League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Timestream Dreams

Chapter Two

AN:  I'm sooooooo sorry this took so long!  I never meant for the update to take so long, but I just couldn't figure out who they would pick up next, and I also got into writing Transylvania and Dreams of the Damned and kinda…forgot about this one ^_^()  But I'm not giving up on it by any means, so don't worry about that.  With any luck I'll be able to get updates to most of my current stories sometime this week, and definitely next week, since it's my spring break.  Now, on with the show.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

"Where are we headed this time," Emmett asked, looking at the map spread out over a table in the Captain's quarters.  Bond pointed to a little spot on the map.

"It's called the Temple of Light," Bond explained.  "The monks there are peaceful, though they constantly train one of their young for something they call 'Mortal Kombat' which they believe is some otherworldly martial arts tournament that decides the fate of the 'Realm of Earth.'"

"Ah, I believe I have heard something of them," Frankenstein stated.  "They revere Raiden, do they not?"

"That is correct," Bond returned.

"So whose joining our merry band of ragtag adventurers this time," Jack asked, twirling a gold coin in his left hand and gripping a bottle of rum with the other.

"…I believe it would be best for the three of you to see for yourself," Bond explained.  He almost sounded…hesitant.

"I see," Frankenstein mused.  "They will be…cooperative, correct?"

"Oh, of course.  He asked us if he could join," Bond stated, waving his hand in a dismissive manner.

"So why not tell us who he is, then," Jack questioned.

"As I said, it would be best for you to find out for yourselves."

"Well, if that's all, I think I'll be going for a walk," Jack replied.  "Rum's always more fun when you're moving around."

"I'll go with you," Emmett added.

"Well, guess that only leaves Frank as dear ol' Campion's company, eh," the pirate asked, grinning.  It was, after all, nighttime.  He smirked at the gold coin and continued to twirl it.

"I will join the two of you," Frankenstein stated.  "Mr. Bond would more than likely like to plan our route."

"Indeed," the government worker stated.  "The three of you be certain to get some rest at some point."  The three of them began to clamber out of the room, but Bond clearing his throat stopped them.  "And Captain Sparrow?  Don't get either of them drunk."

"Awww, you ruin all my fun," Jack whined, smirking.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

"So," Jack asked, gulping rum briefly before continuing, "honestly, what brings you two into the service of Her Majesty?"

"Duty," Frankenstein replied matter-of-factly.

"I have to get my DeLorean back," Emmett explained.

"I said honestly," Jack chided jokingly.  "Now, let's see…Frank here, he wants his amnesty, and he'll do anything to get it.  Meanwhile, the good blacksmith might be telling the truth, but then again, maybe not.  Maybe he's really after this guy because he couldn't kill him the first time, eh mate?"

"I don't like to kill," Emmett returned quietly.

"Never said you did," Jack replied.  "Just figured you wanted his head after the way he showed you up and stole your fancy little doohickey."

"I don't think either of us believes that," Emmett returned.  "And here's a question:  Why would a pirate be here?  What's in it for you?"

"A cure for the boredom," Jack laughed.  "You have no idea how boring immortality can get."

"He has a point," Frankenstein stated.  Emmett merely shook his head, still not quite used to the supernatural aspects of his two colleagues.  He passed through a sliver of moonlight and kept walking, but suddenly heard a gasp from Frankenstein and spun.  What he saw caused him to take a step back and reach for his gun.

Jack stood there, but he was a skeleton, a skeleton holding a bottle of rum and twirling a coin in his fingers.  "What," the pirate asked, spreading his arms playfully.  "Is there something in my teeth?"

"What…are you," Frankenstein questioned, still shocked.

"What do I look like," Jack returned, and both of the others got the distinct impression that he would be grinning if he had lips.

"A skeleton," Frankenstein replied.

"The walking dead," Emmett added.

"Well, Frank's more right, because technically, Frank's also the walking dead," the skeletal pirate explained.  He stepped out of the moonlight and just like that, he was normal again.  Emmett and Frankenstein both stood still, amazed beyond movement, for a moment.  Then, finally, Emmett reached out and poked Jack's face experimentally.  "Hey, what the bloody hell do you think you're doing?"

"You're skin is real," Emmett replied.  "But…the moonlight…."

"The moonlight shows me for what I really am," Jack explained, an exasperated sigh finding its way into his voice as he explained.  "You made a time machine and traveled back to this time period, yet you find this amazing?"

"…The time machine was science.  This…this is something completely different," Emmett sputtered out.  The three of them stood in silence for a few moments.  Finally, Emmett reached out his hand.  "Let me see that bottle.  I think I need a drink."

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The next morning found Emmett, Jack, and Frankenstein wandering through the countryside looking for the Temple of Light.  "It can't be that hard to find," Emmett sighed.  "After all, according to Bond, it's a fairly big temple."

"Yet we can't seem to find it," Jack complained.

"We will find it in time," Frankenstein calmly stated.  "We just have to wait for the gods to present the solution to us."

"Riiiiight," Jack droned sarcastically.  "Well, mind telling them to hurry up?  I left my rum back on the Pearl."  Emmett, who was holding the map, looked up and grinned.

"Speak, and ye shall receive," the elderly scientist stated, pointing ahead.  The Temple of Light stood directly in front of them.  Frankenstein nodded and began to head towards it, falling into step with Emmett.  Jack stopped a moment and gazed up at the sky.

"Sorry about all the…disbelieving and such," Jack stated.  "Well, that's that, then," the pirate grinned, clapping his hands together.  "Now, to catch up with the walking dead and blacksmith."

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The three of them made their way through the gates of the temple and into what appeared to be an altar at the end of a small aisle.  No one stood at the end of the altar, though monks lined the little aisle that lead up to it.  Emmett and Frankenstein glanced around uneasily, while Jack just sniffed and began heading down the aisle.  Emmett and Frankenstein were both forced to join him, following behind at a slower pace, looking around cautiously.  Finally, when all three were standing at the altar, Emmett turned the map over to where Bond had written a little note.  He skimmed it quickly and said, "We're looking for a…Lord Raiden."

"Are you the Englishmen," one of the monks asked.

"That we are," Jack stated.

"Then you have come to the right place," came a voice.  The owner followed it a second later, coming around the corner with his head tilted down, his large, circular white hat covering his entire head.  He wore a simple gray blanket wrapped around apparently white robes.  "I am Lord Raiden."

"He's nothing but a beggar," Jack scoffed.

"Oh, really," the man asked, bringing his head up.  "Well, Captain Jack Sparrow, I'd like to see you try to prove me wrong."  Jack, who was already a bit irritated at the man's dramatic entrance, grunted and drew his sword.

"Gladly," the pirate stated, running at "Lord Raiden" and swinging his sword in a horizontal arc.  Raiden leapt up and over Jack's head, delivering a powerful back kick as soon as he landed, sending Jack flying down the aisle.  Jack regained control of himself and spun, but suddenly Emmett and Frankenstein gasped.  When Raiden turned around, lighting was crackling over his eyeballs.

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," Raiden stated, holding up his index and middle fingers and letting Jack watch as lightning danced across them.  Jack stood a moment more, and then Raiden said, "Oh, and you're forgiven, for the…disbelieving and such."  Apparently, that was enough for Jack, because he sheathed his sword and began making his way back up the aisle.  Raiden laughed and let the lightning end.  "So, you're the League, yes?"

"That we are," Emmett returned.  "And, obviously, you are Lord Raiden."

"Quite," Raiden replied, smiling.  "Sorry about the dramatics, but it's usually what people expect of me."  With a sweeping wave of his hand, he offered, "So, shall we be going?  Time is, after all, of the essence."

"Actually," Jack replied, falling into step with Raiden, "it's what's at stake.  Didn't you read the briefing?"

"I don't think you'll be going anywhere."