Begin!

Universe*

~Olivia's POV

"The Baudelaires and the Quagmires have been found at Heimlich Hospital," I heard the man over the phone say.

"Oh, my God, they're together? Are they alright?"

"They're fine; they just walked past me on their way down to the Library of Records. I have to go now; use this information wisely Miss Caliban."

I hung up the phone and turned to my friend. Kit Snicket was sitting on the couch in Madame Lulu's tent wiping her eyes with a tissue. My excitement faltered for a moment as I knew how hard she was taking our most recent loss. I hadn't been taking it any better. I loved that man; Jacques' death will be avenged...

"Kit, I need you to do something for me," I started, "I need you to help me organize an escape plan for the Baudelaires and the Quagmires."

She looked at me, "Olivia, we have a meeting to attend in a matter of days that will allow us to decide a fitting punishment for Count Olaf and his associates. I have to prepare."

"No," I shouted, "I need you to help me with this now! I care about those kids! They deserve so much better than we have been able to give them!"

She flinched at my outburst. I collapsed into an armchair and let out a few tears.

"I'm sorry," I sobbed, "It's just... I know what it's like to be alone like them. I'm an orphan too..."

Kit looked at me quietly, her eyes softened. She got up and grabbed the phone and called an unknown number.

"Jacqueline, this is Kit Snicket," She spoke, "I need you and Larry on an absolutely crucial assignment. This is a dangerous mission. Get a helicopter and meet Olivia and me at Caligari Carnival. We don't have time to waste, get here now."

She turned to me after hanging up, "You want my help? You got it."

"Oh, Kit," I flung my arms around her in a hug, being careful not to crush her due to her pregnancy, "Thank you!"

"Jacques would have wanted me to," She smiled sadly, "Once Larry and Jacqueline get here we'll discuss a plan."

~...

The secretary I had met at Mr. Poe's office and her waiter companion arrived about an hour later in a helicopter. We ensured that the local carnival freaks in the caravan didn't see who had arrived as we couldn't risk them learning about our secret organization plans. Kit had been playing Madame Lulu before I got here. Jacques had told me that she was our most valiant volunteer; I could see it from the moment I saw her determined and professional gaze.

"We need to ensure that Olaf won't be able to track them. We need to alter their course," Jacqueline said as she looked at our maps.

"They're at Heimlich Hospital now," Larry said pointing at a spot on the paper, "If we get them out of there we can take them straight to the Headquarters in the Mortmain Mountains. Or at least take them on the correct path and let them reach it on their own."

"Excellent idea," I said, "But they can't stay there, even when we have the meeting at Hotel Denouement."

"I've got an idea," Kit got up from her chair and grabbed the phone once more.

She put it on speaker phone this time, and the voice of a girl rang through. She sounded no older than 16.

"Hello, who is this?"

"This is Kit Snicket, is the Queequeg?"

"Yes it is, Miss Snicket, I'm sure you wish to speak to my stepfather," The girl called out for her stepfather and a gruff sailor's voice took over.

"Aye, Kit Snicket! It's been ages! What can I do for you?"

"Captain Widdershins, I have a mission for you and it's top priority. We are planning an escape route to save the Baudelaires and their friends the Quagmire triplets. They've been found together at Heimlich Hospital this morning. Once I retrieve the sugar bowl from the hospital, I will take them to the Mortmain Mountains. We'll give them exactly four days to reach you from there by using a boat to sail down the Stricken Stream. Are you getting all of this, Captain?"

"Aye, my stepdaughter Fiona is taking down every word! What next?"

"Once they board your submarine, take them to Briny Beach where I will be waiting with the next phase of our plan. After that, you head for Hotel Denouement; we're having another meeting after this one."

"Aye, I'll get them to their Vigorously Fixed Destination! Don't you worry about that Miss Snicket! You can always count on the submarine Q and its mighty crew of two!"

"Thank you, Captain, make sure the submarine is in position at the bottom of the Stricken Stream within the time frame," Kit finished, "Don't be late. Good-bye sir."

She hung up the phone and turned to Jacqueline and Larry, "You two: get a boat and hide it on top of Mount Fraught by the Stricken Stream source. Make sure it's big enough for all of them. Go, now."

"Yes sir," The two volunteers left to return to their helicopter for their mission.

"What can I do," I asked.

Kit looked at me, "Olivia, we'll need someone to keep Olaf at bay while I smuggle the children away from the hospital."

I racked my brain for a moment as I looked around the large fortune teller tent. Suddenly, an idea formed in my head.

"Let me take over as Madame Lulu, Kit."

"What?"

"I'll play Madame Lulu while you go on your mission! Olaf will surely arrive here after he leaves the hospital. That phone call said he arrived shortly after the children did, and he has to stop here before reaching the mountains anyway."

Kit regarded me carefully for a moment, "That sounds very dangerous, my friend. Keeping Olaf and his troupe distracted while the children escape? How do you plan on accomplishing such a task?"

I gestured to the crystal ball on the small table in the back of the tent, "I give him what he wants. I'll answer any question he asks to the best of my ability. I'll gain his trust. You can teach me how to use the fortune telling machine and I'll do whatever it takes to keep him distracted until the children reach the sea!"

I knew my plan was dangerous, maybe even suicidal, but I wanted to help. I needed to help. This plan was foolproof; Olaf won't know what hit him.

She put a hand on my shoulder, "I admire your determination, but I'm not sure you should dare to attempt this. I could call another volunteer to take over as Lulu."

"No," I said firmly, "I have to do it. I'm already here, and I'm willing. If not for me, do it for Jacques!"

Tears welled up in my eyes once more. Jacques Snicket... the only man I ever loved. Murdered in the Village of Fowl Devotees just yesterday; I wanted to do this for him. I needed to finish what he and I started by doing my part to save the Baudelaires and the Quagmires. They were such good children back at Prufrock, and I wanted desperately to help them on to a brighter future. Those children deserve to be together; I could see their hearts were connected whenever I saw them together. Violet and Duncan were meant to be, and Klaus and Isadora are perfect for each other. They may not have opened their feelings, but I could see them clear as day.

"I need to help those kids in any way I can," I added fiercely, "I'm a librarian, Kit... helping kids is my job."

She paused before smiling and giving me a hug, "Thank you for volunteering, Olivia. Jacques would be so proud of you."

I let out a soft sob, "Do you think he's watching over us now?"

"Yes I do," She replied quietly, "He loved you very much you know. Couldn't stop raving about how perfect you were to me the last time we talked."

I smiled sadly, "I loved him too, my friend, and I would have been honored to be your sister-in-law someday."

"Come, I'll teach you how to be Madame Lulu."

The next couple hours were spent with me training to be a fake fortune teller. It was late afternoon by the time we were finished. I walked out of the back curtains to reveal my change of attire. I was dressed expertly as Madame Lulu now, wig, piercings, and all.

"How do I look?"

Kit smiled, "Perfect, better than me even. Although with my little one on the way the outfit has been getting rather uncomfortable."

I smiled, "I'm sure it has. Congratulations on your baby by the way, I wasn't expecting you to be pregnant when Jacques told me to meet you here. Do you mind if I ask who the father is?"

Kit chuckled softly and rubbed her stomach, "My husband, Dewey Denouement, I didn't take his surname to keep our identities safe. We hope it's a girl. I only recently told my brother Lemony in a letter."

"You have another brother?"

"Yes, Lemony is the reason why I'm helping you with this plan. He begged me to protect the Baudelaires by any means necessary. And if you want me to protect Duncan and Isadora Quagmire then I will. I gave Lemony my word, and I never go back on my word. I have to get going now; I'll make it to the hospital in time to get the sugar bowl don't worry about that."

I nodded, "Thank you, Kit, for everything."

"You're welcome. Make sure you introduce yourself to the employees in the freaks caravan; they'll need to know you're the new boss. Good luck, Madame Lulu."

She gave me a final hug before gathering a couple backpacks full of supplies for the children when she reaches them and I watched from the tent as she drove away in her taxi.

I did as I was told and introduced myself to the local carnival employees. The three of them didn't seem surprised that they had gotten a new Madame Lulu. It was expected since the job changed hands often. Upon returning to my tent, my temporary home, I felt my heart clench as my thoughts returned to Jacques.

~...

"When you drive away in secret, you'll be a volunteer. So don't scream when we take you, the world is quiet here."

"Good job, Olivia, you've taken your oath and now you're ready to start training."

"Mr. Snicket-"

"Please, ahem, call me Jacques."

I smiled, "Sorry, Jacques, when do I begin?"

He put a hand on my shoulder, "Right away, we have a mission to find the Quagmire triplets and reunite them with the Baudelaires. It's top priority; are you up for it?"

"Absolutely, I'd do anything for those kids, they're wonderful."

We searched every floor of 667 Dark Avenue, but found no sign of the kids. Jacques Snicket was kind and charming the whole way up as we climbed the building. We stopped on the top floor and rested for a moment on the balcony.

"Maybe we'll get lucky in the penthouse," He said.

I felt my cheeks redden. He looked away awkwardly and mumbled an apology for his inappropriate wording. I didn't mind, I thought it was a bit funny actually. Once we had finished our search we got back into his taxi and he drove me to the ruins of the Baudelaire mansion. I felt tears well up just looking at the sorrowful sight.

"This was the Baudelaires' home," He said, "Olaf did this. The same fate happened to the Quagmires' mansion. We never found out what caused that one."

"Why? How could someone be so cruel?"

"It all started with the theft of the sugar bowl."

He told me everything. The sugar bowl theft had led to several other crimes that eventually led to the fire that destroyed the lovely Baudelaire mansion.

"The world is so much more complicated than I thought."

"Indeed it is," He said, "That's why we do what we do. Volunteers dedicate themselves to putting out the fires of the world, literally and figuratively. Are you truly ready to take up the torch for us?"

He held up a spyglass and placed it in my hands. I stared at it for a moment as I contemplated my answer.

"If it means I can help children who lost their families in tragic fires, then I'll do anything for the V.F.D."

"That's the spirit," He smiled that handsome smile, "Now come with me, you have training to do."

We went to stay in a place called Hotel Denouement that night. It was apparently a safe place for the organization. We spent hours going over every detail I would need to become a volunteer. Code phrases, coded poems, spyglass training, everything I would need was taught by him in the days that the Baudelaires lived at Dark Avenue.

~...

That whole week Jacques had stared at me in a way that no man had looked at me before. And I found myself looking back. Our last night at the Hotel, we gave in to our growing affection for each other. I'll never forget how wonderful his lips had felt on mine; how gentle his touch was when we went to bed together that night. I had never been an impulsive woman, I was just a shy librarian, but I had wanted him as badly as he had wanted me. And that last night at Hotel Denouement was just perfect.

After that we had tried to stop Olaf at the "In" Auction, but he had escaped with the Quagmires stuck in a red herring statue. We followed them to the Village of Fowl Devotees and had gotten captured. After some clever trickery, I managed to get Esmé to let us go by telling her where the sugar bowl was. Jacques had told me to take his taxi and go find Kit at Caligari Carnival while he tried to deal with Olaf.

"Promise me we'll see each other again."

He had kissed me passionately, "This story isn't over yet."

I knew why he didn't promise me that. He was murdered by Olaf shortly after I drove away that night. I had to be told the horrible news by the Daily Punctilio the following morning. When Kit and I saw the paper we cried for hours together. She loved her brother dearly. Jacques Snicket was an incredible man; one that I will never forget. I spent the night watching films of him that Kit had in the small library in the tent. I didn't care that I spent the whole time with a sad smile as tears ran down my cheeks; I just wanted to hear his sweet voice again.

~...

Olaf had burned down Heimlich Hospital. I could see the fire raging through my spyglass. After some time I heard my phone ring. I quickly answered it.

"Hello?"

"This is Kit," I heard a soft voice respond, "I have the children in my car. They're together and safe. They're asleep right now though. We'll reach the drop off point in the Mortmain Mountains by morning if I drive all night. Olaf is on his way to the carnival as we speak."

I felt my heart lighten immensely at the news, "Thank you for letting me know. Do you have the sugar bowl?"

"In my pocket, Jacqueline and Larry assured me that the boat is in position on Mount Fraught," She replied, "I have a long drive ahead of me, good night, and good luck Olivia."

"Good night, Kit," I hung up the phone and checked myself in the mirror once more.

My disguise was ready. My fake accent had been perfected thanks to Kit's instructions. I had everything I needed to be a fortune teller. I felt Jacques' spirit in my heart.

"I'm a volunteer, Jacques," I said to myself quietly, "And I will do this for you, my love. Olaf will pay for his crimes. And the world will be quiet again once this is over."

~...

"Greetings, please, I am Madame Lulu!"

I looked around at the evil people seated in my tent. Olaf started demanding information about the survivor of a fire. I ushered the others out of the tent and gave him exactly what he asked for, I told him there was a survivor. I had no idea if this was true or even what fire he was referring to as he said it could be the Baudelaires' or the Quagmires'. Madame Lulu's motto was "give people what they want," so I gave him exactly that.

Once he was satisfied, he went about taking over the House of Freaks show at the carnival. He seemed incredibly frustrated that the audience wasn't as large as he would have liked. Once the show was over he took me with him out into the Hinterlands and we gathered up a small group of starving lions that had been roaming the area. Apparently, Olaf meant to feed one of our freaks to the lions for tomorrow's show. I couldn't object of course because of my disguise but I felt disgusted at being forced to help with the task. Especially since these lions were once Volunteer Feline Detectives as Kit had mentioned to me. Those poor creatures looked miserable in their pit after Olaf dropped them inside. I felt my heart ache at their pitiful cries for nourishment.

"You," Esmé Squalor approached me, "I want to talk to you."

"Of course, Mrs. Squalor," I replied.

She led me out of the House of Freaks tent and over to a nearby telephone booth.

"I know what you're doing," She said glaring at me.

I felt myself start to sweat a bit, "Really, please? And what, please, do you think I am doing?"

"You're trying to steal my boyfriend!"

I felt relief wash over me, she hadn't seen through my disguise after all, "Oh, dear lady Esmé! I can assure you I would never do such a thing, please!"

"I'm watching you," She said sternly before turning to go back to her troupe.

That was too close. It wasn't my fault that Olaf was very obviously attracted to me. I felt my skin crawl just thinking about his rather open flirting he had been doing for the past several hours since his arrival.

I went into my tent and saw a friendly face, "Jacqueline!"

The secretary stood, "I came to see you before I headed to the mountains."

We locked ourselves in the secret room in the back of the tent to talk privately, "What happened at the meeting? It was this morning, right?"

"Yes, Olaf and his associates will be punished for his crimes at the next meeting on Friday. The children have made it to Mount Fraught?"

"Kit left them on the trail this morning. I assume they made it to Headquarters by now, it's almost evening. I'm happy the Baudelaires and the Quagmires are safe and I am honored to be able to serve them."

"Thank goodness," She said, "I have Larry waiting in the helicopter at the base of the mountains. I'll get them to the boat and he's going to watch from the sky to ensure that they reach the water. They have 3 days after today."

"And the meeting is in 6," I nodded, "They're right on schedule. I have a few disguises here if you want to spend the night."

"I shouldn't," She replied, "I need to get going as fast as possible. I'll be driving up the trail to reach the peak on my motorcycle."

I gave her a hug, "It's all coming together smoothly."

"Indeed it is, Miss Caliban."

We stepped out of the secret room to hear one of Olaf's henchmen calling for me. I nodded to Jacqueline and she discreetly followed me to the House of Freaks tent. She stood in the entrance, keeping herself hidden to watch over me, as I went inside. Olaf's entire troupe was there. I didn't have time to ask what was going on. The next thing I knew, I was shoved from behind by Esmé into the lion pit. One of Olaf's henchmen fell in with me by accident. And the sharp teeth of the once brave beasts were the last thing I saw...

~...

Darkness. That was all I could see. I felt my eyes flutter open. I quietly stood and looked around.

"A library?"

It was definitely a library. A massive one, larger than any I had ever seen before. Rows and rows of shelves filled with endless books lined the walls as far as I could see in the sunlit room. The last thing I could remember was fangs, claws, growls, roars, and the sound of laughter from Esmé Squalor as she had shoved me into my doom. How was I in a library? Surely I was dead. Wait that's it! I am dead!

"Then this must be the great beyond," I said, softly.

"Indeed it is, my love."

My ears perked up at the sound of a voice I had longed to hear for days. I turned around to see the smiling, handsome face of Jacques Snicket staring lovingly at me. I felt tears run down my cheeks as I flung my arms around him tightly. He kissed me deeply; I poured my heart and soul into our passionate reunion. I didn't care that I was dead; at least I was in the arms of the man I loved.

"My dear Olivia, come with me," He commanded.

He held his arm out like a gentleman for me to grab as we walked through the halls of the library. He casually explained that this was the Afterlife, and for volunteers like us it appears as a library filled with every book ever written or soon to be written. I was never religious, but this place certainly felt like heaven. He said it changes depending on what the person believes and depending on the person's nature. He didn't need to tell me that our enemies in the mortal world were never going to arrive here.

We walked for some time before reaching an open area with many couches, armchairs, tables, and lights. It looked remarkable and cozy, just like a library should. I saw several people gathered here. Jacques and I walked over and he introduced me to them one by one.

"This is Dr. Montgomery, one of the world's leading herpetologists, and his assistant Gustav Sebald."

"Hello, Miss Caliban it is an honor to meet you at last," Monty said shaking my hand with a smile. Gustav nodded politely at me.

"You were one of the Baudelaires guardians," I noted, "I've heard a lot about you Doctor."

"Yes I was," He replied, "Thank you kindly Madame."

We continued walking, "This is Josephine Anwhistle and her husband Ike."

The two were sitting together on a couch reading books on Grammar. They smiled at me and waved. They seemed too interested in staying close to each other to get up for a proper greeting. Jacques had told me about their story as well. We continued to the back of the room and saw a group of four people looking out a window. Jacques cleared his throat to get their attention.

The four turned around and smiled at me. I instantly knew who these people were. On the left were a man and a woman who looked remarkably like Duncan and Isadora. On the right was another couple who looked far too much like Violet and Klaus. The two women stepped forward and wrapped their arms around me in a tight embrace.

"My name is Karen Quagmire," One of them said finally; she gestured to the man beside her, "This is my husband Quinten."

"And my name is Beatrice Baudelaire; this is my husband Bertrand."

"You must be Olivia Caliban," Bertrand said, adjusting his glasses, "It's an honor to meet you."

I smiled at them, "No it's more of an honor to meet you all really."

"Are you crazy," Quinten asked, "You're the hero! You helped save our kids!"

"And they're eternally grateful," Karen added, "See for yourself."

She gestured to the window they had been looking through and I stepped closer. Through it I could see the sight of the Duncan and Isadora hugging their triplet brother tightly in the ruins of the destroyed V.F.D. Headquarters. The Baudelaires were watching them from a distance. There was no mistaking it; Quigley had been alive after all! I noticed Karen and Quinten wipe away a few tears of joy at the sight. Jacques explained that this window was our viewing port to the mortal world. The vision in the shot changed to later when we watched as the children climbed the frozen waterfall and made it to the boat on Mount Fraught. Karen and Beatrice smirked as Duncan and Violet shared a kiss, while Klaus and Isadora did the same.

"Just like we hoped for, eh, Karen," Beatrice asked.

"You know it Bea," Karen replied with a chuckle.

The vision changed to the following morning as Jacqueline arrived on the peak and told them about my fate. I felt strange seeing these children cry over me. I felt even worse that Jacqueline had watched my demise without being able to stop it. We watched as the children were helped into the boat by Jacqueline and she melted the frozen stream for them to continue on their mission.

"You did that," Bertrand said with a grin; as we watched the children sail down the stream.

I blinked in surprise, "Me?"

"Of course, Olivia," Beatrice said, "They're safe and together because of you. Your devotion to our cause was admirable."

Karen nodded, "You are a true volunteer Miss Caliban, and the Baudelaire and Quagmire families have you to thank for this. If it hadn't been for your planning with Kit and the others, who knows what would have happened."

I felt a tear run down my cheek as the two sets of proud parents smiled fondly at me. Jacques put a hand on my shoulder.

"Bet you're glad you stepped out of that library now," He said jokingly.

I wiped my eyes as the children climbed into the submarine, "Yeah... I really am."

Jacques and I left as I wished to have a tour of this lovely place, while the parents continued watching over their children. Once we were alone, I wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug.

"Are you proud of me Jacques?"

"Absolutely, my love, you did remarkably well for such a recent addition to the team. You made our organization proud to have you."

I kissed him softly before responding, "When you drive away in secret, you'll be a volunteer."

"So don't scream when we take you."

"The world is quiet here."

~The End!

I know I went into some strange territory at the end with the Afterlife stuff, but I thought it would be nice. Jacques and Olivia are together again now! And I had to show this story since I left it out of my How It Should Have Been story for plot purposes.