Okay, I apologize for the lack of updates. Well, here's the next part.
* * *
Police chief Jean Francois sighed as he watched some of his men drag away the two mutilated corpses from this latest slaughtering. Around them, a small crowd of people had gathered, watching with worried expressions. Jean couldn't blame them, seeing as how with each night no one was left wondering who would be the next to die.
This new victim, in particular, Gregoire, had been a rather good friend of his, and it pained him to see what this thing had done to him. It was obvious now that the thing wasn't a person, as earlier one person in the crowd claimed to have heard a long, lonely howl sometime during the night, that it had chilled him to the bone, as if a knife of ice had been slowly dragged up his back.
"This is the fifth one in just two months," the detective next to Jean stated, more to himself. Jean simply nodded before turning and walking away from the scene, the detective following.
"We can't just stand around like idiots and let this, thing continue killing these people. Something has to be done, and it has to be done now."
For a moment there was a long pause, and then his companion spoke up. "I happen to know a few people who might be able to help us."
"Oh?" Jean asked with a raised eyebrow as he looked over, although it was clear he was listening. After all, any help they could get to stopping this creature would be eagerly welcomed.
"Yes, two groups. The first is two detectives, one French and one Asian. They're experts with murder cases."
Jean nodded. "And the second?"
"The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." The man trailed off when he saw Jean's confused face. "Have you not heard of them?"
"No, I can't say that I have," Jean answered as he removed his glasses, taking out a small cloth that he wiped the glasses with.
"They're this group who were brought together a few months back, the group that took care of the incident involving the Fantom," the man explained, and Jean's face lit up in recognition.
"Ah yes, now I know who you're talking about. But…do you think they'd help?"
"Of course, why wouldn't they?"
Jean shrugged. "It just seems like this wouldn't be considered an emergency, not like the one that was caused by the Fantom." Jean explained, as he put his glasses back on.
"Innocent people are dying left and right here. Children are dying. I think they would help."
Jean nodded. "Very well. Contact them, as well as these other two detectives you mentioned earlier." With that Jean turned and walked down the street, towards the main police station.
* * *
The bobbing target exploded as the bullet collided into it, the pieces quickly sinking down into the cold dark water of the ocean.
Sawyer lowered the Winchester rifle, slightly smiling. That had been the tenth in a row he had gotten, at nine hundred yards.
As he reloaded, he glanced over. "Salau," he said aloud. The crewman nodded and in a few seconds another target was launched, hitting the water with a splash.
Sawyer aimed the rifle again, slightly narrowing his eyes, not just because to get a better aim…it was because for some reason he kept seeing M, from that same faithful day, as he was fleeing with the box that had the key to starting the world war. The day that Quatermain had been killed, because he turned around and shot Sanderson Reed, saving his life…
His thoughts left as the target exploded from the shot. He lowered the gun, slightly pausing, before raising his head as a gust of wind suddenly picked up. Tom shivered, and suddenly got an uneasy feeling. Something was in the wind that he didn't like.
"Sawyer." Tom glanced over to see that Captain Nemo was standing near the door. "We will be going under soon," he stated. The crewman nodded before moving to the door, Sawyer following after a moment.
"So, where are we going?" Tom asked once he and Nemo were inside.
"Paris. We received a message a few moments ago of some kind of, monster that has been killing people night after night," Nemo explained, his hand moving to the handle of his sword, and then leaving it.
Tom nodded. "Where are the others?"
Nemo paused before answering. "Mina is in her chambers, and Skinner, currently he is trying to teach Jekyll how to play cards."
Tom stopped and starred at Nemo. "You're joking." He stopped when Nemo looked at him. "Right, never mind." Then, a small smile spread across his face. "Now this I have to see," he stated, moving past Nemo down the hall.
* * *
"No, no, no!"
Tom entered the dining room, where he saw Skinner and Jekyll sitting opposite each other at the table. There was a deck of playing cards seated between the two on the table, and both Skinner and Jekyll had six cards. Skinner looked up as Sawyer entered. "Hey," he greeted simply as Tom pulled up a seat. "I'm just trying to teach Jekyll here the fine art of poker."
"And how to cheat in it," Jekyll added, slightly frowning.
If Skinner rolled his eyes, neither could tell, as he turned to face Tom. "The trick is to hide certain cards in your coat sleeves." As he spoke he lifted his coat sleeve, as if to show him. "It doesn't always work, but it can have some nice payoffs."
Jekyll sighed as he set his cards down. "I'd have better luck just letting Hyde out and having him mug the people," he mumbled to himself, but it was loud enough for both Skinner and Tom to hear him.
Skinner grinned, which was a rather bizarre sight for Tom seeing as how Skinner's teeth were invisible, but his face wasn't due to the makeup. "Now you're thinking right. I knew I'd have a positive influence on one of you people," Skinner said rather cheerfully as he stood up, giving Jekyll a pat on the back before walking out of the room. Jekyll groaned while Tom just smirked.
* * *
The small bar was populated with what would be considered lowlifes. The people sat, drinking beer, playing cards, conversing with their friends, or in some cases, pounding the faces of others.
Then the door to the tavern swung open, some rain from the storm outside pouring in. Most of the movement inside stopped as everyone turned and stared as the two newcomers walked in. They were each wearing long dark raincoats, with hats that hid their features in the shadows as they moved toward the bar, each taking a seat.
"Can I help you two?" the bartender asked as he finished drying off a mug with a cloth.
"Yes," the one in the lighter coat said, his voice carrying a French accent. "We're looking for a man who came in here a while ago. He called himself Drake."
The bartender nodded. "Yeah, he's over in the back corner." He pointed to the corner, where both men looked, and stood up, moving over to him.
Suddenly, their path was blocked by two rather large individuals. "You two aren't welcome here, leave."
The Frenchman cocked an eyebrow. "And why are we not welcome?"
The second man glanced at the frenchman's companion. "Because your friend here is a jap." As he spoke he moved forward, grabbing the second man's hat and yanking it off. Under the hat was the face of a Japanese man in his early thirties. Dark hair went down to his shoulders, and his dark brown eyes suddenly glared at the two. "Both of you get out and there won't be any trouble."
The Frenchman sighed and removed his own hat. He was older, in his forties, and his hair was cut very short to his head, but his eyes were the same color as the Asian's. The Frenchman smirked. "Sorry, but we like trouble."
In a flash, the Asian lashed out with a open palm, hitting the first man in the chest, and sending him stumbling back with a gasp. The second man growled before reaching into his coat and pulling out a knife with a blade bigger than the Asian's head. He slashed wildly at the man, who stepped back, dodging the slashes and stabs with an almost bored expression.
The first man moved to attack the Asian, when a hand suddenly fell on his shoulder. He turned to see the Frenchman glaring at him. "Dance with me, please," he said bitterly before smashing his fist into the man's face. His head snapped backwards as blood exploded from his nose. Quickly shaking his head he snarled and attacked, punching at the Frenchman, who grabbed his arm before slamming a knee into his gut. Then, grabbing him by the front of his outfit, he threw him through the air, where his back collided into a empty table, shattering the wood as if it was glass.
Meanwhile the second man was still slashing at the Asian, when suddenly the Asian ducked, and then as he stood up, slammed both fists into the man, causing the man to stumble back. The Asian wasn't done, as he twirled and lashed out with his foot, slamming into his chest. As the man gasped, the Asian leapt up and struck him a final time with a reverse roundhouse kick, his boot colliding with the man's jaw, effectively breaking it and knocking the man out cold.
Their opponents down for the count, the two men glanced at each other, and then at the other people in the bar, who looked like they new better than to mess with these two. Nodding, they moved to the table in the corner and sat down.
"That was quite impressive Jacques, and Nobunaga," the man, who was hidden in the shadows of the corner congratulated the two. "You know about what's going on in Paris, correct?" When the two nodded the man leaned forward, partially revealing his face. "Good, then you know your assignment. Go there, find this beast, and kill it…oh, and you might have some competition." That was all he said before standing and moving towards the door.
That done, Jacques and Nobunaga rose to their feet and moved towards the exit. Then, Nobunaga stopped, and moving towards the bartender, pulled out a small sack and handed it to him. "Money to repair that table," he explained, his English surprisingly good. Then, he followed Jacques outside.
A groan filled the air, and the bartender turned as the man who had been thrown into the table slowly stood up, wincing in pain. "That bastard. I'm going to go out there and give him a piece of my-"
The bartender sighed. "Just shut up. You always say that and then you get beat up anyway. Just keep your mouth shut and then you won't get beaten on so much." He sighed again, this time to himself. "Idiot."