Chapter 24 - Promises
The Nautilus, Red Sea: September 20th

Eight days after leaving Belgium, Sawyer was sick of waiting to arrive at Island X. They still had another ten days worth of waiting. The first few days had only passed with ease as there was Quatermain to catch up with and explain everything to. There had been a lot to get through; he hadn't known about Skinner's burns, that Dorian had indeed died. He hadn't known the League was now recognised as official by the Government and of course, he had not known Nemo's past had come back to haunt him.

All was explained now and as happy as Sawyer was to have his company again, it made waiting no easier.

The two were up on the conning tower, enjoying the tranquillity of the sunset and the sweet ocean breeze. Sawyer stood, hiding the bottom half of his face in his folded arms that rested on the railing. Time passed too slowly, and he had never been patient. This was different too, he wasn't waiting for the Sunday Service to finish so he could go and play. He wasn't waiting for his day at work to be done so he could go home. He was waiting over two weeks to get to an island so he could try to save his friends, perhaps even save their lives.

"I hate this," Sawyer said, breaking the silence.
"Hate what?" Quatermain asked from his chair. He seemed calm and collected and it was a mystery as to how he could find such patience.
"Waitin around." Sawyer straightened up. "There's gotta be somethin' useful for me to do in the meanwhile rather than worryin'. I'm driving myself mad."

"About Nemo?"
"Well yeah, but I mean about the rescue. We got one shot at this and we gotta be fast. God knows what could go wrong if Robur gets his chance."
Quatermain sat up straight. "We'll be careful, lad. But as for occupying your time, can Pavan not give you something to do?"
"I was hoping to try and plan ahead for the rescue, but I'd need maps and I doubt Nemo would have kept any."
Quatermain smiled with what Sawyer hoped was admiration. "Well if you don't ask you don't get. Perhaps Pavan can remember some of the layouts."

Sawyer scratched his head, being sure to avoid the healing wound. "Maybe, but it's been a long time so I doubt he'd remember anything of use. Besides, I'd rather not bother him with something like that if I can help it. He has enough on his mind."
Quiet fell upon them again. Sawyer hoped his creativity could come up with an answer. He thought back through everything that had happened, what had been said, and what had been done. An idea came to him, faint as it was. "The book…"

He began to pace "Maybe… just maybe."
"You've an idea?" Quatermain inquired.
"There's no guarantee. But-" he stopped himself, remembering his promise to Ishmael. He had to keep that promise but did things change now that the League knew the truth? He sighed, "but it's all I've got to go on for now."

Sawyer turned as the door creaked open. It was Pavan, the newest acting captain. "Good evening, Mr Sawyer, Mr Quatermain. The Nautilus will be diving soon if you wouldn't mind returning below."
Quatermain got up from his seat, making a gesture of what he should do with it.
"I'll sort it," Sawyer said. The hunter seemed to understand that he wanted to talk to Pavan and so slipped away.

As he'd said he would, he folded the chair up. "Pavan, I need to ask you something. It's about the Island."
"Of course," he said, keeping his voice low.
"I was wondering if you had any documents still from it, anything we could use to plan something out?"
Pavan frowned "I'm afraid not, Sir. At least, not that I am aware of."

Sawyer cleared his throat as he leaned the chair against the railings. "I had a thought before… uh, do you know what Nemo thought had been stolen before he was taken?"
Pavan looked away a moment but he looked back again with a flash of discomfort on his face. "Yes, I know what it is you speak of."
"Good… y'see, Ishmael showed me the book, and he said that if I needed to look at it again, I could. And I think I need to. I'm hoping there are at least some drawings that could help."
"Yes, Ishmael confided in me. But I'm afraid you will be unable to view it. The book is locked away… only Captain Nemo and Ishmael knew the combination."

"Did I hear one of my least favourite words?" Skinner grinned as he made it to the top of the ladder. He stopped. "Sorry if I've barged up here. I'd come to find Quatermain."
Pavan bowed his head, excluding himself from the conversation.
"You missed him by a minute," Sawyer said.
"Oh…" He looked over to Pavan, who was closer to the balcony. "Is something wrong?"
"No, no. Just uh… there's something I could have done with seeing, but it's locked and no one knows the code."

"I could take a crack at it?" he offered.
Sawyer shook his head "It's Nemo's, y'see? I feel bad enough as it is having to look."
Skinner straightened up. "His chest by any chance?"
"Yeah," Sawyer said in surprise. "How'd you-"
"I haven't been snooping," he said with his hands up in mock surrender. "I just saw Ishmael there the night he was taken. He hadn't been able to keep away the few days beforehand. I was going to tell him about it but, well, Fantômas had other ideas."
"Tell him what?" Sawyer asked, loud enough for Pavan to hear and turn. They exchanged glances.

"The night when we made it to Belgium. The alarms got raised pretty quick and as I went through the hallway I saw Nemo's door was open. I was just going to shut it but I saw Ishmael was inside. He was kneeling by the chest and he had it open. I told him what was happening and he hurried out - he never had time to lock the chest again."
"Convenient," Sawyer remarked.
"As I said, I've seen him there a few times. No clue what he keeps looking for," Skinner said.

Sawyer looked at Pavan. Their acting captain nodded, giving him the all clear to go and see. Perhaps Ishmael had struggled with his memories and looking at the book again had given him some sort of comfort. Feeling hopeful, he directed Skinner to wait at the bottom of the ladder. He did so, and so Sawyer was able to pass him down Quatermain's folded chair, before climbing down himself, followed by Pavan who sealed the door tight behind them.

"I think Quatermain might have gone to his room," Sawyer said to Skinner. He hoped Skinner would realise that for the time being this was a more private matter. He seemed to, for he left without a fuss. Sawyer hated having to hide things like this but he had to honour his promises.

This time Sawyer led the way by about a strides length. Pavan seemed even more hesitant to do this than Ishmael.

Sawyer dismissed his thoughts as he came to Nemo's door once again. He opened it and offered for Pavan to go inside first. He did so with reluctance.
"Mr Skinner was right. Ishmael did leave it open. He'd even left his handkerchief by mistake…" Pavan's voice trailed off as he crouched down to pick it up.

"Pavan?"
"It is nothing. I am only concerned for their well being. They do not deserve what they now endure, whatever that may be..."
Sawyer sighed and sat down beside the chest once more. "I know, but we'll get em back. They're going to be alright."
"I hope you're right."

Pavan moved back and allowed Sawyer to collect the book from its resting place. He handled it with as much care as he was capable of and shut the chest again.
"I must leave now to prepare the ship for diving. Should you require anything, do not hesitate to find me," Pavan said, leaving him alone.
Sawyer turned back to the precious bundle of paper and leather in his hands. "Sorry about this, Captain," he murmured, opening the book. The first page read:

For our dearest daughter, Janni,
Happy Birthday,
With love from your mother and father
and Ishmael

"Please have some answers for me, kid." Sawyer turned through the pages looking for anything of use. A great portion of the book contained patterns, pages dedicated to nautilus shells and other shapes where it seemed someone had tried to teach her how to draw simple outlines of things. Ishmael had been right. If she had grown up, she would have truly had a talent for drawing. It occurred to Sawyer, that she may not have remembered or never seen some of these things before. There was everything from houses, elephants, even a few sweet attempts at people.

The more he looked the more his heart hurt. These drawings were not what he imagined any child having to draw. Where were the fields, the sun, moon and happy faces? But Sawyer tried not to pay attention to those. They weren't his business. He only needed the scenes.

He was glad when he finally came across something of value. It looked to be the view from a window, and it showed cliffs along a beach and rocks, perhaps no bigger than a house that emerged from the sea. Sawyer wondered if they could use that to their advantage somehow- a means of getting closer if only the conning tower was at the surface. But at turning to page again, he found folded pieces of paper that fell onto his lap.

He swore, fearing they had fallen from the spine, but they did not belong to the book. He placed the book safely on the chest and with a deep breath, he unfolded the worn and washed paper. He hissed out a yes. They were professional illustrations of the Albatross' interior and some segments of the island itself. "Now what are you doing in here?" he said to himself.

"Could ask you the same thing," Skinner, dressed, suddenly said behind him. Sawyer jumped in alarm, but not with the same aggression as the first time he had scared him.
"Dammit, Skinner. Come on, I could've broken something!"
"What? I saw Pavan come away from here looking a bit fidgety. I wanted to check you were alright- oh, and Quatermain was following me, so you know. He'll be here in a second."
"M'fine. Just don't be sneaking up on me like that. I'm trying to work." He sighed. "Look, I don't wanna be rude but you can't stay here- I shouldn't even really be here."

It was at that moment Quatermain came to the door. "Is he bothering you, lad?"
Skinner waved them off. "I'll go. I was just wondering what you're doing- you've gone all secretive. First with Ishmael and now this."
Sawyer put the papers down. He didn't want to have to explain all of this. He didn't even know if Nemo would take offence at just him knowing about it, and he'd promised Ishmael. "Look, I can't really say, but you don't need to worry about it."

"What do you mean you can't say? I thought we were all team-"
"We are-" Sawyer tried to reason.
"Then why are you even amongst Nemo's things?" Skinner threw his arms in the air to gesture to the room. "Why are you hiding so much from us all?"
"I just can't tell you right now."
Skinner scoffed "What? You don't trust us? Is that it? Am I still the deviant on board no one trusts their purse with?!"
"No! Nothing like that! I trust you with my life!"
"Then what?!" Skinner shouted.

"Enough," Quatermain warned, cancelling out their raising voices.
Sawyer sighed, shaking his head. "Skinner… Look, I've promised not to tell anyone about all of this. It's Nemo's private-"
"The book," Skinner said, eyeing it up on the chest. "Is that what was stolen?"

Sawyer had to nod, he couldn't straight out lie. "I don't know if he wants this talked about, so I can't say much else. I promised Ishmael. The only reason I'm here is that I'm trying to see if there's anything that can help us get them back." He showed the two of them one of the pieces of paper with the plans on.

The heat was off, but that didn't rid the room of the steam. Skinner stepped back. "Now was that so hard?"
Sawyer looked at him, unsure of what to say. He didn't have time to. Skinner left, slipping past Quatermain with loud grumbles.

Quatermain stepped into the room. "Sorry about him, my boy. I think the worry is getting to him. I'll have a word."
Sawyer shrugged picking the book back up and opening it. Quatermain couldn't see what was inside and he made no attempt to. "Don't worry about it- can't say I don't deserve it," Sawyer answered with a glum face.
"No lad, you don't. You're doing as you think best… I'll leave you to get on."
Sawyer looked up and nodded with a half-smile. "Thanks."

Quatermain closed the door most of the way behind him. Sawyer focused back on his work, but the book was painful to look at, even without knowing the girl. So much of it seemed oblivious to any harm. He wondered if Nemo had tried to protect her from knowing what was happening- to the threat that loomed over her. Sawyer's chest felt full and it was almost at the brim of his eyes. Then he reached the last few pages. He felt awful for looking and finding nothing of use to aid the rescue, he was just a nosey intruder.

He gave up with a few pages left but as he put it on the top of the chest to pick up the more promising papers, it slipped and landed open on its spine. Sawyer scooped it up quickly, finding it open on the very last page. As his eyes met the paper he found he couldn't move. He swallowed hard with his face contorted in horror. Bile churned in his stomach.

There, drawn with charcoal was a picture of Robur, wide-shouldered, strong, and given a grotesque face: with pointed teeth and wide monster-like eyes and with claws on his hands. But that was not what had startled him so. It was the bloodied fingerprints that stained the book, small fingers. Sawyer rubbed his nose and mouth with his hand. He had to learn everything he could about this Island before he got there. He had to get them out.

"Man, I hope we ain't too late…"

The Nautilus: September 22nd

Jekyll and the rest of the League had gathered in the library, all seated together. Pavan was also present. He seemed to be tired on that particular morning. He battled back stray yawns as they struggled to develop a course of action to free Nemo and Ishmael. They were about halfway there. The hours felt stretched and heavy, and although Jekyll was busy caring for the wounded, waiting took its toll on Hyde's patience.

But, little by little, they drew closer to the island. The need for a plan was growing stronger. It would have to be clever and cunning, managing to play strength against weakness and yet not have them falling susceptible to attack. It wasn't going to be easy. Almost every idea came with a flaw and it was disheartening for Jekyll. He wished he could be more useful in bringing an idea together.

Jekyll sat back in his seat and took out his pocket watch, turning it over in his hands absentmindedly, hoping something would come to him. He glanced down to see Hyde's face staring at him through the reflection.

This is no different from Mongolia, Jekyll. Why must you all try to make this more difficult than it needs to be? Let me out at the front door and we'll force our way in!
Jekyll covered the metal with his hand. This is different in every aspect, Edward. Please, try to understand. Being detected might put them more at risk-/
Poppycock, Hyde grumbled.

"Our main problem is we're going in blind," Skinner pointed out, drawing Jekyll's attention to the pacing leather coat. "If I could somehow sneak in as I did in Mongolia, then we wouldn't have much trouble in finding our way around. It's no good though, the Nautilus would be seen." Skinner stopped with his pacing, leaning against the back of Sawyer's seat. Sawyer turned his head slightly to look at him, but then quickly looked away.

The two seemed to have grown closer at first since Sawyer had come back, as though there was a wider degree of understanding between them. But now Jekyll couldn't deny the slight frost between them. It had occurred all of a sudden only days ago. He could not understand why.
"I could get you there, under the cover of night the Nautilus wouldn't be so noticeable at a distance," Mina explained.

Pavan straightened himself up and spoke "Some of the crewmen, including myself, know their way around the Island. I think we may need to be more concerned about how we are going to organise ourselves to find the two of them. I'd expect him to be in the main building, but if he is not there will be much more ground to cover. I do not know what improvements Robur has made to the Island since."

Dim-witted! Hyde hissed. Can't they see they're going in circles?
Hush, or I will leave, Jekyll warned. That seemed to quieten him for the time being.

"We'll manage. We'll comb over the entire Island if we have to," Sawyer asserted, sending a reassuring glance in Pavan's direction.

"If all else fails, we'll just have to ask nicely for directions," Skinner remarked with a hint of a smirk.
"Splitting up is our better chance. We can cover more ground in less time. They may not know I'm alive, either- or Sawyer. We'll have to try to make the most of that," Quatermain reminded them.
"If we're to do that, then I've a feeling Skinner'll have to teach some of us how to pick a lock," Sawyer pointed out.
"That's a ten minute job," he said, but to Jekyll, he didn't look entirely enthusiastic. It seemed as though Skinner had been trying to avoid the agent.

Jekyll, talk some sense into these fools. It's not going to make a difference. Think about it!
What are you talking about? Jekyll asked, his attention falling back to the back of the watch.
We have to break the ship! Hyde shouted, losing his patience. Jekyll flinched.

Quatermain nodded to the others but noticed Jekyll's distracted look. "Something wrong?" he inquired.
The doctor cleared his throat. "Hyde is... concerned about the Albatross' part in our planning."
This statement captured and retained the attention of everyone present. Jekyll didn't like so many eyes focusing on him all at once. It was unsettling.

"How so?" Quatermain asked.
Clip its wings or else it will fly off with them both! Hyde explained.
"Hyde believes if we do not stop her when we arrive, then she may leave, carrying Nemo and Ishmael with her. Am I correct in recalling that the Albatross is able to ascertain greater speeds than the Nautilus?"

"Yes," Pavan said. "The Albatross is the faster of the two and by no small part."
"Then you're both right," Quatermain said, referring to Jekyll and Hyde. "First and foremost, we must cut off their only chance of escape. We clip the wings, and that would give us more time. Thank you, Hyde."
"We will do everything we can if we're given that task," Jekyll said. Jekyll felt Hyde smile inside of him, and he himself felt better in participating. The slight uplift didn't last.

"How do you actually know all this, Pavan? About the Island and the Albatross, I mean. Ishmael didn't really explain how you all knew Robur," Skinner ventured. "Who are we dealing with here exactly?"

Pavan could not hold back a grimace. This was Nemo's past, his greatest secret. Just like Ishmael, he was reluctant to speak. "Robur captured Captain Nemo, Ishmael and I, as well as many others. We... We were forced to build the Nautilus, constantly in fear our families would be killed if we disobeyed… When the Nautilus was complete years later we tried to rebel and take the ship from Robur. We managed but," Pavan stopped himself.

"But?" Skinner asked.
"The cost was immeasurable. Nemo's wife Maliha was slaughtered, so was Janni- Nemo's daughter. Ishmael also lost his wife. I was fortunate, I had no one to lose, but I knew their families well…. It broke the captain. The deaths pained us all for many years- they still do."

The League was mortified at what they heard.

Jekyll felt cold, but ignoring the scorch of Hyde's anger was impossible. He watched as Mina gripped onto her gloves with all her strength and seemed to struggle to soothe a snarl. Quatermain made less of an effort to hide a wince but looked away, likely thinking of his own child. Skinner held a stony expression with brows furrowed, arms crossed and a half clenched hand covering his mouth. His expression seemed fixed upon Sawyer, as though something had clicked into place.

Sawyer was lost in sour thoughts, holding his head in his hands and staring at the floor.
He knew, Hyde realised. He didn't tell us! But Jekyll could see the surprise on his face, the horrible look of his fears being confirmed.
No… maybe not everything.

Now they knew. Jekyll understood Nemo and Ishmael's pain and hatred. He felt their fear at the very name that had loomed over them like a storm cloud several weeks earlier. He realised just how far into the midst of the storm they were.

The conversation began to crawl along again, with everyone all the more determined to find a solution to their problems. Jekyll zoned out for a moment and found himself looking back at his watch, back to Edward.

Did I say I'd do anything, Henry? It's a good thing your guess was right, otherwise, you'd be looking rather foolish.
You already told me you wanted revenge. I want Nemo and Ishmael to return safely. I don't say this often but the League are your priority, do whatever it takes to protect them. I mean anything.
Oh, believe me, I will...