first." Skinner said urgently, hearing the clank of footsteps that herald the immanent arrival of more of M's men.
"Who?" Tom asked, moving away from the sounds. Skinner moved with him, the two vanishing around the corner.
"Boca, Doctor Boca. He helped us, we have to get him and his family out of here."
"Family?" Tom asked, stopping. He began to reload his pistols. "What the hell is going on here?"
~~~
"Are you sure you know the way?" Tom Sawyer asked as they moved down yet another corridor, some ten minutes later. He suddenly gasped in pain, dropping to his knees as a serving wave of agony rushed through his body, claiming every fiber of him at it's own. He couldn't see, couldn't hear, he was blind to everything except the pain. His fingers froze then dropped the pistols, as he used them to support his weight. It was the withdrawal, he realized with a sinking gasp. The effort of the drugs fading away could very well kill him.
//No... I will not brake...\\ he thought, determination in his eyes. With a snarl he flung himself backwards, pulling himself off the floor only to hit it again, this time on his back. Tom shook his head and began to push himself upwards. Then Skinner was there, helping him up, passing him his weapons. Tom gave a brisk nod to show his thanks.
"Are yo-" Skinner began. Tom held up a hand to silence him.
"I'm fine." he said. His attention was distracted by a slightly open door. He staggered over to it, weaving as a man drunk. His hands began to tremor, the pistols shaking. He pushed on the already open door and stepped inside.
The room was lavishly furnished. Tom's eyes swept the room, ready for any danger. The room was empty of human life. He placed his pistols carefully back in their holsters, concentrating on stopping the shaking.
"Whose room is this?" Skinner asked, having followed Tom inside. "Look at all that gold."
"It's Dorian's..." Tom answered, his eyes finding Dorian's walking stick. They moved, to rest on an open wooden box, to revel a tiny bottle. A bottle Tom knew.
//"It can cause hallucinations and other... unpleasant things. It will not be a pleasant ride." Dorian said as he removed the needle and stopped up the bottle.
"Have fun." he said cheerfully, collecting all the evidence and walking out of the room...\\
"Tom? Tom!" A voice hissed. With a great effort Tom returned to the present and stared at the jacket Skinner was wearing.
"What?" Tom asked. When Skinner answered there was a trace of worry in his voice.
"Come on, we need to keep moving." Skinner told him. Tom didn't answer, he seemed unable to turn his head away from the bottle. Without even knowing it, he stepped closer, his hand outstretched, shaking at he moved nearer and nearer.
"No!" Skinner yelled, leaping forward and crashing into Tom. They both hit the floor, Tom fumbling for his pistols. It was highly doubtful he was even aware of who he was fighting. In his desperation Skinner pulled off his jacket to prevent Tom from seeing him.
At the last moment Tom lashed out, hitting Skinner right in the chest. Skinner fell to the ground and didn't get back up. Tom groaned, and placed a hand to his mouth. When he removed it, a few drops of blood stained his fingers. He stared at them, supreme confusion on his face.
"Skinner? Oh God, Skinner!" Tom said as he realized what he had done. He had no time to search from Skinner however, as in that moment footsteps could be hear nearing the half open door. Tom looked at the door, with despair in his eyes.
~~~
Dorian entered his room, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. The reason for the smile was tom. The thought of him going through the withdrawal - which he should have reached by now - was simply too delightful. Dorian never forgot a debt.
He began to hum, as his eyes swept lazily over his room. A jacket in the corner caught his eye. It was not his. Instantly his whole poster changed ever so slightly. He still looked and sounded like a relaxing man, with not a care in the world. Dorian casually wandered towards his desk, where his walking stick was. His fingers reached out - meeting empty air.
That very second there was a hum of metal was his sword was pulled from the stick. Dorian didn't even have time to turn around to face who ever was in his room.
The sword pieced him from behind, pushing him forward, until he pinned to the wall. Though he tried, he couldn't reach the sword in his back and therefor couldn't pull it out.
"I was wondering Dorian..." a voice said.
Tom Sawyer's voice.
"You know you said this drug wasn't to be used by people who weren't used to it? Well, what I want to know is what will happen if someone who is used to it has more than they should?"
"You wouldn't dare." Dorian snarled. Tom laughed as he picked up the bottle and needle. Tom watched the liquid with a hungry expression in his eyes.
"You want it, don't you." Dorian said, having twisted his neck as far as he could to see Tom better. Tom ignored him and continued to fill the needle, every once of him focused on this simple task and not letting his hands shake.
"Inject yourself... you want it, you want to feel the rush." Dorian whispered. Tom strode over to Dorian and placed the needle in Dorian's arm. His finger hovered over the plunger, torn between what to do.
"Go on..." Dorian said. "Put the drug in yourself..." Tom's eyes narrowed and he pressed the plunger. Dorian gave out a gasp of surprise as he did so. Tom didn't stop, dipping the needle back into the bottle he then filled it and injected Dorian again.
"Slipped up there." Tom said feverishly, as he snapped the lid shut. Tom closed his eyes, breathing heavily, sweat running down his face. "You should have remembered I am very contrary."
Dorian didn't hear him though. He was lost in his own mind.
Tom opened his eyes and staggered out into the corridor. He fell forward, eyes closing, accepting the pain he was about to receive. Tom didn't hit the ground. He forced his eyes open, blearily. He could see the ground, there was nothing between him and it, so why hadn't he fallen?
"Tom?" Skinner asked, shaking the boy. Tom coughed, feeling the pain bubbling up inside of him, rushing towards his mouth, the one escape point. He clamped his mouth shut, refusing to give the pain a voice. For what seemed like forever to him, the pain lapped angrily at his closed mouth, before falling back, out of conscious thought.
"I-I'm okay." Tom said. "Are you? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"It's okay kid. Come on, we still need to find Boca." Skinner said, helping Tom along the corridor.
It took them another five minutes before they came across Boca. He was holding a dark haired woman and she was holding him. Each held on to the other as if there very lives depended on it. Between them, they hugged a little boy, no more than ten years old. The woman gave a gasp of fear as she saw what seemed like a body float towards her.
"Doc?" Skinner said, easing Tom to the ground. "Doc, I need your help. He needs your help." Skinner pleaded. Boca slowly, reluctantly removed himself from his wife and her embrace and went over to Tom.
"He needs rest. At least a nights rest somewhere safe, without any fear. That's all that can help him now." Boca said.
"Peter!" his wife screamed. Boca turned, to see a guard holding his son, a gun pointed at his head. The guard clicked the gun as Boca's wife screamed again, this time a single note, held and held.
In the mist of all this confusion Tom lifted his head. From his vantage point on the floor he could just see the legs of everyone. He could see kicking feet and another pair behind it. Tom heard Boca's wife scream.
//She shouldn't have to scream.\\ Tom thought, pulling out one of his pistols. He pointed it at the older set of legs and took aim.
"Please, please, don't hurt him!" Mrs. Boca begged. The guard smiled. A gun fired. The little boy widened his eyes in disbelief. But no pain happened. The guard behind him froze as a gun fired again. Then he slowly toppled backwards. Tom lowered his still smoking pistol and placed his head back on the floor.
"Shoulda picked on someone his own size." he muttered. Skinner and Boca ran over to Tom, while Mrs. Boca ran over to her son.
"Follow me, we have to get out of here." Skinner said. Boca looked at his family one last time then nodded. He and Skinner helped Tom to his feet and dragged him along, Mrs. Boca and her son behind them.
They stumbled out of the base and into a snowstorm. Mrs. Boca hugged her son tightly and followed the three men into the storm. They fought there way up the hill, the snow whipping into their eyes. As they neared the top of the hill Mrs. Boca fell to her knees, unable to go any further. By this time a tiny layer of snow had fallen on Skinner, allowing everyone to see him.
"Stay here with Sawyer, you wife and child. I'm going to see if who I'm waiting for has turned up yet." Skinner said, gently placing Tom on the ground. He began to run up the hill, cursing the slowness of the League.
He had planned to simply wait in the base until they attacked, but Tom had made that impossible. There was no way he was going to leave the agent in the hands of M for another minute.
Skinner neared a cave. At the entrance stood Allen Quatermain and Mina Hawker. Skinner grinned with delight. He crept up behind Mina and pinched her behind. Mina let out a squeak of protest.
"Been waiting to do that all week." Skinner said. Allen didn't have any time for Skinner's fun and games.
"Where's Sawyer?" Allen asked.
"Follow me. But..." Skinner stopped, placing a hand on Allen chest. "Be warned. He's not in a good way."
~~~
Tom lay covered in blankets, in a restless slumber. Boca and Jekyll were standing a little way away, talking in animated whispers. Finally Jekyll walked over to where Allen was standing by the cave entrance.
"Tom needs rest. There is nothing I can do for him." Jekyll said. Allen didn't turn from the cave entrance.
"Now do you believe that Sawyer isn't on M's side?" Allen asked. Jekyll flushed a bright red and turned away.
"He needs at least twelve hours of sleep. I wouldn't recommend leaving him though... or moving him any more." Dr. Jekyll said over his shoulder.
"So we wait." Allen replied. Boca gave Allen Quartermain a look of horror.
"What if M realizes he's gone?" Boca asked.
"I'll go and have a little scout round." Skinner said, darting out of the cave, glad to be away from the tensions of the League.
~~~
It had taken Dorian over a hour but he had finally managed to reach the sword and pull it out. He sank to the floor, giggling to himself.
One of M's soilders entered the room, carrying a painting wrapped in brown paper. Silently the man placed the canvis by Dorian's bed.
"Your painting." Then bowed stiffly to him before walking back out of the room.
Dorian found the whole episode extremely funny.
~~~
Skinner managed to get back into M's base without any real difficultly. He slipped past guard after guard before reaching M's main rooms.
The evil mastermind was inside, staring at the corpse of Robes with a detached interest. One of his men - Lee - stood by his side.
"Shall I send men out Sir?" he asked. M shook his head.
"Double the guard on all exits and any where we have food. Let's starve the dog out. I'll wait for him to come back here, after all he is only an animal." M said. Lee saluted and turned to follow out his orders.
"Oh and Lee. Don't shoot to kill."
"Sir?" Lee asked in surprise.
"He's no good to me dead." M said, fingering the chains.
~~~
Night had fallen. In the cave where the League were, everyone slept. The Boca family had been taken to the Nautilus by one of Nemo's sailors.
The only person awake was Quartermain who was standing guard. His gaze kept returning to Tom Sawyer who was tossing and turning in his sleep. Dr. Jekyll had said later that this night would determine if Tom could survive what had been done to him, both mentally and physically.
"Hold on boy." Allen said. He would not fail this young man who looked so much like his son.
No matter the cost he would protect Tom Sawyer, to make it up to both his dead son and also Tom himself.
But Allen Quatermain couldn't help Tom in this. No one could help Tom but Tom himself.
TBC...
There you have it, only ONE MORE part left. Yes, that's right, just one part left. Now that you have read please leave a review on your way out.
~Sethoz