Once Upon a Time Traveler

by Paula Kaye © 2005

Chapter 11

Mina was unsure as to how she was going to greet the woman whom she'd assisted Jekyll in saving. It seemed absurd to consider that he'd be thrown out of the medical profession for his indiscretion with a patient. There were other reasons of a decidedly different nature as to why the good physician wasn't going to be hanging out a shingle
with his name on it to care for a community's medical needs.

She smirked at her own Puritanical outlook. She was a vampire, and, simply due to that alone, was believed, evil. It was an established fact that he'd experienced dreams of Penn before her explosive arrival and before they'd laid eyes on her stretched out on his bed, her clothes torn, her body battered and bleeding.

Penn bleeding… Mina shivered. The scent of the chrononaut's blood was sweetly scented. The vampiress tamed her bloodlust's tide as she tried to focus on the verbal examination which Nemo had designed for the newest proposed member. If the interloper created the same lust in Jekyll as the blood loss had created in Mina, then, she had no choice but to understand Jekyll's attraction and thus, his apparent embrace of both Penn and the feelings that she invoked in him. Wasn't that the way most men got past such enticements? By embracing them, the lust was satisfied. However, Mina had yet to learn that by Henry satisfying himself, he'd only created a greater hunger. One that Edward was more than eager to express and sate.

Even though Mina hadn't given in to her thirst of the pilot, she understood how important Penn could be to Henry's stabilization. She was still surprised though, at the strength of the pheromones which flew between Henry and Penn. Mina smiled, perhaps one of Penn's ancestors was a vampire? She caught herself nearly giggling to herself as Henry, fighting a blush rising in his pale cheeks, squired Penn into the room.

All turned to watch them as they entered. Henry was genuinely pleased and, as Mina noted, actually proud to present his now physically present lover formally to the League. It was evident as he glanced to Penn, a beaming smile on his lips and actually radiating from his once glazed eyes, was an inner light that showed just how important
she seemed to be to him.

"Ah, good morning.", Nemo was the first to speak and approach. Observing proper protocol, Penn remembered, it was the woman who was expected to offer her hand first, as the man was to wait for such an offering.

Extending her hand, and smiling as much as her healing lip would allow, she replied, "Captain Nemo, I presume?"
The turbaned chieftain's eyebrows raised, "You know of me?"

Trying to stop the room from spinning from the light walk to the Parlor, Penn noted, "I'm fairly familiar with most of you."

Mina now seemed to float over to the woman, "Are you now?", she softly challenged.

"Mina!", Penn's lip split open again as the irrepressible smile instantly sent a stabbing pain through the pilot's lower jaw. Instantly, Penn grabbed her lower lip, cupping her chin with her hand.
Again, blood oozed and Mina caught her breath at the sight of the brilliant red fluid.

"Ow! Sorry.", Penn apologized, reaching for the kerchief Henry immediately offered her.

Mina shocked by the instant attraction, took a step back as Tom moved hastily to get some water to help staunch the bleeding. He handed the glass to Henry who took his kerchief carefully from Penn's bleeding lip and moistened it. Now, Penn nodded and pressed the newly cooled kerchief to her lip. She again looked up to regard Mina.

"Sorry.", she chuckled. "I forgot. You told me we wouldn't have met yet. I guess I forgot."

"Oh?", Mina tilted her head trying to understand.

Penn tried to explain, "Well, we've met. You just haven't met me, until now."
Mina now frowned to Henry, "After effects of the crash, perhaps?"
"No.", Penn started to reiterate. "It's like this. You're a vampire, it goes along with the territory that you get to live, so to speak, a long time. Which means since you've sent me into your past. We've met, but, only in your future, which is my past."

Mina blankly looked to Henry for some sort of understanding of this logic, but Penn, now seeming to inwardly panic, continued, much to everyone's discomfort. "Okay. Your future hasn't happened yet. But, I was there, and you were there, and just because you don't remember it doesn't mean it hasn't happened – uh, yet." Penn thought a moment, "Or, will happen."

Penn now looked around at the stunned faces regarding her, "Well, if you think that's confusing, just try being Me for a day!"

No one moved. Penn looked past Tom and inquired, "Think I could sit down now? The room's starting to move, again."

"Of course.", Henry quickly shooed the company out of the way and settled her in the corner of the sofa, and making himself comfortable next to her, turned to the curious faces watching them.

Penn now leaned down and unzipped the other knee pocket in her flight suit. "Mina, you told me to give you these when I got here.", Penn said as she held the missives out for Mina to collect them.
Everyone looked to the vampiress as if for an explanation, but, she simply shrugged as she reached for the offered letters.

As Mina sighed, and took them from Penn, Penn leaned into the highly polished back of the leather sofa, and continued, "The other one's for Allan, you said. I think they're letters of introduction."

Penn smiled to Henry, "Apparently, Mina figured you'd already know who I am."

With trepidation, Mina handed the explorer the letter which was addressed to him. As Allan reached for his spectacles, Mina still stood with her letter unopened, as she continued to regard Penn.
Her attention was diverted however, when Quatermaine nearly exclaimed, "Why, Mrs. Harker!".

She and the company turned to regard his surprised tone.
He held up his letter and indicated the contents. "This is written in your hand.", the Explorer freely noted aloud, somewhat dismayed and surprised.

"And, how would you know my hand?", Mina quickly asked.
"Do you not remember the files that I was reading as you somewhat belatedly joined our expedition?", he reminded the fastidiously feminine scientist.
"Ah, yes.", Mina sniffed, begrudgingly reminded of the meeting with "M".

As Quatermaine continued to scan it, he noted, "It appears to be genuine."

"Or, an excellent forgery.", Mina noted, unimpressed.
"What does yours say?", Allan asked her.
"I prefer to read mine in private.", Mina wasn't about to have a message from her future self left open for others to peer at. No. Best to leave whatever secrets it held unviewed by unwelcome eyes.

Penn, still dabbing at her lip started to laugh out loud, now. "Ow!", she exclaimed again. "Will you please stop doing that?"

"What?", Mina asked, somewhat angry.
"Making me laugh!", Penn complained. "It hurts!"
"I beg your pardon.", Mina replied with mock formality. "I hardly think this is the time for frivolity!"
Penn couldn't take it. Her friend from her past' was so vastly different. Well, not that different. Just less formal and much less stiff' with Penn. She was very nearly human'. It had taken some time, but, Penn had gotten that Mina to loosen up, and she was certain she could probably get this' Mina to do the same.

"Beg anything you like, just stop it, please!", Penn turned to Henry. "This is worse than the time she conned me into borrowing' Nate's pet rats for rat races!" Penn sourly glared in Mina's direction. "I still say she owes me fifty bucks for cheating during that race!"

"I beg your pardon!", Mina was now truly incensed. She wasn't sure why, but, she felt justified none-the-less.

Penn was ready to continue a fight that had begun nearly a hundred years into the future as she began to intone. "You said we could send them images to encourage them to cross the finish line."

She now stood and glared to Henry, "Here I was giving my rat the vision of a huge chunk of cheese at the finish line, while little Miss I'm-gonna-screw-him-up sends the image of a bat to her little rat!", Penn felt the urge to punch something coming on. "Little sucker couldn't cross the finish line fast enough!"

While this bickering was going on, Tom was trying to process the image of someone actually keeping rats as Pets while Dorian openly laughed at the sight of the small woman willing to fight the statuesque vampire. Nemo was more interested in the letter that Quatermaine had opened and was now reading thoroughly while Mina
challenged the future memory' of the event. Rodney was simply enjoying the change in the atmosphere.

"I would never do such a thing to a brother creature!", Mina took true umbrage at the accusation.

"Oh, please. You said he deserved it because he tried to bite you.", Penn shot back.

"Who? Nathan, or the rat?", Dorian snidely insinuated out loud, fueling the fires between the two women.
Rodney leaned in and whispered, "A fiver says your Mina can take her."

Dorian shook his head, still laughing, "I'll take the other one, she may be smaller, but, she doesn't seem to realize it just yet!"

"It's like watching a Russian Wolf Hound bein' incessantly barked at by a Fox Hound.", Rodney had a most peculiar way of looking at women. It was one of his quirks, one might say. He wanted to believe that All women would be loyal to him. And, by that reasoning, what could ever be more loyal to a man that his dog? Rodney felt sad suddenly as he made a mental note. He'd have to find a way to smuggle one on-board if it were at all possible, one day.

"Please, darling. You'll overexcite yourself.", Henry was now the voice of reason, and interceded between the two women. "Sit down, Penn. You need to rest." He gave a disconcerted glare to both Rodney and Dorian as they chuckled openly.

Mina knew far too well that truths were hastily spoken in the heat of argument. Pity her plan had fallen flat before it had had an opportunity to bear fruit. She quickly attempted to think of something else that she could say or do in order to lure the interloper into tipping her hand. Just one slip-up would be all it would take. If "M" had sent her, Mina was certain she could prove it. She didn't know quite what to make of the letter that Quatermaine had, but, she was almost certain that If she'd have sent a letter to herself she would have gone to the trouble of having it notarized.

Quatermaine approached Penn as Henry had just gotten her to sit back down. Nemo followed, a frown now knitting the captain's brows together.

Allan indicated Mina, "You say she gave you this?"

Penn looked to the weathered face which seemed to beg for enlightenment. "Yes."
He looked to Mina now, as if another piece of a puzzle fell into place, "When?"

"The night before liftoff."
Quatermaine appeared a bit exasperated. "No, I mean when?"
Penn appeared to understand, "Oh! That." She was now the one to frown. Glancing to Mina, she asked, "Didn't you date the thing?"
Mina shot back, "How should I know, I was never there."
"Well, then, I guess Nate's never gonna have to find somebody else to pay for his windshield.", Penn continued, "Because if you weren't there, then, that means you never broke it!"

Henry registered confusion as well. Penn commented, "A nine iron. Golf ball… Shattered the whole back out."

Quatermaine appeared both concerned and a bit shocked at this as Penn continued, "She and Frank were working on her slice." Penn shook her head sadly, and whispered, "It's really bad. It always veers to the left." Penn chuckled at a memory… "Poor Frank, I know; he's married, but he Really thought he had a chance with you!"

Penn laughed lightly.

Quatermaine now truly appeared stunned, "I beg your pardon. Were you referring to the game of golf?"
"Oh, so you know about it?"
He chuckled, "Well, I am Scottish."
Penn's head tilted as she wondered aloud, "I thought you were Welsh?"
Dorian now stepped in to almost insist. "Never mind that. You need to tell us who you are, where are you from and what're you doing here." Stepping aside now to the twin glares from both Nemo and Quatermaine, Grey commented, "One must be prepared to take the lead if others are failing in the endeavor."

"I would like to know this as well.", Mina frostily announced.

"2004.", Penn flatly stated, daring them to contradict her.
"Beg your pardon?", Nemo spoke the question on everyone's mind.
"Well, it's not so much where' I'm from as when'.", Penn attempted to clarify. "As Allan and Dorian have so kindly pointed out. Besides, I'm not allowed to tell you where the installation is. Besides, I don't even think it's there, yet."

Dorian snarled, "Preposterous."
"Oh, really?", Penn reached into her knee pocket and pulled out a few dollar bills and the platinum card that she'd liberated from Nate's desk drawer. (Well, it was designated to be used during emergencies and Penn Always felt to be prepared was better by far than to be sorry!)
"Take a peek at these. They ought to help my case!", she tossed them all out and the group began to reach for the items as they fluttered through the air. Rodney did a wonderful job of catching quite a few. He didn't care what year was printed on them. Money was money, and if this dizzy Yank was going to simply toss the little bits of green paper around, the least he could do is help her clean up her mess!

Penn could just imagine the horror on Olga's face. "So much for the secrecy of the program!", she'd have said had
she known which tack Penn was taking in convincing the doubtful.

Tom caught the platinum card, and read it. "The pony express has their own card?"

"Oh! You mean the American Express. No relation to the Pony Express. Sorry. Although, it could have come from the same parent company.", she thought for a moment, "You can never be too sure of these things." Penn couldn't
resist a bit more teasing. "I never leave home without it." She seemed to confuse everyone further by giggling at her own joke. Then, she appeared to sober up a bit and commented wryly, "In this case, though, I don't think I should have left the gravitational quadrant with it!"

Mina examined the bill in her hand. She gently nudged Nemo, who drew his attention away from the date he was reading, and they exchanged puzzled expressions as they compared bank notes.

Mina now commented to Penn, "I thought you said you were from 2004."

"I am.", Penn readily answered.

"So, why is this one from 2002?"

"Well, they don't harvest them every year like apples. It wouldn't be cost effective for the government to continually print out monetary tender every year, now would it?"

"Enough!", Nemo had had it! "What is your mission here?"
"To help, if you'll let me.", Penn concluded her repartee on a serious note.

"And, what can you do?", Dorian sniffed with disdain.
Penn allowed the joke to continue, "Well, I'm fairly well-schooled in hand to hand combat."
Dorian let out a "Hah!"

"I've been given a few pointers as to what to look for in Venice, and I have a bit of insight into a thing called History."

"How's History gonna help us, ma'am?", Sawyer asked.

"Well, that's the tricky thing, Tom. I'm talking about the both the History that I learned in school, versus the history that Mina has told me up to this point. The events I speak of have yet to happen for you.", Penn allowed.

The group now looked to each other with renewed understanding of what the Future Mina must've had in mind when she sent Penn back to them.

"How convenient for you.", Dorian sniffed diffidently. "So, I suppose that will grant you the right to change events as you see fit for the future you would prefer to make us live?"

"That is not my mission, Mr. Grey.", her blood was starting to boil, and Mina could smell the pheromones flying off of Penn. Well, she'd had gotten to see the Chrononaut react. She just didn't seem to be giving anything away.

"Oh, and did I forget to mention? I was also given a pretty good course by the bomb squad in defusing incendiary materials." She emphasized this last word with a glare towards the Immortal, silently daring him to speak up against her again.

"Well doesn't that make you a handy little girl to have around?"

He wasn't impressed by her posturing, but, he wasn't about to stick around long enough for the others to question him regarding her implication. Even so, it would look very bad for him, indeed, if he were to simply leave too soon, that 's when something of a staring contest between the Pilot from the Future and Mr. Grey began.

Even if he couldn't get her to back down, at least he'd have enough credibility with the members of the League that they wouldn't take her too seriously until it was too late for them to do anything about his plans!

"I still question her authenticity.", Mina flatly surmised to Quatermaine. She was in no way attempting to hide her distrust of the chrononaut with whom she'd worked in a different time line. So much for Future Mina's attempt to assure her Past self that Penn was one of them'.

"As do I.", Dorian chimed in.

"How about I give you some intel into a situation you told me about the night before you sent me here?", Penn asked Mina.

"Intel? I' sent you here?", Mina was indeed shocked, to say the least.

"Intel – is that even a word? I ask you!", Dorian was chewing up the wood work in the room with his pointed jabs at her ego's expense. The less credibility he could accuse her of, the less she would be believed.

"Yes. Intel. It's the Military's shortened word for intelligence."

"It sounds ridiculous to me.", the Immortal sniffed. "But, then, it is the Military, so there you have it."

"It also comes from the word created by the computer system's inventor. We have whole data bases where centuries of battle plans, covert information and advanced technology are stored. It uses a program called Intel on which to run."

It was quite a blisteringly confident explanation. And, had the group assembled known Anything about computers, they would have been duly impressed. However, Nemo was the one who'd just invented a combustible engine for a car. So, microchip technology was still quite a far way off for them.

Penn could have sworn she heard crickets chirping, yet, she pressed on, only mildly daunted.

"How about this?", she turned to Mina, "I'll tell you what you told me to tell you – in the event this sort of thing were to happen – which it has."

"What could I have possibly told you that would bring about such a radical change of mind?". Mina was actually curious now. Not many people would be so passionate about "their" version of "the truth". Most would have caved in by now.

"How about I retell the story you told me concerning the night you went to see Dorian here to convince him to join the League?", Penn asked.
"No offense, ma'am', but, there is a possibility that if you are from the future, such an event could have been recorded in one of those History books you were talkin' about?", Tom felt bad about having to cause the slimly built lady from the future any qualms, but, fair was fair.

"I don't think so.", Penn answered directly to Tom. "This was a purely personal memory and had no bearing on the outcome of anything of importance, either politically or economically speaking."

"Really?", Mina seemed intrigued.

"Oh, yes.", Penn couldn't help but, mince in return. "In fact, the only person in this room who didn't know about it, until now, is Henry, here."

Mina's eyebrows shot up, "Oh?"

Dorian appeared to be more than a bit miffed by her easy come backs. This was quickly becoming intolerable. Did she have an answer for everything?

"Seems reasonable.", Quatermaine concluded, he had a sneaking suspicion what he was about to hear would allow him to know conclusively that Penn was the genuine article after all.

"Something no one outside of our unique circle would know.", he tapped his finger to his lips.

"Precisely.", Penn asserted.

"It's a trap.", Dorian insisted. "Who knows what other secrets Jekyll let fly whilst he was dallying with her!"
"Take that back!", Henry leapt to his feet ready to take the Immortal on for the comment.

But, Penn calmed them both by stating calmly, putting a hand on the good doctor's sleeve,

"As I said, Dorian, Henry wasn't present to hear Mina recount the story of when you and Allan met. And, I assure
you, Dr. Henry Jekyll is the soul of discretion."

"And, pray tell, from whose lips did these pearls of information which will cease any distrust of you, drip?", Dorian continued to prod.

Penn looked to Quatermaine and nodded, while smiling mischievously, "His."

All stood silent as Penn continued. She had every reason to exude confidence. "It was told to the rest of the group, originally, as I said, in your library, and then Mina passed it on to me. This information was passed on before Henry was roped' as it were, into joining the League."

"I still say that whatever she's prepared to tell us is a trick of some sort.", Dorian sulked.

"I suppose that's just a chance you're going to have to take. But, another question one might ask is, Who else would care about such a story? What good would it do them? And, why would I want to go looking for danger?", Penn waved the insult away like so much dust from the air, then, continued. "Anyway, Dorian led you all into his
library and it was there that Mr. Quatermaine allowed you to know that he and Dorian had met before. At his school - Eton, I believe."

Penn now indicated Mina, "You said something along the lines of, Oh, yes. When Dorian was a fresh faced young boy. And, Allan the Nation's hero."

Mina frowned at the nearly accurate recounting, "That's not quite what I said."
"Perhaps not precisely, but, that's the approximation I was given to understand by you.", Penn countered.

"It does seem close enough to allow.", Nemo had to admit.

"Thank you.", Penn acknowledged the bearded warrior with a polite nod, before continuing, "However, it was most interesting to note, Mina, that Quatermaine corrected you and let you all in on the secret.", Penn glared directly at Dorian. "That Dorian was the speaker and worldly wise man who gave the speech to Allan's class when Allan was the fresh faced school boy. Younger by at least some sixty years, if not more."

They all seemed to confirm this truth with rather uncomfortable glances to each other.

"'Ow did you know that?", Skinner was the only one to pipe up with the question.

Penn's head dropped in an exaggerated shake of incredularity.

"I just told you – Mina told me.", Penn stated flatly. "Gee, now can I be a part of this keen – o club, Mr. Quatermaine?"

"I beg your pardon?", Allan seemed in a quandary at this question. "This isn't a club.", he hoped to explain. "it's no form of entertainment fit for a woman at all."

"Oh, Christ!", Penn chuckled a groan, "You're serious!", Penn groaned. "I was kidding. There's not going to be any conversation about it. Mina said you guys needed me, and I go where I'm needed. End of discussion."

She shrugged to the confounded surprise of Allan that he had no control over whether or not she was to participate at all, "Sorry, but, that's the way it is. I've got my orders and I'm sure you can respect that."

She smiled, "Besides," she winked saucily to the elder man, " I've got the clues you need!"

She giggled in Dorian's direction, fairly daring him yet again to confront her openly.

"I'm here. Deal with it.", she said to the dapper dilettante.

"Most impertinent.", Dorian Grey openly sneered.

"Impertinence it the assertion of the truth to those who don't want to hear it.", she smiled, "Arrogance is the trap that the imperious dig for themselves when they don't heed it."

"This is most peculiar!", Nemo swore a hiss.

"Really? Well, you're no Mr. Roger's' yourself.", Penn said in general to whomever wanted to claim the insult.

Nemo couldn't have comprehended the joke, "I beg your pardon?"

"Never mind.", Penn stopped Allan's not so subtle frown, and regarded him quizzically. "Are you sure you didn't do a little dallying on the other side of the pond? I could swear you and Nate were related, somehow."

"Your big brother?", Henry asked, thrilled to finally find something in the conversation to hang onto.
"No.", Penn corrected, speaking to Henry in an aside, "Couldn't be. Allan's got all his hair."

Penn couldn't help the posturing due to frayed nerves and a feeling that no matter what she did, she'd never convince them fully, until it was too late to do any good. She'd just have to goose things along. But, carefully. If they didn't trust her, who's to say that she wouldn't be handing herself over to Dorian as a sacrificial lamb after all? Since she was the only other one to know what was happening, the burden of proof would fall to her.
Quatermaine cleared his throat while the rest stood around posing questions to each other both pro and con as to the relevancy of Penn's attempt to qualify herself as genuine. Quatermaine's non-verbal attempt to take control of the situation again inexplicably irritated Penn, as she saw this tactic as somewhat dismissive' to what she had said.

Penn now glared at him as she stood again. All five feet seven inches of her. It was nearly laughable to see the fit, toned body of the pilot standing up to the determined, yet elderly explorer.

"It's like this,", she began, "each of us is a piece of a puzzle. Apart, we have no hope of working out a way around this. However, together we have some way of stopping the danger that each of you will face."

"What about the danger you will face?", Quatermaine asked, his eyes glaring back at her.

"I've every confidence that any danger faced will be minimized when we work together." Then, pausing, she led Quatermaine back to the real issue at hand. "I understand your distrust of me. However, I'll offer you this possible solution to any question of my authenticity and the authenticity of the letters you, ", she indicated Mina, "gave me."
Now turning to Mina she challenged the vampiress, "You've always had the best eyes in the department, which is odd, considering you turn into a bat, but, either way; why don't you do a handwriting analysis of the letters? And, I'll stay here under the watchful eyes of Captain Nemo and Henry, here. That way, you can all see that I'm not
only telling the truth, but, I'm willing to wait around until the world blows up just to satisfy you that I am Penn Neil, that I am from the future, and that you, Mina did, in fact, send me here!"

Again, she could have sworn she heard crickets chirping.

"How's about that, hum?", she offered, to which a sort of mumbling started up between Mina and Dorian, along with Skinner and Quatermaine again reading his letter. Henry stood nearby and took her pulse.

Uncloaking herself mentally before Nemo, she spoke directly to Nemo's mind. "I hate to do this to you Captain, but, I would ask your discretion in this matter."

Nemo stopped listening to the arguing going on around him, and watched Penn carefully, "How did you know of my ability?", he answered psychically.

"One always recognizes one's own kind.", Penn granted him a kind smile, and a slight bow with closed eyes.

As she rose again, she made contact with the darkly smoldering eyes which now narrowed in her direction,

"Your ship is in danger. When you entered the home of Mr. Grey, you may have heard Mr. Quatermaine comment that Mr. Grey had lost a painting. "

"I do seem to recall such a statement.", Nemo's voice soothingly murmured as the memory came back to him.
"Moriarty has it. The one which allows Mr. Grey to remain untouched by age and his appearance unstained by his sins.", Penn's voice continued in Nemo's mind. "It is this that is to be traded for Grey harvesting those secret facets of each of the members here of the so-called League. A League whose existence was a sham in order to bring you all together, so that Dorian could more easily do his dirty work."

"This is monstrous!", Nemo's thoughts again leaped ahead of the game.

"In exchange for his portrait Dorian will hand over a skin sample taken from Mr. Skinner when Hyde was harvested. This was the reason Quatermaine's attendance was necessary. The greatest hunter hunting prey that had yet to be caught by any other. Dorian seeks the formula that could turn a normal army into a battalion of beasts."

"Yes.", Nemo's thoughts again reflected his understanding.

"Your Lady was necessary as he intends to build a fleet of his own. A sample of Mina's blood will be taken soon, if we fail in stopping him. We cannot allow a vampiric assassination squad to be created."
"That only leaves Sawyer.", Nemo suggested.
"Have you noticed how much Dorian despises Tom?", Penn smiled to herself. "Grey hadn't counted on him tagging along. And, in truth, it was only by a lucky accident that he was in the area. Well, perhaps not an accident, per se. But, lucky either way that he was able to get in when he did.", Penn noted. "His is the only presence that can not hold any potential harm for the future."

The others now realized that something else was occurring instead of the usual debate which they'd been too busy indulging in when Dorian's eyes narrowed at the eye contact between Nemo and Penn.

"You'd better watch out, Henry, or I fear our Seafaring Warrior Prince will steal away your prize.", the Immortal's voice tried to implicate Penn as a wanton wastrel.

Hyde's hearing was acute, and since it behooved him as well to alert Henry as to what the true nature of the conversation was, Henry shot a lopsided smile of confidence to Dorian, saying, "You needn't worry. We're more than mere lovers,", and he beamed to Penn who almost shyly smiled back at him. "Aren't we, my dear?"

Penn nodded and gave up fighting the blush rising in her cheeks, as she glanced at Henry and then the floor. She may have been a kick boxing bitch and addicted to the adrenaline rush of lift off in the sphere, but, she was a die-hard romantic and there was no way around it.

She murmured to him, "That we are, my darling. That we are."

He crossed to her and put his arms around her from behind and stood solidly, his head easily towering over hers as he held her tightly, "Shall we tell them now, my love?", he whispered to her, loudly enough so they all could hear.

Within the protective circle of Henry's arms, she almost grimaced a smile, "I thought we were going to wait?"
"Why should we? We've a captain on board.", Henry positively exuded confidence when he asked Nemo, "Would you do the honors, sir?", Henry seemed hell bent to wed her! Nemo as well as everyone else understood the conversation clearly.
The Warrior Prince put his seal of approval on the match when he exclaimed, "This is a most joyous occasion!".
It was Nemo's intent to make much of this premature announcement to detract from the incident which had caught the malevolent attentions of Grey. Nemo rang for Ishmael and champagne was ordered from the wine cellar.

While there were conflicting feelings about the impending nuptials, (and indeed, Mina had a mind to pull the doctor aside and ask him if he'd lost his), the overwhelming approval that was being shown was daunting. Skinner was patting Jekyll on the back, Tom was shaking Henry's hand and Nemo appeared as proud as any father of the bride
could!
With the exception of Dorian and Mina, the only other troubled one of the group was Quatermaine.

As the Immortal watched dourly as the moment, he took comfort in knowing that it would give him a good excuse to visit Mina later. Still, the image of true love' before him filled Dorian with the greatest of hatreds. How dare such a tortured soul as Jekyll have more pleasure in life than the blue-blooded aristocrat? Hadn't Dorian lived with his demons longer than Jekyll? Hadn't Dorian cause to be soothed from his sufferings as well? The Aristocratic Immortal deemed himself the type of person who should never be placed in the uncomfortable position of envying others. He was supposed to be envied. It was as clear cut as that. Never was he to suffer the indignity of wishing to have something that an inferior would have. In this case, a deep and abiding love that had transcended and
traversed Time, itself.

As she was rocked slightly from side to side by Jekyll and others were congratulating the both of them on the match, Penn took this opportunity to continue her psychic message to Nemo, "You will soon receive a phonograph record. Do not play it, there are crystals embedded in the grooves which will emit sound wave signals which act as triggers to detonate the bombs which Dorian has hidden in the hull and quarters of the ship.", Penn instructed.

Nemo fought his first impulse to rush Dorian through with the saber hanging at his side. It wouldn't have done any good. He saw first hand the fortitude Grey possessed in the Library. His second impulse was to tie Dorian up and make him tell where he'd hidden the bombs.

"Is that why you've been sent here?", Nemo queried her further.

"This mission is only part of the reason.", Penn answered quickly, "I have a feeling Henry's got the other reason sorted out."

She again couldn't help but, smile to the kind-faced Nemo as she bit her bottom lip and shyly looked up at him, apparently happier than she'd ever been in her life.

It was indeed a far cry from the horrors of the mental hospital where she'd landed after the tragedy which befell the military instillation. Feeling Henry's protective love and Edward's adoring lust made that reality' seem a Universe away.