Author's Note: Did it take me a long time again? Ugh! I am getting so very bad at that! I beg for your forgiveness, even though this behaviour is terrible and should not be forgiven. No excuse… apart from, as of now, I'm starting to work at my job a bit more, but only four or five hours a day… but hey! Money! Doesn't everybody need money? I know I do in order to feed my obsession- I meant hobby! Plus, my superior kinda up and quit, so I might be up for her job… although I'm sceptical, considering the pretty boy the bosses fancy is also a candidate…
Scene: The cave, leading into the fortress entry.
Shout outs:
RogueSparrow: I most certainly would not want you any other way, dear Sparrow. Why, you wouldn't be the person I've grown to love *smile*. Ah, treats… marvellous, my thanks. *takes brownies, and gives one to Sawyer* There you go, that should cheer you up. A whole year? Wow… that's dedication to warm the heart on a chilly England eve', I'll tell you.
Psychozzy: I'm glad you think I capture the personalities. I took into account that this whole endeavour would be more than relaying the script to you guys… it would take depth, and I am genuinely thankful that you feel I have achieved this. Tom really didn't get that much development in the movie, which I found a great shame… a waste of talent. West has a lot to offer this part, so I hope I'm doing him justice by embellishing on his character more. Thanks again.
angelic katty: Yes… fanfic seems to be having a lot of problems lately… annoying problems. Grrr. Sort it out please, guys! That is an awesome line, and they really did let themselves down by cutting it out, only to put it on the DVD and let us all know what we were missing anyway *remembers she is getting her DVD in three days* Woohoo! Seventeen deleted/extended scenes, here we come! (That's right… you heard me… seventeen, not twelve, Bwahaha!)
Graymoon74: Woohoo! Glad I encouraged you to watch the movie again, for whatever reason. I've lost count of how many times I've seen this now, shamefully enough… I think it's somewhere near fifteen… hmmm… might explain why I was able to do this huh? Lol. Yes, the extra stuff was thanks to – in most part – Leigh S. Durron, who supplied me with the dialogue, as I have not seen the scene yet. I thank her for that, and you all should too, lol!
drowchild: *laughs at your realisation of sounding like a Hobbit* True! Well… I'm sure you don't literally sound like a Hobbit! Meh… wouldn't be anything wrong with that anyway. Oops, slipping off on a tangent there. Not exactly appropriate. Yes, I included the speech. As many of you said, how could I not?
Sethoz: Ah, my good pal, Sethoz. Missed you tonight! Funny bits? Excellent! Scratch another humour point off for Clez! I normally have trouble with comedy of any kind, as I'm quite a… oh I don't know what the word is. Angst is my thing, as some of you may or may not agree. Ahem. Glad I can make you laugh. Couldn't leave out the 'summer retreat' line could I? Have I missed a line of Tommy-Boy's dialogue yet? *wink* I'm not sure about that line though… seems a bit silly, even for good ol' Thomas. Ah well… who wants my opinion anyway, huh? Not as quick as I'd hoped, update-wise, but I hope it satisfies!
Niani: And what, pray tell is your favourite part in the movie? Don't worry about forgetting… not a problem.
Silent Bob 546: Yes, kitties are awesome to have around on a cold day like today. They sit on your lap, purr, and make you cosy. Yes… Jekyll deserved some respect, and I thought it was appropriate to slot in that thought from Tom regarding our dear doctor. Ah, a Happy Bob is a good thing!
freedomfighter82: Hehehehe, I dunno. You get an account, and can't be bothered to log in, lol. Shower! LOL! Ah yes, I remember you ranting about the shower scene, hehe. Glad you enjoyed that at least. I was waiting for at least one person to pick up on it for some reason.
Beck2: I had noticed the wrapping of the guns quite early on, and when I watch it now, I can't help but realise that they've left the most important parts of their rifles unwrapped. They need to protect the firing mechanism. The hammer, the trigger, the levers… that kind of thing. I mean, if they froze up, what use would your gun be? Make a very nice club, maybe, but pulling that trigger and firing a bullet would be outta the question, yes sir. Okay… so maybe I'm taking it too seriously. Lol.
LotRseer3350: Yeah, the personally inserted scenes always worry me, because I'm concerned about disrupting the flow of the movie, but it just wouldn't make sense to skip that much time. I mean… those repairs had to take a few days, right? It was a serious job they needed to do. Oh god yeah, the lack of dialogue… jeez… that was a kick in the teeth. Had to make a lot up, or just fill space with pointless description, lol! Tom's the kind of guy who takes things in and analyses them later… at least that's the impression I get… so that explains him doubting Quatermain's words.
Thank you for your comments, that goes for everyone, and again I apologise for the slow updates recently… hope this makes up for it, and the fact that you all got detailed shout outs! Lol!
Sitting, leaned back against one of the rock walls in the closed off cave, Tom rested his head back for a moment, shifting the weight of his Winchester from hand to hand, gloves cast off now. They had got a campfire started up quite easily, mainly thanks to Nemo's men, many of whom had been recruited to come along to stop the Phantom… M… whatever and whoever this man was. All Tom knew was M was nearing the end of his run, and the League was going to stop him… Gray too.
Tom could see the intent in Mina Harker's cool blue eyes, burning with a different kind of fire than that in the centre of the cave, and he was concerned she might charge off after the immortal on some kind of vendetta.
But with their history… I guess she has every right. He sighed heavily, his breath slightly visible in the chill edge of the cave's interior. A little like me with Huck and the Phantom.
Tom cast his eyes about the cave to take in the faces of the rest of the League. All seemed grave, as if expecting some doom to open up the very ground beneath them and swallow them whole. Pessimists, he thought with a frown, laying his rifle alongside him.
Mina sat on the far side of the cave, her eyes closed now as if in a sleep state. Tom knew that she was thinking, running things through in her busy, scientific mind and cataloguing them for later reference. It seemed to Tom that she did that a lot. He caught himself staring at her in time to make it seem pensive and not admiring, and shifted his eyes along to the next member of the League.
Dr. Jekyll was off in the corner, tending to one of the crewmen's hands. For the moment, he was just rubbing them, advising the sailor that he move closer to the fire, but not too close. Tom watched for a moment, seeing the hidden apprehension in Jekyll's dark eyes, and finding himself sympathising with the man. He wasn't used to this kind of mission… he was a doctor after all, not a hunter, a vampire or a spy, or even a pirate like the next member present.
Captain Nemo was standing near to the fire, the flames casting an eerie glow over his already shadowed features as his dark eyes glinted with purpose, his hands knotted loosely behind his back. There was something odd about seeing the man in white, such a pure and innocent colour for a man with a past so dark.
Tom shifted slightly against the rather uncomfortable ground, and glanced to the mouth of the cave. Quatermain was out there, keeping guard and waiting for Skinner. He had his elephant gun out there with him, his 'donated' Winchester laying across the far side of the cave with his other items. Tom gave them a glance, and then looked back down at the thick insulated boots on his feet. Sure he was toasty, but he was starting to feel a little silly and over-burdened. Sighing, he leaned his head back again, staring at the rather blank rock ceiling.
C'mon, Skinner… where are you already? What's taking so long? I saw the place. It can't take that long to get from there to here, can it? Wait… He furrowed his brow in consideration. He only gave us a loose basis for meeting… he's gotta find the place, which means following our tracks. Jeez… this could take forever.
That was when he noticed that Nemo and Mina both tensed, as if on the alert. Tom brought his head down to look at the two of them, and reached a hand for his rifle, asking, "What's wrong?"
"Stay here," Mina told him, standing gracefully, and walking briskly and with astounding ease – especially when weighed down in the coat and boots – to the mouth of the cave, Nemo striding along behind her. Tom suddenly felt a little useless, and gripped the stock of the Winchester more firmly, glancing once to the ever-wary Jekyll.
The doctor was looking on after the vampire and the captain in anticipation of what might happen, and Tom cocked his head to listen, hearing Mina say faintly, "We heard a noise," before they passed out of his earshot.
Dammit, he thought to himself with just a touch of chagrin. He stared at the opening for a long time before realising – with perhaps a hint of both disappointment and relief in an odd mix – that nothing was the matter, and there was no need to worry. His grip on his prized rifle loosened, and was released altogether after a brief hesitation, just in case he had jumped to a conclusion. He glanced to Jekyll with a brief flash of a smile.
The other man eased visibly, and went back to helping the chilled sailors. Tom glanced to him for a moment, before returning his watch on the cave mouth.
I wonder what's going on out there.
Of course, his question was answered in one way when Mina's abrupt scream pierced the interior of the cave, and Tom shot to his feet, snatching up the rifle with one hand, and cocking it, his mind flashing back to his first meeting with the League in Gray's library. He had leapt in to defend the woman then, even though she had far from needed it.
It wasn't long – even as Tom was pacing to the cave mouth with Jekyll looking on with wide eyes – until an invisible form brushed past him with an abrupt, "'cuse me, Sawyer."
"Skinner…" he muttered, and with a sigh and a roll of his eyes, reclaimed his seat on the floor, thumping back down heavily and wishing he had some padding… not that the coat was doing a terrible job of that.
"Any spare clothes in this place by any chance?" Skinner asked with a slight tremble to his voice to show he was cold. Tom could see the last settled flakes of snow on the man's bare shoulders melting away as he spoke. There was a shuffling, and Quatermain, Mina and Nemo strode back into the cave, the former wearing a look of frustration as he snatched the cover from his head, revealing his wispy white hair. He walked over to his belongings, and tossed a bag irritably at the melting airborne snow.
Skinner made a noise as though the wind had been knocked from him, and wheezed, "Take it easy, Allan, I was only messing about!"
Mina had a look of sheer fury in her eyes, and she took a wide berth of Skinner. Tom noticed a certain disturbed area in her coat, and glared at the bag Skinner was opening. He hadn't… surely! At a time like this?
He's got some nerve… this is a serious situation, and he's going around feeling up women! Tom narrowed his eyes, and placed his Winchester beside him, slipping his Colts out of his concealed holsters and opening the chamber on one. He placed the other one down next to him, and opened his coat more to get access to his waistcoat, where he stored the spare bullets. He began to check and replace the ammunition in the Colt, all the while watching Skinner dress and paint himself, acting as though he had not done anything irresponsible.
The man started to paint his face quickly and with precise ease, considering he had done the same act countless times before. He slipped his leather coat on, and then one of Nemo's offered insulated jackets over the top, looking very much the snug thief. He shrugged himself into the coats, and muttered, "Much better." He slipped his pince-nez into place, and glanced to his companions.
"Anybody miss me?"
"Enough, Skinner," Nemo commented gruffly, standing on the other side of the fire from the previously invisible man, who raised a brow as if shocked by the captain's comment.
Well what was he expecting? Hugs and kisses? Tom scoffed quietly, slotting one of the bullets back into his pistol, and turning his eyes on Quatermain as he sorted through his bags as if looking for something.
Everyone turned their impatient gaze upon Skinner, and the man might have rolled his eyes… but none of them could tell. Finally, he launched into the beginnings of his tale; "With all the suspicion on the ship, I knew you wouldn't believe I wasn't the spy." He glanced to Mina as he said this for some reason, perhaps accusing her silently of pointing fingers. "Well, I thought it best to… disappear."
Don't blame him. I wonder what Nemo would have done if it hadn't been revealed it was Gray like it was… Ishmael wouldn't be dead for one… damn, now I'm confusing myself. He turned his attention back to Skinner, even as Quatermain stood up straight and tall – and tall he most certainly was – to regard the thief.
"So what are we dealing with?" he asked gravely, his determination flashing in his dark eyes and filling Tom with a new sense of confidence. With Allan Quatermain, it seemed they would have more than a fighting chance… he had a lot of endearing qualities that Tom actually envied him for, but he had also suffered greatly, and for that… Tom was truly sorry for the older man.
Skinner started to circle the fire as he began to regale them with his detailed tale, eyeing them in turn as he spoke, "The fortress is vast." He said this heavily, with regret, as if they would have a tough time of even penetrating the castle-like monstrosity of a building.
That much was obvious from the outside.
"Furnaces produce iron for making M's weapons of destruction," Skinner pressed on, and there was more confidence in his voice than Tom had ever heard. He started to look on the man with a new respect, smiling ever so slightly, even as Skinner persisted, "They're pieced together on the factory floor by a private army of ruthless men who share his vision."
Great… just what we need. An army! Tom inwardly groaned.
"But the worst was to come," Skinner said to them, turning his shaded gaze upon them each individually in turn briefly. "In the dry dock… M's best minds pervert Nemo's dream."
Tom hesitated, and then glanced to the Indian captain as the man realised the weight of the words, and his shoulders visibly dropped with the impact as he said disbelievingly, "The Nautilus?"
Skinner was standing beside Quatermain once again, head tilted to one side subtlely, and he corrected, "Nautiloi. There's eight for now."
Oh, that is not good… a fleet of these, and you can say goodbye to any nation.
Nemo pushed the subject on, but it was clear the last revelation had angered him… either that or disturbed him, as he asked, "What about the kidnapped scientists?"
"M holds their families hostage," Skinner revealed, and Tom was certain he caught the slight edge of disgust to the man's voice, but he couldn't be absolutely sure. His expression was veiled rather convincingly to avoid giving anything away as he concluded, "The men work… or the women and children die."
Congratulations, M… you have just reached a new level in twisted madness, Tom thought without humour, and heard Nemo's practical growl of, "Monstrous." Tom agreed wholeheartedly with a slight nod of the head that seemed lost on everyone.
But when it seemed the tale was told, Skinner took to pacing once again, and began anew, saying clearly, "Well that isn't the half of it. The scientists are forced to work night and day to make new versions of us."
What is he talking about now? Tom vaguely recalled something about Gray 'collecting' parts of certain people. He wasn't sure how to feel about being the only one avoided in that collection. Even Quatermain had been thrown for a loop for some reason, but since he had joined of his own accord, Tom had been skipped in the compilation.
You should be happy about that, he told himself.
Skinner pressed on with the explanation briskly, "Invisible spies; an army of Hyde's; vampiric assassins. M leaves today with a sample case of the chemicals to sell to the most eager nation."
The severity settled into Tom instantly, and he felt the cold dread gnaw at the very pit of his stomach. Invisible spies, more Hyde's than any rivalling army will be able to manage, and vampires flying around assassinating world leaders. Oh, this just gets better and better. Tom's felt his jaw set grimly, and he glanced to their leader.
Jekyll spoke for the first time, and it was odd to hear the anger in his voice again as he said, "I'll not let my evil infect the world."
"Do you think any of us feel differently?" Mina challenged coldly from above the seated doctor, looking down on him guardedly. Jekyll did not respond.
The only one who seemed indifferent about his 'collection' was Skinner, who moved on to formulate his own plan pensively, as he shuffled past Nemo, "Chimney pipes lace the building, and bombs in the furnaces would make quite a bang."
Okay… is Skinner coming up with a plan here? Now I've seen everything…
"But someone needs to blow that place to hell… and I am least likely to be seen." Skinner walked right up to Quatermain as he finished his offering, and looked the man straight in the face, determination pulsing from him in waves. Tom's respect for Skinner shot up another notch.
"Skinner," Quatermain began, staring straight back, "I didn't know you were such a bare-faced liar."
… Did I miss something?
"All this time pretending you weren't a hero." Quatermain paced up beside Mina, who had wandered to the cave mouth to peer out whimsically. Tom felt the relief hit him, as he understood that Quatermain had been misleading Skinner in his intention.
Skinner smiled cockily. "Well, shut up or I'll come to my senses," he offered as a quip, and then added with a sigh, " and besides… any more like me, and I lose a franchise."
Now that's the Skinner I know, Tom thought with the beginnings of another smile. It faded away almost as soon as it had popped up. He stood from his seat swiftly then, and holding the barrel of his Winchester with one hand, cocked it loudly and firmly with the other. He had slipped his Colts away without even realising himself. Quatermain turned on him, a rifle in his own hand, and raised it slightly as a signal for Tom to stop. The young man did, unsure of what the hunter planned to do. He regarded him curiously.
"No," he began clearly, looking Tom in the eye to begin with, before glancing to the others as well, "this cannot be a hunt to the death." His gaze fell back upon Tom solely, as he added, "More's the pity." Tom did not smile. Quatermain persisted, "M must be taken alive if his secrets are to be uncovered."
Fat chance that he'd tell us anything, Tom thought to himself, knowing that sharing this opinion may very well lose him some of the respect he had gained a few days ago back on the Nautilus after the bomb incident.
From the mouth of the cave, Mina's smooth voice could be heard as she declared, "Not Gray." The edge that crept through her tone as she practically hissed her next words was a little eerie; "He's lived long enough."
Shouldering his rifle casually, Tom offered, "Oh, I'll handle him."
But what could I do against an immortal anyway? I should have thought of that before I offered, maybe.
"No," Mina said simply, sternly, half turning her head back to look over her shoulder, though her eyes did not meet Tom's. The American knew, however, that there was to be no argument. He fell silent, defeated, and knew that Mina wished to settle the vendetta personally. He couldn't blame her, and understood entirely. If anyone got to kill M… he wanted to be the one to do it.
Jekyll stood from his perch on the rock, and paced up beside the captain even as Quatermain addressed them as a pair, the cogs turning in his mind to finalise the plan; "Nemo, you and Hyde will free the prisoners."
The dark, wise eyes landed on Tom's young face again as he said, "Sawyer and I will handle M."
I should be thankful for that, at least. Tom knew he still – potentially – had a lot to learn from Quatermain, and he was more than willing to accept the lessons if the hunter was up for teaching him.
Quatermain looked around the cave, and allowed the almost eager smile to creep onto his face as he announced quietly, "And the game is on."
Tom gave in to his own smile after that comment, filled with pride at being part of such a determined team, setting out on a mission that could very well save the world from a war that would tear it apart. There was something rewarding in that knowledge alone… regardless of victory of failure in the end… just trying was incentive enough.
The insulated coats and boots were abandoned in the cave as the League – Nemo's able-bodied crew trailing along behind – led the way down from the shelter. Thankfully, the snow had ceased, almost welcoming them on their endeavour. Tom glanced skyward, and smiled wanly at the small grace.
Halfway along the trail, Jekyll halted and drew his formula from his pocket, removing the stopper without a moment's hesitation and downing the clear contents. The League turned their eyes as the painful and rather frightening transformation took place, but they were close enough to hear it, as Jekyll's body twisted and turned and contorted into that of Edward Hyde, who soon stood grinning in the snow, the tattered shreds of the doctor's neat attire hanging limply from his body. He knew what was transpiring, and he was enthusiastic. That much was clear in his narrowed eyes. For once, he didn't swing at anyone, and Tom was grateful for that as well.
So far, so good, he thought, hoping he wouldn't put a jinx on the whole operation in musing that way. The group trudged on through the snow, and Skinner's footprints started to press on ahead as planned. He was to scout around near the guards and incapacitate them long enough for the League to make their stealthy entrance.
Hyde moved off quickly behind him, but hanging back so that their arrival was not so prominently obvious. It was a little hard to miss the alter ego of Dr. Jekyll, unless you were looking in completely the wrong direction.
Tom and Quatermain walked along with Nemo and Mina by their sides. The woman tilted her head with a smile, even as the growl of Hyde was heard, eagerly anticipating his job. Tom and Quatermain held their Winchester rifles, their long coats billowing out behind them like extended living shadows.
Nemo walked proudly, head held high, his crew never straying in their stride. They were determined not to fail their captain, and Tom had a feeling they would willingly die for him. The looks on their stoic faces was evidence enough of this.
Mina suddenly started to fade into a cloud of bats from her place beside Tom, and he managed not to flinch as their wings disturbed his blonde locks slightly, chattering enthusiastically as they lifted the vampire from the snow and towards the fortress looming into view, carrying her with unnatural speed and awe-inspiring ease.
Tom glanced to Quatermain with the hauntings of a smile on his youthful face. The hunter returned it. Nemo kept his eyes fixed forward, even as the sounds of Skinner clubbing a guard with his own automatic weapon were heard, ringing out across the plain of snow to their ears. Hyde's low roar was heard not long after, and they cleared the hill in time to see him smash the second guard into the snow, as Mina's bats soared through the gratings to the building.
She would open the door for them shortly, and the small procession moved down the other side of the slight mound to meet her. It was only a matter of a few minutes before the deep clang of the bolt could be heard sliding aside, and she opened the barricade with a smile. Her hair had fallen loose from its pinnings, and Tom noticed the sudden curl.
A vampire trait, he surmised, thinking this to be the only explanation for such a swift alteration. He couldn't help but notice how stunning she looked, clad in leathers and long coat, her hair hanging around her face like a dark mysterious frame, sharp contrast to her icy gaze.
As a team, the League entered M's 'impenetrable' fortress…
