A Tale of Two Umbrellas
Disclaimer: I do not own Emma Peel or John Steed. Enjoy!
Emma Peel and John Steed were driving down a country road on a beautiful, sunny day.
"I do say Mrs. Peel, it is wonderful out! Though we could use the rain, if it's going to stay so sunny for much longer," Steed commented.
Emma on the other hand was looking at something not to far into the distance.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Why to tell you the truth I don't know. But it looked like two figures were dragging something in a long white bag into a hole in the ground!" She exclaimed.
"Hmmm, " Steed thought. "That really is strange behavior. The heat must be getting to them!"
"I know it's really none of my business, but I'd like to know what they were doing!" she said.
Steed nodded. "I'd normally agree, but we're on a tight schedule! How do you think Kinju will feel if we're late for his aquatic themed luncheon?"
Emma said while smiling. "Well, I know if I was him and we missed the aquatic themed luncheon I'd absolutely peeved!"
They were referring to Miko Kinju, a scientist whose research in using water as a way to reconfigure a person's brain, or a form of hypnosis, was dismissed in the scientific community. He had amazing plans for using it as a weapon. Against whom was the question and why they were going.
"I'd rather be almost anywhere then at this luncheon! It's his way of gathering support! I don't like it!" Emma said.
"Well, be that as it may, it would be just rude to not show up!" Steed reminded her.
Emma smiled. "Oh, and it's our job to show the rest of the world how civilized us British are?"
"Now you've got it!"
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Emma Peel and John Steed were driving down a country road on a beautiful, sunny day.
"I do say Mrs. Peel, it is wonderful out! Though we could use the rain, if it's going to stay so sunny for much longer," Steed commented.
"Oh, don't even get started on the weather! After what happened not to long ago with Sir August, I'd rather not even look out of a window! Let alone be out," she said.
"Don't let that bother you! We only saved the world and stopped Father, who was a traitor!" said Steed.
"True."
A short while later, as they neared a mansion, Emma commented. "You never did tell me where we were going to!"
"Oh, did I forget? Well, if you must know ..."
"And I must!" she said.
Steed continued as if he hadn't been interrupted. "We are attending a casual party hosted by Miko Kinju."
Emma gasped. "The Miku Kinju?"
"The one and only."
"Oh, if you'd told me I would've worn something much more better than this!"
As Steed pulled up in front of the mansion, along side several other cars, he confessed. "Which my dear, is why I didn't tell you!"
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Emma closed the car door behind her. "I really wish I hadn't dressed up so much."
She was fingering the sky blue dress that Steed had given her not too long ago.
"I believe it looks lovely on you!"
"Flattery will get you nowhere with me, Steed. I know the game," she replied jokingly.
They walked up the front steps and before Emma had a chance to knock on the door, it opened. It was so sudden that both Mrs. Peel and steed were startled.
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And they had every reason to be startled. The gunshot was load and clear. Definitely in the near vicinity. Emma Peel had been about to alert the persons in the mansion of their presence, when they heard the shot.
"Steed, did you hear that!?"
Steed carefully looked around. "I did."
He started to descend the stairs and have a look around when the doors opened.
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"Oh, my," Emma said under her breath.
A man in a black suite, probably the butler, stood before them.
"Names?" He asked monotone.
Emma glanced at Steed, but he wasn't paying attention.
"John Steed and Emma Peel," Steed said.
The Butler nodded and gestured them in.
When Emma Peel stepped through the threshold, she stepped onto water. She felt like she should fall into it, but she didn't. Then she realized, it was a huge aquarium under the floor. Fish and plants could be seen. It was amazing. Everything was so grand, Emma felt small and insignificant.
Surely, why it was built to such a scale, she thought.
While the butler led them across the glass floor Emma couldn't help, but to stare at the fish and dolphins etched into the marble pillars that were spaced every twenty feet around the circular room.
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An oriental man came running out followed by a butler and a woman in a red dress.
"What was that!?" the man asked.
Emma assumed that the oriental man was Miko Kinju.
Steed, still as calm as ever responded. "I do believe it was a pistol firing."
"I thought so!" the woman in red said.
"James!" Kinju said to the butler. "Find out what is going on!"
As he was commanded James walked down the steps and into the dense patch of forest that surrounded the house.
"Oh, I wonder who got shot!" the woman said excitedly.
Miko shot back. "I'm sure it was nothing!"
The woman looked slightly angry that he has spoke to her like that, but didn't say anything.
Miko Kinju, turned his full attention to Steed and Emma for the first time.
"Emma Peel and John Steed?" he asked.
Steed stole a glance at Emma. She knew he thought something was up. "Why, yes. How did you know?"
"You're the only two people yet to arrive," Kinju explained.
Steed nodded.
"I told we shouldn't have taken the scenic route Steed. We almost missed all the excitement!" Emma Peel said.
"Why, how foolish of me."
Two more gunshots rang through the air.
Kinju, Steed, Emma and the woman looked out into the woods.
Kinju looked, to Mrs. Peel, like he might drop dead from fright any moment.
A rustling sound brought Emma's attention back to the woods, where James stumbled back out. Red blood trickled down his suit. He'd been shot, twice. He made it a foot more and fell over.
Dead, she assumed.
Emma and Steed, followed a moment later by Kinju and the woman ran to the man's aid.
Steed flipped him over and Emma checked for a pulse.
"Dead I'm afraid," she announced.
Kinju looked worse and worse as the seconds ticked by. "You're s-s-sure?"
"Positive," she said standing up.
Steed led Emma a few feet away by her elbow.
"Something about this seems like-" Steed started.
And Emma concluded. "The start of a bad murder mystery?"
"Something like that."
"Well, so much for the party," she said with a sigh.
Kinju overheard this, "No! Everything must continue as scheduled!"
Emma and Steed looked at each other and knew that things were going to get much more interesting.
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They were then led into a very large ballroom, just off the first room. This room wasn't nearly as extravagantly designed as the first, but it was impressive.
Tables laid with food were arranged along one wall. Across the room a quartet played lovely music. Some people were dancing, some were eating and others were in small groups talking. Emma was surprised at the number of people who had attended.
An oriental man in the company of a woman in a blue dress greeted them as they entered.
He put out his hand. "Hello. I am Miko Kinju. This lovely lady next to me is Tabitha Ghames."
Steed shook Kinju's hand.
"I am John Steed, and this lovely lady next to me is Mrs. Emma Peel."
Emma smiled warmly.
"Come! There is plenty of food and many interesting conversations to join in," Kinju said walking back towards the rest of the party.
Steed and Emma followed, not knowing what was to happen. Though, they would never have been able to guess either.
To be continued ...
For the next chapter, or conclusion (I'll see how this next writes out). check the Avengers in the movie section for a story entitled Water, Water Everywhere. Enjoy!
