James, Timmy, Allan, Edgar and Veronica were standing just outside the door to the living room, where they knew the League was waiting. They were whispering feverishly, trying to decide who would go in first.

"You should go, Timmy. You can handle new people better."

"No way. You go."

"Oh, come on," said Veronica, exasperated. "I'll go. Invisible, mind you. I'll come back with a report." And with that, she removed her makeup and clothing, and entered silently.

She stifled a gasp as she crept to a good hiding spot. In addition to Mary and Zachary, there were four men and one woman standing around, talking. Each of the four men had a face that was shockingly similar to each—

"Oof!" Veronica ran into something solid. She stumbled back. What did she hit?

"Watch where you're—'ey! Who's there?" A Cockney voice cried out of nowhere.

"Skinner? What's going on?" asked a man dressed regally in silver and blue. Other than the beard, he had the same Indian look about him as James did.

"I could have sworn something just ran into me."

Veronica frantically scrambled to the door and out into the hall. She paused to catch her breath.

"Well?" asked Edgar. "What is it?"

"There's a lady in there, and four men. Zachary and Mary are there too." Veronica paused. "And, I think I ran into another person."

"Ran into him? What, did you not see him or something? How could…?"

Allan was interrupted as Mary poked her head out the door. "I thought you five were out here. Come in now. Yes, Veronica, I know you're out here, too. Come on."

The five stepped nervously into the room. Veronica recounted the strangers. Yes, four men and one woman. Who did I run into?

The boys, however, had something else to think about. The four men. What could be said about them other than that they looked exactly like the four boys, only older?

The man who looked like Timmy stepped forward. "It's nice to see you again, children." he said. His voice was the same as Timmy's, only older. "I believe an explanation may be in order."

The boys nodded, still in shock.

"The five people you see here, that is excluding myself, Miss Hunt and Zachary, are known as the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."

"Five?" asked James. "I see only four others." The regally dressed Indian gave him a curious look, almost like pride.

"I believe that is for the same reason that I see only four of you, when I know that there are five." answered the man. "Veronica, would you kindly show yourself?"

The boys heard a sharp intake of breath behind them. "How did you know my name?" came Veronica's voice.

"I was there when you were named. As was-"

"I think I'll introduce myself, thank you." said the Cockney voice. "Veronica Skinner, meet Rodney Skinner, gentleman thief." A long black leather jacket that had been lying on the floor rose into the air and an invisible shape filled it. These actions were familiar to the children, but never had the jacket took the shape of a man.

"I'll thank you not to encourage thievery, Mr. Skinner." said Mary sharply.

"You knew about this?" asked Allan.

"Yes, I did. Zachary did too."

"And you never told us?" Edgar could feel that Gary was getting pretty ticked off as well. He opened his mouth to say more, but it was not his own voice that came out. "How dare you?" shouted Gary. Edgar's hands clamped over his mouth, his eyes wide.

A gentleman standing near the fireplace looked sharply at him. This was the man who looked like Edgar. "Oh, no." he murmured.

"I think you still owe us an explanation, sir." said James dangerously.

"Yes, I know." the first man said. "1899 was the year that this League was formed. 1904 was the year that you five were born."

"How is that possible?" asked Timmy.

The man smiled at him. "I am known as the Time Traveller. Does that give you a hint?"

"You mean…?" Timmy inquired, amazed. The Time Traveller nodded. "Then, who are the rest of the League?"

"They are Wilhelmina Harker, Dr. Henry Jekyll, Agent Tom Sawyer, Captain Nemo and you've met Skinner." Each member of the League nodded as their name was said. "May I go on? Good. It was a few years ahead of your time when I received a message, I'll not say from whom. This message told me when and where to find the League and also informed me of a cloning process, among other things, which again, I'll not say what. The cloning information I passed on to the League, along with all I knew of you five and my own DNA. A while later, I returned to the League, taking you with me to the future, to be taken care of by Mary Hunt until it was time for you to meet the League."

"Wait a minute," said Allan. "Did you say cloning?"

"Yes. I know that it's a bit shocking, but-"

"Shocking!" snapped Edgar. "Gee, you think? All these years of pretending we were normal, only to find out that not only are we freaks, oh no, we're cloned freaks!"

"Edgar, calm down." said Veronica, warningly.

"NO!" This time it was Gary's voice. Edgar's arm lashed out, evidently knocking Veronica down, for they all heard a yelp and a thump as she fell to the floor. Edgar paid no notice. On his face was evidence of an obvious struggle going on inside of him. His fists clenched and bulged. Gary was winning.

The man introduced as Dr. Jekyll leapt forward. He gripped Edgar's shoulders. "Eddie, listen to me. I-" But Edgar shoved him away. His whole body was changing now. Gary was giving all he had to come out.

"Jekyll, show him Hyde!" said Zachary.

Jekyll nodded. He and Nemo yanked Edgar, struggling, to a mirror on the wall. Instead of Jekyll's reflection, a monstrous brute gripped Edgar's arm. Edgar stopped struggling for a moment and stared at the reflection with fear and shock. Dr. Jekyll's reflection growled menacingly.

It was clear that Gary didn't want to mess with a monster larger than he, and slowly Edgar relaxed and shrank, until it was only Eddie's shaking body that was restrained by Jekyll and Nemo. They released him and he collapsed, panting. Nemo stepped away while Jekyll knelt beside him. "Are you alright?" asked Jekyll.

Edgar stood. "Y-yes," he stammered. "What was that thing, in the mirror? Gary was afraid of it."

"I'm just like you, Edgar." Jekyll smiled sadly. "That was my Gary. His name is Edward Hyde."

The others were quiet. The battle between the two halves was something only Jekyll and Edgar understood.

"So," asked Allan, breaking the silence. "I think maybe we should get to know each other better, that is, if it's possible."

Sawyer, the youngest-looking of the men, nodded, looking a bit restless himself.

James looked at Nemo curiously. "So, you're a captain? Captain of what, exactly?"

Nemo's dark eyes lit up mysteriously as he said. "The Nautilus."