Verne struggled to climb higher as the ladder swung in the wind, and was whipped around as the balloon shook. Twenty feet above the ground, the girl began to awaken, and wrapped her arms tightly around Verne's neck in fear. She too watched the confrontation below, surveying the scene in horror. A sudden jolt hit the ladder and the balloon dropped suddenly and briefly. Verne found himself dangerously close to the people below, the end of the ladder within jumping distance from the ground.

Fogg fought off several of the attackers, some with a bullets, though as those ran out, the butt of his gun proved an efficient weapon. To his left stood Dubois, fighting off the League's minions as they jumped at him viciously. Freeing himself from their grasp as more began to pour into the courtyard, Pierre turned to Fogg.

"Phileas," he called,"You should go now." He motioned to the dangling ladder.

"You should come now as well, they'll overwhelm you within minutes."

"No Fogg, it's time for you to go. I can take care of them." Phileas stared at his friend in wonderment, searching for the face he used to know. Nothing about him resembled the old Pierre Dubois, even his bright blue eyes had lost their shine. His face was contorted and twisted, and held too much pain.

"I can't just leave you here with them," Phileas protested.

"Yes you can," Dubois replied and struck Phileas over the head with the pistol. Snagging the ladder as it hung overhead, Pierre tied his friend to it, as the balloon began to climb.

In Jules' arms the girl cried out as she looked at the figure below. Verne glanced down to see what had frightened her so. Pierre Dubois, scarred and forlorn looked up longingly, and blew a kiss in the girl's direction. Reaching into his cloak, he produced a vile and threw it to the ground – instantaneous explosion. Crying out, she buried her head in his shoulder and sobbed. One word reached Jules' ears,"Papa."

Rebecca soon reached them, as the balloon climbed higher and the ladder began to retract. Handing the sobbing girl to Rebecca, Jules descended down the ladder to where Phileas hung unconscious. Heaving him upwards, Verne did his best to untie the knots Pierre had spent him last moments on earth tying. His nimble fingers soon finished the work, just as the last of the ladder was being pulled in. Sliding Phileas through the hatch, Verne followed, closing it behind him and breathing a sigh of relief of being safely aboard. His feeling of calm was shattered though as another shot rocked the ship. Racing in to join Passepartout at the wheel, leaving Fogg unconscious on the floor, Verne tried his best to help the valet steer the Aurora above and beyond the projectiles the League's ship was launching. Once the balloon ventured high enough to where the other ship's helicopter blades couldn't maintain a steady altitude, Jules once again breathed a sigh of relief, patting Passepartout on the back. The valet, with sweat rolling down his face, continued his muttering,"Don't get it, just don't get hit, simply enough? Oh yes very simple, just don't get it, she tells me, that's the plan, don't get hit…"

Finding Fogg still sprawled upon the floor, Verne dragged him into an armchair and left him there to inquire about the girl's status. Knocking softly on Rebecca's bedroom door, it opened slowly to reveal Rebecca tending to their now asleep guest. "How's the girl?" he asked softly. Rebecca turned at the sound of her voice.

"She's fine, or atleast appears to be for now. You know she's not a girl Jules, but a young woman." For the first time since he'd first come across her, he was able to look at her, in full light, hair swept back from her face. He could hardly believe the one he'd been carrying around all night was the one lying before him. Amused at his bewilderment, Rebecca laughed slightly. "By chance, would you know where my cousin was?" she asked.

"I left him in the armchair, Dubois must have hit him pretty hard, he's still out cold."

"Dubois?"

"I imagine Phileas will tell you all about when he wakes up."

"Talking about me like I'm not here again, are you?" Phileas called as he limped down the hall, leaning heavily against the wall for support.

"Oh Phileas, up and around again are we? Welcome back to the land of the living," Rebecca said,"What on earth happened to your leg?"

"Nevermind that now, the girl, is she aboard?"

"Yes," Verne answered from the doorway,"She's asleep in here."

"Well then Verne, would you mind watching over her while I talk to Rebecca? There are matters we need to discuss." Knowing the secretive cousins topics of discussion were for their ears only, Verne returned to his watch over the sleeping beauty. She was indeed a beauty, with long golden locks, though from the night's adventures, they were matted with bits of mud. Verne found himself quite entranced with her, and began to drift off as he gazed down at her.

What will happen when she wakes up? Just who is the League after? What did Dubois do in his time with the League? What matters are Phileas and Rebecca discussing? Review if you want more!