Chapter 37 - The Price of Freedom
(Continued)

The League made it to the other side of the fortress in good time. During the journey, the gunfire had started again, heavier than before. Quatermain and Jekyll switched places, allowing for Quatermain to join the gunfight whilst Sawyer kept driving closer. Jekyll was able to get Lupin and Ishmael to slouch down to keep them safe from any shrapnel or stray bullets.

The gunmen seemed to be in every crack and crevices of the fortress though most were on the wall, shooting down on the League. A few were brave enough to move closer but Mina brought them down. It seemed to be never-ending. For every man Mina finished, another would take his place.

Mina was fighting with more ferocity than ever. At first, none of the League understood why. Then they saw Nemo's face drop. The driver door to the other automobile was open. Around the other side Skinner, wrapped up bandages, was trying to help Pavan. Skinner was pressing bandages on his chest. It wasn't a good sign. Nemo was out of their automobile before it fully stopped.

Skinner saw the captain fast approaching them, though he had a vicious limp. Skinner didn't know how Nemo didn't end up getting himself shot as he made his way over to Pavan, though he seemed to have several close calls along the way.
"Nemo, are you trying to get yourself killed?!" Skinner couldn't help but exclaim.

Nemo crouched down beside Pavan. He stared wide-eyed at him, hardly able to process what he saw. He didn't want to. Nemo knew in his gut that he wouldn't make it. He was too weakened, his eyes too clouded, and the wound too overwhelming.

He was going to lose him. Pavan was going to die and Nemo was powerless to stop it. Just like his mother and father. Just like his wife and daughter. Just like Ishmael's wife. He was going to lose more family to this hellish island. The all too familiar feeling seemed to tear Nemo's chest in two. He had already lost so many crewmen. He couldn't do this again.

Jekyll as he dashed over to the wounded man and the grimace on his face confirmed Nemo's fears. Quatermain tried to stop Ishmael leaving the automobile but he clambered out, limping over to them.

"Captain? ?" Pavan murmured. He could barely keep his eyes open as he struggled to breathe. Nemo expected that the bullet had hit his lung. He didn't have long.
"Steady, Pavan. We're here," Nemo answered. Skinner moved out of the way to allow them to speak to him and for Jekyll to try to save him.

It's too late, Jekyll. I can feel him slipping, Hyde explained.
Shut up. There might still be a chance, Jekyll argued, though he could feel the growing doubt lingering in the back of his mind. The doctor couldn't bring himself to admit defeat, not when it was someone Nemo held dear.

Pavan began to cough, and he spat blood, lots of it. Nemo placed his hand under Pavan's ear and jaw to support his head. It seemed to help as Pavan struggled to breathe. Nemo looked Pavan in the eyes and managed to put on his mask of bravery- of strength. He played his part well.

"You're… alright?" Pavan continued weakly.
"Fine. Both of us are fine," Nemo partially lied. He didn't want to worry him. He deserved whatever peace he could be left with.

Pavan was weakening and he knew it. Using the last of his strength he raised his hand. Nemo took it with his other and held it tight, the captain could feel him trembling. Ishmael could only put a hand on his arm and squeeze it reassuringly.

Pavan coughed again. "I can't… I'm sorry."
Nemo struggled to find words. "I know… It's alright, Pavan."
"It's been… an honour," Pavan smiled in between rattling gulps of air. Nemo swallowed hard as he saw a lone tear escape Pavan's eye, though more threatened to spill. Nemo could see he was afraid; that he was in pain. He heard Ishmael clear his throat behind him as he too struggled.

"The honour is ours, my friend… Thank you," Nemo managed, trying to keep a brave face but he knew he was cracking. He didn't want to have to say goodbye; he didn't want Pavan to go. Nemo tried to brace himself for what was to follow but he couldn't. He couldn't prepare himself for the death of such a dear friend.
Pavan smiled at Ishmael, no words needed to be said between them, and then he turned his head to the side, looking far into the distance where the Nautilus waited for her master's return. "She's beautiful..." With an agonised wince and a feeble shudder, Pavan suddenly faded. His head fell away from Nemo's hand and he no longer held onto him.

He was dead.

Heart pounding, chest heaving, Nemo steadied himself long enough to gently release Pavan's hand and close his eyes for him. He was shaking. Skinner seemed to know what to expect before the others. Nemo looked for a gun and found one on the floor near Pavan's body. He snatched it from the ground and began to shoot at their enemies. His eyes were wide and wild and he snarled as he emptied the gun, each bullet managed to hit a mark.

Pavan had died to get him back, to rescue him from the same monster who had killed his family. He lost himself to the demand for blood. He wanted to give what was due to every inhabitant on that Island! Skinner and Ishmael grabbed him and dragged him down out of range. Skinner put his hand on Nemo's shoulder and crouched down beside him, forcing him to look at him. He had to shake Nemo out of it.

"We need to get out of here, Nemo. There's nothing we can do," Skinner shouted above the gunfire and yells from the men who came into Mina's path. Nemo tried to get back up to keep fighting.

Ishmael kept him down this time, with more force. "Captain, Skinner is right. I'm sorry but we must leave. There is nothing we can do for Pavan. The least we can do is get those plans as far away from Robur as possible," he said. Mentioning their purpose was enough to get him to understand, but he still looked to be disturbed by what was happening around him.

"I will not leave without him," Nemo demanded more than stated.

Skinner looked down at Pavan's lifeless body and back to Nemo. "We won't. I'll get him. You two just get inside the automobile and wait for us. One of you will have to drive this thing." Skinner wasn't used to giving orders he did what he had to. He hoped Mina would leave the fight without trouble. She seemed to have realised that Sawyer and the others had returned, but she wasn't willing to leave yet.

Ishmael nodded to Nemo. "I will," Nemo volunteered.

Jekyll had to help Skinner lift Pavan back into the back of the roofed automobile. Nemo climbed in the driver's seat, though he kept looking back to his fallen friend as though he could somehow protect him.

"Mina, we gotta go!" Sawyer shouted, giving up on his shooting. He sat back down in his own seat, revving the automobile's engine. The number of gunmen seemed to be growing. Mina turned to look at Sawyer, but she finished the victim she held aloft in her arms, carving her teeth into his neck. It was only then, dropping the body with a snarl to the survivors, she and her bats flew back to the League.

As Mina returned, Jekyll helped Ishmael hurry back to the roofless automobile. They ducked down as they ran, hoping no bullets bore their name. Mina changed back into the form that meant there were no bats and she was no longer as eager for blood.

She had to get into the roofed automobile with Nemo. As she finally transformed back into herself, she hurried to get inside. She cleaned herself up discreetly as she sat in the back with Pavan's body. Skinner was in the passenger seat beside Nemo. With everyone accounted for, Nemo set off first, flying across the road. Sawyer followed.

Nemo gripped to the steering wheel. It helped him to bear with the pain in his leg as well as the grief. The windscreen wipers could hardly keep up with the rain. The amount of gunfire began to lessen as their distance away from the fortress increased.

Nemo focused on the road but became more like a machine as time went on. He felt numb. He was lost in his own despair. He could feel the tears threatening to reveal themselves but he wouldn't allow it. Not yet. He was a captain; he had to remain strong.

He tried to direct his hopeless anger and grief into energy. It made him oblivious to the pain in his leg as he drove. All he wanted was to get back to his ship. He wanted to go home. He wanted to be free from any further pain and danger; to get off this hellish island. Nemo had never coped well with grief. He never would.

Skinner and Mina stayed silent. They understood how he was feeling. They had not been able to protect Pavan. He was dead and the fault felt like it was upon their shoulders.

Skinner didn't know how he was meant to act. He had to force himself not to keep looking back to Pavan. Instead, he turned the other way to make sure Mina was alright. Mina sat beside Pavan, but she didn't seem to mind as much. Skinner watched her tuck a long stray hair away from his still face with gentle hands. She looked up at Skinner as if trying to see if he was alright. Skinner's gaze settled on the passenger window, though he could see very little.

As much as Skinner didn't want to admit it, his wounds burned. He was willing to say he was in agony. He tried to hide it and refused to say anything. The others had to take priority. Skinner knew he could hold a little longer. Besides, the last thing the League needed was his complaining. He closed his eyes tight as the pain increased. He clenched his teeth and hoped he could stay quiet.

They were left in an icy silence as they waited to arrive back at the Nautilus.