A/N: Hooray for weekends! (That and my off-hour provided the time for me to finish this chapter!) Hey, it seems I've found a few Monty Python fans! *yay!* Anyway – here's my fifth chapter, full of Skinner mischief for your reading pleasure…

            America loomed on the horizon. Tom leaned against the railing of the Nautilus, staring at the skyline of his home country. It seemed like he'd been gone for years, when in actuality, it had only been a few months. 'Why America?' Tom wondered. He'd been asking himself that since they left London. He was hoping that their travels would take the League to America, but never under such circumstances. He heard the door open behind him. Jekyll, Mina and Cabrilyn, accompanied by her two guards, stepped out into the sun.

            "Hello Tom," Cabrilyn said, brushing away a blond lock of hair that had blown across her face. She followed his gaze. "How long have you been gone?"

            Tom shrugged. "Few months." He took a deep breath, taking in the fresh, salt-tinged, sea air.

            Cabrilyn leaned on the rail. "I've never been to America," she commented, not really expecting a reply. She didn't get one. The only sound was the sea as the Nautilus cut through it. Nemo was right to have called it "The Sword of the Ocean." At length, Cabrilyn sighed, and without taking her gaze from the horizon, said, "Don't even try it, Skinner." Tom glanced over his shoulder. There was nothing there, at least, nothing he could see.

            "Aw," Skinner said. "I thought I had you." Skinner had made it his mission to sneak up on Cabrilyn and catch her off guard. Thus far, he'd been unsuccessful.

            Tom sighed. "Put some clothes on Skinner."

            "Put some clothes on," Skinner said, mocking Tom's accent. "Put some clothes on. That's all I ever hear from you people." He sauntered over to the door and retrieved his coat that he'd left just inside. "Ah, land of the free," he sighed, looking at the approaching American shore. "Home of the brave… target for the maniacs…"

            "Be quiet Skinner," Tom snapped.

            Skinner threw his hands up defensively. "All right, all right. Sorry." He leaned against the railing beside Cabrilyn. "Some people can't take a joke, ya' know," he muttered to her.

            She rolled her eyes. "Honestly Skinner. You can be so…"

            "What? Charming? Handsome? Well dressed?"

            "I was going to say rude, but you can believe whatever you want," Cabrilyn replied. She turned and walked away. Skinner thoroughly annoyed her – always following her around, trying to sneak up on her all the time. He was grating on her last nerve.

            "Ooh, ouch," Tom commented.

            Skinner shot him a sideways glance. "Some people," he muttered. Cabrilyn's attitude was grating on his hast nerve.

            Jekyll came up beside them. "Why do you insist on tormenting her?" He asked, glancing at Cabrilyn who was across the deck chatting with Mina.

            "Just to see how long it'll take her to snap," Skinner said.

            "Not a wise idea to anger someone who can see you," Jekyll replied. "Especially someone as deadly with a blade as her."

            Tom chuckled. "Yeah, she'll cut you to pieces."

            "And what, pray tell, is so funny about that?" Skinner asked indignantly.

            "It seems, Skinner," Jekyll said. "You've finally met your match."

*   *   *  

            All was quiet in front of the White House. Cabrilyn peered down from the lush green branches of her hiding spot. She was on reconnaissance, since she was the only one who could see what they were up against. She'd counted at least two score invisible soldiers. Backed by a score of armor-plated gunmen and flame-throwers – those could be easily dealt with; it was the invisible ones she was worried about. She could've taken ten, maybe fifteen on her own, but forty was far too much for just her.

            "Well, what do you see?" Came a voice from below.

            "Could you say that a little louder?" Cabrilyn said in a harsh whisper. "I'm not sure the entire state could hear you."

            Skinner stared up at the branches in contempt. Much to his dislike, it was his job to relay Cabrilyn's information back to Tom. "Sorry," he said, lowering his voice, but keeping his tone of annoyance. "So?"

            "We've got forty invisible soldiers on the lawn, with twenty gunmen and flame-throwers hiding in the bushes."

            At the mention of the flame-throwers, Skinner shuddered. He still has nightmares about his previous encounter with one. He'd been bed-ridden for weeks – the slightest movement had been excruciatingly painful. Still, Sawyer had been grateful, and would've helped get him to safety sooner had it not been for a certain, unseen circumstance. It was funny, in an ironic sort of way, that the same "unseen circumstance" had come back to haunt them. "Anything else?" He asked at length.

            Cabrilyn sighed. "Are you still here? No. Nothing else, now go."

            Skinner made a face and meandered away. "Are you still here?" He said in his version Cabrilyn's frustrated tone. "Ooh, I can't stand her!"

*   *   *

            "Forty?"

            Skinner nodded even though Tom couldn't see him. "Yes, forty. With twenty visible ones as backup."

            Tom massaged his temples. "What are we supposed to do about forty invisible soldiers?" He looked at Nemo. "I don't suppose you have that much flour on board, do you?"

            Nemo shook his head solemnly.

            "What about the visible soldiers?" Tom asked. At least he knew those could be handled.

            "Gunmen mostly," Skinner replied, "And a few flame-throwers. I'm not getting anywhere near them, I think being burnt to a crisp should be a one-time experience."

            "Hold on," Tom said. "The flame-throwers! Skinner, you're a genius."

            Skinner smirked. "I know…" he paused. "Um…"

            Mina shook her head. "You have no idea why you're a genius, do you?"

            "Of course I do! It's because… well, I… um, Tom, why am I a genius?"

            Tom let out an exasperated sigh. "We can set them on fire."

            "Oh, yeah," Skinner said. "That's real brilliant. We'll set them on fire, along with the rest of the White House."

            "Not if we get them away from the White House," Tom replied. A mischievous look was coming across his face.

            "Oh boy. What are you thinking Sawyer?" Skinner asked. He just knew he was part of whatever it was going on in Tom's head.

            Tom raised an eyebrow. "How are your acting skills?"

*   *   *

            "You there! Get your men together, we're to change position!"

            "Hold on. Who are you? State your name and rank."

            "I'm…um, well… Yendor. Yes, Yendor. Commander Yendor." 'Yendor?' Skinner thought to himself. 'Yendor? Where did that come from?'

            "Yendor?" The invisible soldier replied skeptically. "I've never heard of you before."

            "Well, obviously you haven't been paying attention, and it's Commander Yendor to you," Skinner, aka 'Commander Yendor,' replied in an all-important voice. "Now get moving. I have orders that we are to change position."

            "May I enquire as to why, sir?"

            "No you may not!" Skinner said shortly. "Besides, who gave you permission to speak anyway? When I say, "get moving" I expect you to get moving! Now go!"

            After a moment the reply came, "Yes sir."

            Skinner sighed inwardly. He wasn't very happy with Tom right now. 'Pose as a soldier… lead them away… it'll be easy 'cause they think we're all dead…' he thought, remembering Tom's instructions. 'Ha, easy for him to say – he doesn't have to do any of it!'

            "Sir, ready and awaiting your commands, sir."

            Skinner jumped – he hadn't known anyone was there. 'So, this is what it's like to spend time with me.' "Um… right. Mr. Reed has issued a change of plans… he wants us to rendezvous in an alley, a few blocks from here."

            "An alley?" Skinner recognized the voice to be the soldier he'd spoken with before.

            "What's your name soldier?" He demanded.

            "Davis, sir."

            "Mr. Davis, you are way out of line. One more word from you, and I shall have you removed from this army… permanently." Skinner grinned at the shocked silence of the soldiers. He was really getting into his new role. "Right, let's move out."

A/N: Ok, in all honesty, I don't think Skinner would ever be in any sort of army. (My army-minded editor/friend Lily thinks so too!) Well, all is going according to plan… (Sinister laughter: bwa-ha-ha!) We have Cabrilyn and Skinner thoroughly annoying each other, America is under attack, and I'm making ready to bring someone back… but I won't tell you who or how! (More sinister laughter: bwa-ha-ha-ha!) Stay tuned for more updates!