Okay, yes, I give all y'all's permission to whack me a good one upside the head. Oops. I never meant to have a two month long Writer's Block. Any of you who started out reading this and are still doing so, I applaud you for your patience. I'm sorry, schoolwork, I'm sure you all know about that. Not to mention I got a copy of the novelization for my birthday, and at first I was horrified—Sawyer in the book talked just like my Huck does. After that, it was all laughs. Skinner, a secret agent?

All of you who reviewed, I give you thanks and will now pick up a habit I adore—shoutouts.

LotRseer-Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have NO idea of how much help you are in writing this.

Clez-How do you make it so you accept anonymous reviews? I think I might have, but not sure.

Hyde and Seek

Huck was feeling rather perturbed with Quatermain at the moment. One minute late and he absolutely refused to explain what the plan for 'capturing' Hyde was.

"Look, Finn, we don't have time for this. You can just follow my lead when we get there," Quatermain said distractedly. He strode towards the door, but Huck was quicker.

Huck stepped in front of the door, blocking the way. "Nuh-uh, we are not leaving until I am completely clear on this plan. People die without proper planning." With that, Huck planted his feet in a gesture that clearly said he wasn't moving.

Quatermain's face changed suddenly at the word die. It seemed to be filled with a great anguish—a mixture of past memories and shame at his own impatience. He sighed and looked Huck straight in the eye. It did not seem to help Quatermain's opinion of Huck that he was the youngest of the group and the only without any visible special qualities. Huck tried not to feel resentful, as it was Quatermain who had gotten him into the League. "All right," and with that they together sat down at the table and went over the plans. Huck had learned from his mistakes, and would never again go into a situation without a plan.

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"So, when we get him, and I get that, but how do we control him when we do?" said Huck. Quatermain and he were running along the dank streets of Paris. It was dark, but that was apparently the only time that this Hyde came out and the only time that the civilians were relatively safe from loose gunfire. Huck thought it a very strange coincidence that all the streets he had been in with the league were dark and damp.

Quatermain jerked his head to one side casually and said, "I'm sure when he hears what we have to offer, he'll be very willing to cooperate."

"A great big monkey?

"Well, we could say the same about you. What could we do with an inexperienced American gunslinger?" Quatermain said.

"You could be sure you'd get the Fantom. I ain't planning on stopping til he's six feet under."

Quatermain chuckled. "If all goes well, you'll get your chance. Oh, look, here comes our good Mr. Hyde."

Huck pulled out only one gun—he was a crack shot, and found that using two at a time brought down his accuracy. Huck couldn't yet see Hyde, but he trusted Quatermain and followed him up another street. Finally, he sighted the great monstrosity plodding across rooftops with amazing speed. Huck oriented himself according with the map that Quatermain had shown him on the Nautilus and remembered where he needed to go.

Huck brought the Colt up to eye level, aimed, and pulled the trigger with great care. The great beast decked out in misshapen clothing roared and swatted at its leg in annoyance.

Quatermain slapped Huck's pistol down. "We want to capture him, Finn, not cripple him! Aim lower!" Huck obliged. He aimed just beyond Hyde and both he and Quatermain fired at the same time. Hyde growled and jerked his massive right shoulder, turning around and heading unknowingly into the waiting trap.

Huck was rather focused on his task, to the exclusion of all else. All he heard from Quatermain as he was aiming for another shot was, "Watch it!" and a hard yank on his collar. Huck half turned to be annoyed, but his eye was caught by a rather large and potentially fatal looking piece of rock.

Quatermain chuckled. He obviously was enjoying this. "That was naughty."

"Thanks."

"Stay aware of everything, even when you're shooting—that way there's no danger, most of the time, of getting your head turned into a permanent stain on the ground." Quatermain paused and sniffed the air. "He's afraid. Look's like you scared him, Finn. You're probably the first person in a long time who's dared get close enough to take a shot."

Huck's brow furrowed. He sniffed the air, too. "I can't smell a thing." He shook his head dismissively and followed Quatermain towards the great beast.

Quatermain took aim and fired a few shots at the chimney Hyde was hanging onto, then at the end of the rooftop holding all the shingles together. It broke, and Hyde fell down into the trap. "Welcome aboard, Mr. Hyde."

Huck walked past a rather large top hat that Hyde had discarded upon his fall. A bug crawled out of a hole and in again through the opening which is usually placed on the head. Huck closed his eyes for a moment and walked past the hat.

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Sorry, any of you who are crazy about the whole, father-son bond and want me to have it here. Huck's already had a father, and that one was more than enough. I kind of want it to be more of a colleague relationship.