Disclaimer: Not mine. The concept goes to America's Best Comics and Alan Moore and Fox 20th cent., the characters come from their classics. I don't make any money off this, and as a starving student, neither will you if you sue me.

            The man, captain of this other crew, cast a long shadow in Nemo's dimly lit salon. He reminded Sawyer a bit of Jekyll, like a Jekyll with style. Though he stood garbed in comfortable English wear the agent's eyes kept trying to pick out – what, the monster inside the man?

            Noticing Sawyer's stare, the man smiled benignly.

Tom felt his skin crawl.

"Are we all here?" the man asked. Marlowe, that was his name.

"All but two," Nemo stated. Marlowe's eyes narrowed slightly, but he relaxed and rocked back on his heels.

"Wonderful. Then I'll get started," he said keeping a small smile on his face, "I work for Stanislaus and Son Shipping Co. I was hired to track down the criminals who kidnapped half a crew from one of the ships. We know they are bound into slavery and forced to work at coal mines in South America, though we are unsure as to who is actually in charge of this treachery." Watch his shadow elongate like that – trick of the light, Sawyer told himself.

"We have been following them for two months, waiting for them to make their move. Their usual pattern of activity is capture, sail to a predetermined rendevouz, then pass the new slaves over to second group, who will take them over land to the mines."

Slave was a bad word in Tom's mind – especially concerning his friends, Broad Arrow Jack and his ever ready audience. The hairs on the back of his neck shivered in some strange draft. Mina touched the lamp at her side and Marlowe's shadow grew even more.

Even if the beast was not bound to anything but its own whims, Tom wished Jekyll were here – just so that Hyde wouldn't be far behind. Or Skinner, or some trick up his sleeve…

"We know where the mines are and have had the plan to overtake such operations for some time now, only lacking the manpower. But, with your Nautilus and special crew, I believe the time to act is now."

Sawyer felt his shoulders tense as Marlowe reached to his side, but he was only taking a sip of water. Tom set his teeth together carefully and wished Jekyll warn't such a sissy.

"Let's see what we 'ave here, ducks," Skinner took the lid off the platter that had been delivered during Jekyll's bath. Though Rodney believed the doctor would drown himself given the slightest opportunity he respected his wishes for a solitary few moments. Though from the sound of the murmuring the good doctor was anything but alone. Jekyll now huddled in a shivering lump on his bed in a rather threadbare robe.

"Soup! See? Nice hot soup-"

"Please refrain from treating me as a child," Jekyll snapped between clenched teeth. He had to clench his teeth to stop them from chattering – making him sound more helpless than he already was. As a result, it made him sound angrier than he intended.

Skinner frowned slightly, "Sorry, ducks," he said softly.

Don't call me that.

Skinner didn't answer and for a moment Jekyll was confused. You have to say it aloud you prat, Edward grumbled.

Jekyll shivered and remembered his hand plunging through the eyesockets of some unfortunate villain. The squelch of his eyes into jelly – Henry felt his stomach clench and closed his eyes.

"Here," Skinner held the spoon aloft before Jekyll. "Come on, now, eat up and all will be well."

"Oh, really?" Jekyll took the spoon from him, spilling a few drops on his robe. "How exactly does hot soup solve all my problems?"

Skinner grinned cheeky bastard, "Dunno, ducks. My mum always fed us kids hot soup when we were feeling low or sick or whatever. She thought it solved the world's problems."

"Did it?" he blew on a hot spoonful and carefully sipped the broth.

"Hunh?" Skinner startled.

"I said 'did it?'"

Rodney sat back and considered how to answer. The doctor already knew what way was up, that is, probably figured out most of Skinner's life based on his thievery and well-worn clothing. "Not really, no." He watched Jekyll make a swirling motion in the soup with his spoon, transfixed and trying not to think about – things.

Like cold winter. Like gutter stench that early in the morning. Like cozzers bringing home his little brother. Like cozzers not bringing home his little brother.

"You may leave if you wish," Jekyll said.

"Wha'?"

"You needn't watch me if you have better things to do."

"Well, 's'a good thing I don't." He drew one knee up under his white chin. The makeup stopped in a straight line at his jawline, giving him a disembodied head.

"Excuse me?" Hyde sniggered. Shut it

"Don't have anything else to do. You goin' to eat your roll, mate?"

Jekyll held the roll in question and contemplated. Skinner was being stubborn, his natural state of being six days out of seven, but he was offering something. Hyde watched Jekyll's thoughts carefully. The third had been quiet since yesterday, only making a brief detrimental appearance, but with Jekyll as disturbed as he was tonight, another appearance may push him over the edge. Odd as it sounds, Hyde was protective of Jekyll to an extent. Torture was his domain, not this up-and-comer's.

Jekyll considered that Skinner may be offering him something more – actual friendship rather than only questing for information. He'd already told him all he knew. Hyde was another matter.

Feeling Jekyll's tentative thought Hyde slid back into a corner watching the probing inquiry skate past him.

"Ducks?"

"Hmm?" Jekyll pulled his eyes away from the bread. "What?"

"The roll? 'S'okay if you want it, just gotta say. You alright?" Skinner raised a hand and touched Henry's forehead, taking his temperature. Jekyll froze. This most certainly was not the rogue he'd become acquainted with. He stood abruptly and Skinner's hand dropped to his side.

"Here," Jekyll set the roll on the tray and walked over to the chair where he'd lain his clothes after removing them. Skinner picked up the roll, unsure of what was happening.

Jekyll searched one pant pocket and heard a clink from the other one. He removed a small vial of clear liquid.

"Wot's that, ducks?" Skinner took another bite of the bread.

"The elixir."

"Wot?" Skinner stopped chewing. The elixir, if Jekyll's holding it here –

"The elixir that releases Edward."

"So, ah, how 'er you holding it?"

Jekyll turned back to look at him. "I didn't take it tonight."

Skinner's eyebrow attempted to become one with his hairline and he realized the implication as Jekyll said it -

"Hyde let himself out."

Author's Note~

Sorry for the long wait!

How's that for a humdinger?

May get worse before it gets better (Jekyll wise.) Kudos to anyone who can place Marlowe. Will be lot of confusion. Certainly on my part.

If anyone is still confused as to what the kidnapping thing is, let me know.

I believe in showing, not telling, so you'll see the story unfold through the characters' eyes. They won't know everything, so much secrecy abounds. By the end, though, all will become clear. I have, by the way, no idea when the end will be. Definitely not for awhile, but it will have a complete stop, not a fade-away.

Shall have more soon (I hope).