Author's Note:Sorry for the delay… crashing of computer prevented me from doing things at my own pace, but a friend kindly donated his pc so I could do stuff online for a while. Luckily, I wrote this by hand whilst in downtime, and… here you have it.
LotRseer3350: Thanks. I'm glad you think it's worth the wait. Heh, they'd come quicker if I could help it. Sadly I can't. Cool to hear about the move. Sounds nifty. Thanks for the comment about the Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer thing… but pretty much all the credit goes to the marvellous Alan Moore.
Leigh S. Durron: Big game… not good. Very astute… yup. Bickering is fun. Jekyll… I'm not telling.
Nimmo Gray: Cliff hangers are what I do best. You'll learn this in good time. Paw… cool… and I'm not giving anything away. Mwahahaha.
drowchild: Um… yeah… heheheh.
Hinril Moon: No it doesn't bode well, does it? Heh. Turned into animals? Odd. London buses and songs… don't think they'll be appearing sadly, heh.
Iblis: I'm glad you like the thoughts. Heh, someone knows what's coming, always fun. Hope it lives up to your expectations.
TARilus: Glad you find it interesting. Aheh, you seem to be getting on the right track with your thoughts about a certain character there. Ah yes… that regard… ahem. I do indeed know what you mean.
Drakena the Destroyer: No, it wasn't Skinner, thankfully… not sure Marvel could really be called a hobo now… he'd probably freak out and strangle you, heh. He's a bit insane, y'know. More drama and action, coming up.
Well, whadda ya' know… no Sethoz… I'm shocked, heh. I've scared her away ::grins::
I have to give a warning for this chapter, due to the content. You'll know what I mean when you get to it, savvy? Oh yes, and as for the later format, I was trying to simulate the quick pacing the comic shows… hope it worked…
And now, without any further ado, and my sincere apologies for the wait, here is Chapter Nine of LXG2: Above & Beyond!
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Great belching flames tore and ate at the numerous building that made up the great city of London, rooftops collapsing and the screams of those unlucky enough to be caught in the carnage creating a dark, haunting melody over the turbulent river that was the Thames. The mighty, proud vessel that was the Nautilus protruded from the waters at the shore, surrounded by other boats and the like. They had been forced to push off from the very edge by some twenty, maybe thirty feet, when several desperate individuals had tried to clamber aboard… despite the size of the vessel.
Nemo and Jekyll stood silently atop the conning tower, watching the monstrous Martian tripods swarming in amongst the buildings, burning everything in their path without hesitation. The doctor felt his stomach swell, unsure as to whether or not this was so terrible… he couldn't push down Hyde so easily as what he had been able to, and he could feel the monster, almost coursing through his veins, like blood, or some terrible drug.
"Patel," Nemo began, without turning his head, "if one of them approaches Blackfriars Bridge, try to put a round beneath its canopy."
The crew were standing or bustling about along the top of the Nautilus, and Henry turned to regard the Indian captain as he added, "Failing that, collapse the bridge."
After only a moment of hesitation, Patel nodded. "Yes, Captain."
"Collapse the bridge?" Henry repeated, not entirely sure of his feelings on the subject. Hyde almost cheered within him at the prospect of carnage, whereas the physician knew he should be feeling horrid about it.
"The Thames is London's moat now, Dr. Jekyll." The dark eyes did not waver from observing the tripods, and Henry found he was slightly unnerved by this behaviour. "And whatever measures are necessary to contain our problem south of the river, those measures must be taken."
Pessimism hit Henry Jekyll like a ton of bricks, and he sighed. "Goodbye south London, then."
"Possibly," Nemo agreed mysteriously, and turned to regard the surging evacuees at the river's edge. There were dozens of them, all screaming and shouting for freedom from their terrible fates. "If we are fortunate, there are no more canisters to come. Those creatures already here can only destroy so much."
Henry had turned to look at the masses as well, diverting his attention three ways: upon the crowds; to Hyde… and on Nemo.
"As for the population, hopefully they can escape in time." Nemo's gaze grew dark and ominous, his posture prepared. "If not, it is hardly a major strategic loss. They are only…"
Swallowing, Henry reluctantly offered, "Human?"
A great shadow seemed to come over Nemo, and when he spoke, there was a hidden malice and sincerity there.
"English."
:::
The inn – so affectionately called 'The Olde Stumpe' – was peaceful that night by the time the three returned from their surveillance, less than victorious. A few people were milling about their evening activities, and as Tom stifled a yawn as he walked through the door, a lone dog trotted down the lane. Quatermain and Mina were waiting for him in the foyer, and he caught up to them swiftly, feeling a little worn from their day of walking and exploration. Quatermain looked exhausted, and Mina… none the worse for wear. She was her usual, beautiful, unflustered self, auburn hair all in place, and not a crease in her clothing.
"I'm just saying that if we find nothing tomorrow, we should return to–"
"Hush," Mina silenced curtly, and Tom came up beside her even as the resident maid appeared at the foot of the stairs, hands upon her apron. She was a slight woman of rather mousy, startled appearance, with all her brown hair clipped and pinned beneath her maid's cap, and wearing a black dress under her white apron. "Miss Mopp," Mina greeted politely and pleasantly, "good evening."
"Evenin' Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer…and Mr. Quatermain," she returned, eyeing the hunter oddly, attempting to be subtle and failing miserably. Tom supposed this was because he was posing as the father to Mina, and such a presence on an excursion for a young married couple was… unheard of.
"Shall I do you now for supper, or will you be going straight up?"
Mina was first to begin the ascent, with Tom moving up behind her. Quatermain moodily brought up the rear. The vampire turned, replying with, "Oh, we thought we'd retire early, didn't we, darling?"
Tom was so thrown by her name for him that the only kind of response he could muster was a muttered, "Uh…"
Quatermain smiled faintly, but Tom resisted the scowl with which he wished to retaliate.
"Well," Miss Mopp began in her somewhat squeaky voice, "I'll do you for breakfast at eight sharp, if that's all right?"
"I'm sure that will be most adequate," Mina confirmed lightly with an acknowledging nod. "Come along, dear; father."
Tom and Quatermain glanced back briefly at the maid, and noticed her attempt to hide the mirth, seeing the woman order them around. They forced themselves up the steps. Miss Mopp nosily stood watching at the bottom of the stairs.
Quite automatically, Tom almost turned to follow Quatermain, perhaps to arrange sleeping on his floor or something of the like, but Mina was quick to grasp his hand, and tug him back, and subsequently… into her – their – room. When he was inside, she silently locked the door. Moving around him, and ignoring his bemused expression, she crossed to light the lamp.
"Darling?" Tom inquired. "Dear?" He was trying not to smile.
"You should have seen your face," Mina returned with a delicate cheer in her tone. "I was keeping up appearances. If you recall, we're on a highly confidential mission, purporting to be a happily married couple."
Tom quirked a brow, still standing by the door, watching her, even as she added, "And I could hardly book separate rooms, could I?"
"Right," Tom mumbled, as Mina reached up to her hair after placing down the lamp. She removed the clips, and it tumbled beautifully around her feminine shoulders.
"Guess I'm sleeping on the floor, huh?" Tom asked lightly, and made a point of turning to try and find something else to look at when Mina reached up to unbutton her collar.
Just don't turn around, Sawyer…
"No one said you had to," Mina deadpanned. "It is entirely up to you where you sleep, Agent Sawyer, I am quite sure."
"What…" He'd turned around, and almost choked on his words, eyes widening as he saw the blouse slip down her arms, freed from her shoulders and chest, and slowly yet gracefully, even as the cloth fell from her lowered hands, she turned her head to glance over her shoulder at him, blue eyes piercing. Her skirt wasn't long in following.
"What do you mean? Exactly?" Tom managed, and closed his eyes as his fists balled in his pockets, just trying to control himself.
Don't think about it… think about something else. Anything!
He heard a sigh. "Agent Sawyer, surely at your age, this does not shock you?" He heard the light sound of lace, and another – more impatient – sigh. "Would you like to unfasten this wretched thing?"
"Oh god…" He hadn't realised it had escaped until he'd opened his green eyes, taking in her form as she faced him. It was all too surreal, and all too abrupt. Why was she doing this? Was she trying to tease him?
But nevertheless, his feet carried him the short distance to where she stood. She turned around, her hands at her lean waist, as Tom's rose to the corset.
Quite of their own accord, words slipped out of his mouth, "Aren't I a little young for you?"
You are the worst kind of assuming idiot.
"Be quiet," Mina mumbled, and he gently bit his bottom lip, trying to stop his hands from shaking. "You haven't noticed my watching you… protecting you." It was not a question.
"I… I tried not to watch you," he admitted quietly, unfastening the corset, and noticing rather suddenly how dry his mouth seemed to be. "It felt wrong."
"Tom," Mina began firmly, stepping away from him and letting the loose corset fall down to rest beside her blouse and skirt, "you are a spy, while I am disgraced and disregarded by the world." Her blue eyes angled into his. "Could anything make us more wrong, do you suppose?"
Tom's heart was pounding a mile a minute, seeing the woman he had desired for so long in such a state. She was practically naked, standing before him, more gorgeous and honest – more Mina – than he had ever seen her. Her legs, her body, breasts, face… she was perfect, more than he had realised. Everything clouded in his mind, only the thought of what she wanted him to do coursing through his brain. Subconsciously, he turned to switch off the lamp.
"Now, unless I'm to feel silly about all this," Mina began as she disturbed the blankets, "please undress and come to bed." There was a pause before she added, "And kindly leave the lamp just as it is."
Tom's heart was threatening to explode from within his chest, beating furiously against his ribcage, even as he turned, his hands pulling off his waistcoat, dropping it to the floor, his pistols beside them. He tried to avoid her observing – perhaps curious – gaze as he unbuttoned his shirt, subsequently shedding it off, leaving him bare from the waist up. Hesitantly at first, until he met her unwavering gaze, he reached down to his pants.
He stood there for a moment, exposed to her, and suddenly feeling vulnerable. But she did nothing, simply urged him forward with a gentle, "Come here."
Tom did so, moving onto the bed, and using his hands to hold him up, facing her as he said softly, still rather nervous, "You're beautiful."
"Oh no," she contradicted in a voice barely above a whisper, "believe me… I am quite hideous." She did not sigh or seek sympathy or correction, quickly adding, "Will you kiss me?"
Tom moved closer to her, laying a hand on her soft waist, as their lips met, in a longing, lustful kiss. Her right hand slipped round behind his head and through the blonde hair, to gently cling about his neck.
This isn't real… it can't be…
When their lips parted, she pulled his head down to whisper in his ear, words that caused his heart to jolt again, before she released his neck slowly, tracing her fingers down along his jaw, as he said, "Mina… that you want to do this… despite the war… despite the uncertainty…" He hadn't even registered his own confirming nod, or movement.
"Because," she stated simply, as he hovered over her. "Because of the war. Because of the uncertainty."
Tom closed his eyes as she gasped.
:::
"What's that noise?" Nemo demanded of the nearest crewman. "Where's it coming from?"
"It's your monster, Captain. It's Hyde. He's with the Mars wreckage we salvaged earlier." The man pointed down the hall.
"But… Hyde? Where's Jekyll?" Another racket. "That clanging! It's like a church bell! What's he doing with… oh." The door had been opened, revealing Hyde, who roared as he threw a bloodied fist into the wreckage.
:::
Mina's arms pulled Tom's torso down to her as she breathed heavily, trying to forget about everything but him and what he was doing. She could feel him panting against her, and the rapid rhythm of his racing heart. She could feel him… smell him… almost taste him, even as his lips brushed her neck.
:::
London burned with the raging fire of a thousand suns all exploding together as the tripods toppled merrily and ominously, scolding anything in sight.
:::
Hyde felt his knuckles slam into the wreckage, hearing the confirming, deafening clang as another dent formed, and he roared vehemently, feeling more alive and furious than he had in a long time. It felt good to let it all out… without that blasted elixir…
:::
He felt her hands on his back, his skin damp with perspiration, and how she breathed against him, her lips touching against the flesh where his shoulder met his neck.
He lifted a hand, even with his head down, and brushed her cheek and jaw. His head rose as hers rolled back slightly, and he whispered in her ear, "Don't take too much…"
:::
"You see what it is," Marvel started carefully, the two attentive Martians before him, his cane drawing in the dirt before them, "it's a submarine." The jacket he wore singled him out from the other, stealthy, hidden invisible man, Skinner, who watched in horror. "It goes under the water. Under the river, yes? That's right. Like a fish. Aheheh. This is what's stopping you from crossing the Thames. Do you understand? This submarine. You have to do something to destroy it." He lifted his cane away.
"You have to do something to the river."
:::
Hearing those panted words was enough to make Mina gasp anew, lightly, and she hesitated, feeling the fangs brush her tongue and lips… the curl in her hair.
"It's all right," he whispered to her breathlessly, his mouth beside her ear. "I trust you."
At that, the sound of the blood rushing through his strong, young veins overwhelmed her, and she parted her lips, tracing her fingers over his warm shoulder… before gently pushing her fangs through the skin, and drinking from him.
She heard him gasp, felt the tension in his body, but knowing her own limits, she had no fear of hurting him. She ran a hand up his back, along his neck, and coursed it through his hair, even as he leaned into her, the blood flowing into her mouth. As she drank, slow but steady, carefully, his words circled in her mind.
Don't take too much…
