Chapter 30 - Descent
Island X: September 29th

Nemo's quiet morning was shattered by the sound of shouting and stomping. And although he was awake at such an early time, Ishmael was still resting. So the racket that suddenly jerked him awake sent a pang of annoyance into the captain's chest. He stood up to investigate.

"Captain?" Ishmael inquired as he sat up and rubbed what little sleep he had out of his eyes. "What's happening?" Nemo raised a hand a little as a steadying gesture. He felt there was no need to prepare for conflict. Instead, they watched as three men were dragged towards the cells, one of which, Nyctalope, was hanging limp and barely unresponsive. Nemo and Ishmael exchanged glances. Although they both recognised the three, Nemo only knew the blonde and red-haired men by their first names.

Those carrying Nyctalope dropped him on the cold floor of the cell on the left of Ishmael. They untied his hands, leaving him where he'd fallen. The other two were forced into a cell on the right of Nemo and the door slammed shut behind them. As the cells' layout was like that of brickwork, Nemo could see Ishmael and Nyctalope, and Ishmael could see Nemo and the other two men. But the friends could not see each other.

The shouting and rattling of bars continued for a few minutes after the men had left. Both demanding to be released, insisting on an explanation. The red-haired lad, Jean was the first to give up, but Rene soon followed.
"Brilliant. Just brilliant," Jean spat. Nemo heard a clunk which he assumed was him letting his head fall against the bars of the door.

Nemo's attention skipped across to Nyctalope lying still on the floor. A low feeble groan seemed to come from him. "He's waking," Nemo said.
"Chief?" Jean called, "Leo, wake up."
Nyctalope tried to get up on his elbows "Jean? What- agh." His hand shot to the back of his neck.
"Hold still a while. You took a nasty hit." Nemo could hear the concern in his voice.

"Why are you here?" Nemo asked.
Jean sounded stung "They've turned on us."
"Turned?" Nemo exclaimed. "Why?"

Nyctalope dragged himself into a sitting position, leaning against the side wall close to the door. "They think I've been trying to kill Robur. A fire last night in… one of the bedrooms. It has him certain." He cleared his throat, seemingly hoping Nemo hadn't caught onto the fact that he withheld information.

"So Robur has had you put here?" Ishmael guessed.

Nyctalope scoffed, letting his head fall against the wall. His hand wandered up to his chest, holding it in pain but his voice remained strong "Yes, Robur. He's going to get someone, or himself, killed if he drops his guard. It's not me!"

Nemo opened his mouth to speak, to ask if he was hurt, but heavy footsteps caught his attention. Someone ran into the room, still panting for air.

"Robert," Rene exclaimed. "What are you doing here? They're looking for you!"
"I heard," Robert Champeau answered, coming into Nemo's line of sight. "I think I made it here without any of them noticing. I had to talk to you. What's going on?"

Nemo's concern for Nyctalope began to grow when his hand moved away from his chest, showing red. He turned slightly, trying to hide it from Champeau- the gun wound he had received at Belgium. Champeau was yet to look over to Nyctalope and see. Nemo could not allow him to hide such an injury.

Rene let out an exasperated sigh. "They plan to lock you in your room. This isn't fair!"
"Don't worry about me, I-" Champeau paused as Nemo cleared his throat. Nemo inclined his head towards Nyctalope and it was enough for Champeau to turn around. His shoulders slumped.

"Chief, are. are you alright?" he asked.
"Your wound opened when you struggled, didn't it?" Jean guessed quietly.
"It's nothing," Nyctalope tried to insist, sending Nemo an irritated look.
"You're bleeding, Monsieur, and these rooms get cold. I suggest you do not try to hide your injuries," Nemo advised.

Champeau crouched down at the door of his friend. "Come here, let me check. I'm not having you take ill when I can't get to you."

With a tired sigh, Nyctalope dragged himself closer to the door. As the pain increased, he had to hold tight to one of the metal bars. Robert pulled his reddened shirt down, eyeing up a small patch of scarlet bandage.
"It's only small," Nyctalope tried to insist, although a hiss stopped him from saying any more.

"No, it's not. I can't work through these stupid bars," Champeau grumbled loudly. "There has to be key somewhere around here! I need my things-"

It made no difference. More footsteps, this time it was Zenith, cane at hand and two men by his side. The two men came closer, ready to seize him.
"Wait, wait! Please," Champeau exclaimed, putting both hands in the air. Zenith gave the order for the men to halt. "I know why you're here but you must wait. Nyctalope's wound has reopened."
"Others can treat it," Zenith said, but he did not give the order or the men to advance.
"No, they can't. You know his heart has artificial components and as a nurse, I have a duty. I'm not having someone else intervening with that. You were there, Zenith, you saw how bad this wound is."

"Then what would you propose I do?" Zenith asked.
"Lock me in with him with my things until I sort this. Please, after it is done I swear to you I will come quietly. Please, you and Robur owe me that much. I helped save your life and Armand's when Robur came to me for help."
Nemo was impressed with Champeau's reasoning. There was little Zenith could say in retaliation without being unreasonable.

Zenith gave the order for the men to open the door, and despite these young men having nothing to do with him, Nemo could not help but feel relieved. Robur may have lost his humanity, but knowing others on this island still held their consciences was the only reassurance he could have hoped to have.

(*Later*)

After a few hours, sure that things had cooled down, Lupin went down to the cells. Nemo was working and Ishmael looked to be asleep. Rene and Jean were sitting in sombre silence. Rene half-heartedly amused himself by flipping a coin into the air and catching it.

Broth, bread and water had been given to the five of them. Ishmael and Nemo were the only ones with enough sense to eat it, though it seemed Jean and Rene had at least tried. Nyctalope had not so much as looked at his. He'd pushed it outside of his cell.

And it was Nyctalope that concerned Lupin. He looked pale and was struggling not to pace at the back of his stone room. He could see that he was beginning to look frustrated, shaking his head, fidgeting, running his hands through his hair. This wasn't fair and Lupin knew it, but there wasn't a thing he could do to help.
"Lupin, please, you have to get me out of here. I'm not responsible for this!" Nyctalope begged with a voice barely above a whisper, coming up to the barred door. He held onto the bars with enough strength to make his knuckles turn white.
"You know if I could, I would."

Nyctalope pursed his lips together. "You are second in command of the Mysterious Men- You're Arsène Lupin! I know you can speak to Robur and make him see sense-"
"The only solid evidence we have is against you," Lupin answered, moving closer to his cell, but he looked away. "I don't know how long I can go on defending you, believing you."

"What?" Nyctalope's shoulders slumped and his eyes grew wide. The betrayal shifted to anger. He slammed the side of his fist against the metal bars "None of you are listening! Someone is trying to set me up and they're still out there! Someone is going to wind up dead! Why won't any of you trust me anymore?"
Lupin looked over to Ishmael who startled awake with the noise. He turned over in his bed, trying hard to rest. Nemo looked over his shoulder from his work with concern but he held his silence. This wasn't working out to be fair on anyone.

"Easy, Chief, your wound," Rene Coqui tried to remind him.
"That doesn't matter. Why would Champeau save the people who I was supposedly trying to kill? Why would I help Zenith? You can't just ignore the facts that don't fit! Have you actually looked into any of this yourself?"
"You need to calm down and quieten down," Lupin warned.

"He has every right to be angry," Jean growled, readjusting how he sat against the wall. His eyes were closed but he did not look tired.
"Of course he does, but need I remind you that you three aren't the only ones down here? Captain Nemo is working and Ishmael is trying to sleep. Their situation is far worse than yours so please be respectful."

Jean got to his feet and came to his door "You said for us to keep our heads down. You said you'd do whatever you could to clear our names, that you'd answer for everything. And you've done nothing-"
"I've done what I can."
"Monsieur Lupin," Coqui broke in, "What exactly has been found so far?"
Lupin moved to be in his line of sight. At least one of them remained polite and more importantly, trusted him. He glanced over to Nemo. Did he want him to hear all of this? How the Mysterious Men were falling apart?

"There was no definite evidence for the poisoning. As for the shooting, all there is that truly points to your innocence was your skill in shooting, or apparent lack of it rather. Rifles aren't your weapon of choice last I checked."
"I haven't fired one in my life," Nyctalope said.
Lupin inclined his head. "But, there is no physical proof for us to take that as the truth."
Nyctalope grumbled and shook his head, retreating to the back of the room again. The facts were driving them in circles.

"And the fire?" Rene continued, working past the hot moods of his companions.
"Deliberate and accelerated from what Fantômas has told me. The boy was locked in and the keys to that room disappeared. Robur summarised the rest of the evidence against you before."

"So you've done nothing to help us really," Jean muttered.
"By Jove, you're all keen on laying blame this morning," Lupin defended. "There was nothing I could have done to stop your arrest and I'm far more useful to you out here than in a cell beside you. I can't recommend you bite the hand that feeds you, Monsieur Degains. For the time being, I have a few cards to play, but I cannot invent evidence for this."

"This is going to drive me mad," Nyctalope ground out. "Why don't you see if someone else is to blame - I wasn't the only one on that ship!"
"I'll keep investigating. In the meanwhile I'll bring you some books, it might help take your mind off things. If that doesn't work you can always talk to your friends. Nemo isn't bad company either when he hasn't got his sword with him," Lupin explained with a half-smile.

Lupin picked up Nyctalope's bowl of broth. "And going hungry will do yourself no good. Eat." He put the almost cold bowl into his cell.
Nyctalope came towards it and picked it up with reluctance. "Could. Could you get me some water, please?" Nyctalope asked, struggling with a dry throat. Lupin noticed his fingers traced over his chest.
"Have mine," Degains said without hesitation.

Lupin arched an eyebrow. He distinctly noticed something pass between the two. He could only guess this was to do with Nyctalope's time as a prisoner when he was tortured for information, the time when he'd gotten the burns Lupin had seen a few days prior. He no doubt associated any captivity with a cruel thirst because of that.

Coqui picked up Degains' full cup and topped it to the brim with what he had left out of his own. Lupin took it and handed it to the young hero.
"Thank you," he said, gesturing to all three of them. He then began to drink.
"I'll bring you some more in a moment. Don't worry. Zenith and I will keep an eye on you."
Nyctalope nodded and sat down to pick at his meal.

Lupin's attention turned to Nemo. "Captain, a quiet word if you would not mind. I'll be brief."
Nemo came to the bars of his cell and leaned his head through slightly. He had tired eyes and sluggish movements.
"Can you work with these three here or do you wish to be moved?" Lupin whispered.
"For the time being, it is not a problem. I will inform you if that changes. You should be aware, the boy was bleeding heavily from his chest. Champeau has mended it again. I advise for you to provide him with another blanket."

Lupin nodded, sending a slight glance over to Nyctalope and then left to fetch a book or two and some extra water. Blankets he could fetch later.

Nemo looked at the young man in front of him, noting his shaken attitude and upset nature. This is what Robur did. It was all he was capable of doing and all he would ever do. All he could do was destroy people from the inside out.

"What are your names?" Nemo asked when the young man finished his meal. Nemo could not understand why he felt so inclined to help the boy, even younger than Sawyer. Perhaps that was it. He reminded him of friendlier faces.
"Nyctalope or Leo Saint-Clair, choose what you wish." He let the other two say their own full names.

"I expect you know who I am already... I see Robur has turned on you also," Nemo observed.
"That is a bit of an understatement. He's accusing me of attempted murder! Now I'm stuck here whilst the real criminal is still out there, planning his next attack no doubt," Nyctalope exclaimed.

"Well, by then he'll realise it's not you," Ishmael pointed out, without moving from his sleeping position. It didn't really help Nyctalope's mood, however.
Nyctalope took to sitting on the edge of his bed, leaning forward and wringing out his hands. The conversation died down as they waited for Lupin's return.

(Continued)

As Lupin closed the door to the hallway, he came face to face with Robur. He seemed cooler in the face, no longer so riddled with anger.
"Captain," Lupin acknowledged.
"Lupin. I want a word."
"Very well. Would you prefer a more private place to speak?"
"No. Lupin, I no longer want you involved with the Nyctalope case. Look no further into it; I've elected for Fantômas to finish this."

Lupin stared for a moment and blinked. "You jest."
Robur shook his head. "I want you to focus on Nemo. You said yourself we are off task."
"No, what I said was that you were making ill-judged assumptions. I never said I wanted to be removed from this. What has changed, Jean? Do you not trust me?" Lupin asked sadly.
"I've known you long enough to know you're too involved. You aren't distanced from this as you look at the facts. Your judgement is clouded by emotion."
"But it is not! I'm the only one-"
"My word is final, Lupin," Robur stressed. "Stay out of this. That is an order. I do not forbid you talking to him and seeing to his needs, but I want no investigations. Leave it to Fantômas."

Lupin glanced at the door behind him. This meant giving up on Nyctalope, letting others pass judgement. It pained him, but he had little choice but to step back. "I won't argue against your decision… but if an idea strikes me I shan't be keeping it to myself."
Robur nodded "I ask you to do this for your own good, you understand?"
Lupin couldn't stop a sour feeling that rose in his chest. He was afraid it seeped into his expression. "We'll see. If you'll excuse me, I have prisoners in need of care."

"Lupin," Robur called, but he walked away and did not look back. The captain decided not to push the matter further for the time being. "I'm trying to trust you," he murmured. With a deep breath, he left in silence.

(*A Little While Later*)

A while later, Lupin returned with a couple of books and two metal flasks of water- one for each row of cells. He hoped the books would help everyone, even if only a little. Nyctalope couldn't keep struggling like he was. The cold broth hadn't appeared to agree much with his leaden stomach. His appetite was long gone and Lupin could not blame him, but he'd tried.

"What is it?" Nyctalope asked, noting the dull expression on Lupin's face.
He looked down, "Robur wants Fantômas to lead this investigation and for me to have no part in it, or rather what is left of it."
"What? Since when?!" Nyctalope exclaimed, standing up from his bed.
"He came to see me when I left for your books. It's an order I can't disobey, Lèon. My hands are officially tied."
That did not help any of the friends' moods.
"Fantômas is just as convinced of my guilt," Nyctalope murmured, letting himself drop back onto the seat.

"He may have forbidden it but I was never one to fully play by the rules. I'll do all that I can," Lupin said. He turned to look at Nemo as he said, "For all of you."

"Captain, do you suppose that the two incidents are connected… What happened to our families and this latest case?" Ishmael wondered out loud. He seemed sure to word his question with care.

Lupin's eyes lit up at the point as Nyctalope took the books from him. What Ishmael said was not likely for the time being as there was no reasoning behind it. It was a mere assumption, a guess, but all the same, what if he was right? It was certainly an unusual coincidence.
"Perhaps so, Ishmael. Perhaps they are… but then how?" Nemo asked.

A question indeed. If only I had the means to answer it… Lupin mused.