Taken In Again
Disclaimer: It's a fanfiction, what do you expect? I own whatever wasn't invented already.
The water of the Indian Ocean discovered ripples and waves growing more and more, as it is passed by. A ship appears, infiltrating the water, as hundreds of men work for a man and his league, which search to explore as a sense of their own past fades away. Captain Nemo, the futuristic man of the past, who has the ability to invent ingenious devices, walks the halls of the Nautilus, signaling his new first mate Patel (after his last first mate, Ishmael faced a dreadful death from the cause of a betrayer from their last mission), that significant futuristic plans for the league would be currently delayed besides the assistance of exploring the ocean. It has been about a week since the death of the Great White Hunter, Allan Quatermain, and Dorian Grey, the immortal and Mina's past lover; and all whose have suffered to forget still live the memory and the dream of being a league, a family.
Being handed a slip of paper from his first mate, Nemo gave a glance at Patel, the paper, then Patel once again, and walked around the working crewmen to his league, already seated in the dining room.
The remnants of the league; Rodney Skinner, Tom Sawyer, Mina Harker, and Dr. Henry Jekyll/Mr. Edward Hyde all waited, scattered around the table packed with varieties of seafood fresh from the Atlantic Ocean. At a fast-pace the captain entered the room, giving his "Good afternoon" to his fellow men, and woman, being received a diversity of replies. Once all the members were together, the league, all but except Nemo had begun to dig into the mass of food remaining on the table. Slowly unfolding the message, the man's eyes increasingly began to widen, and looked up to the group that craved the dinner they ate. Mina became the first to take notice on the captain's expression.
"Anything wrong?"
"It appears the Nautilus had received a message. It is from England; a man named Campion Bond."
Rodney Skinner looked up with his pure white face. "Well, what's it say then? Someone else want to fool us into their trap for world destruction?"
"I'm not exactly sure what it means…listen to this. It reads:
To The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,
The British Empire has taken a fine notice on the work you all succeeded with the man Professor James Moriarty, better known as M. We are all very sorry for the loss of the legendary Allan Quartermain, in which many great deeds were done in that name. I must request, if interested, to continue in your work and convene with me in the headquarters of the secret annex of the British Museum as early as possible, in order to discuss the next part in your career as agents of the British Empire. Please find my contact at once after you have received this message.
Your advisor,
Agent Campion Bond." Captain Nemo looked back up at the league, all faces perplexed.
"…Huh?" This came from Tom.
"Sounds like they want us to do some other mission. You know, 'In order to discuss the next part in your career as agents of the British Empire'." Skinner said.
Mina looked baffled. "Well, what do we do? Do we go?"
"I don't know. It could be another trap, like the other mission." Tom stated, his eyes hardening at the memory.
Nemo's eyes never lay of the message. As the league argued whether to go or not, his face aged; showed the old lines and wrinkles of a tired man taking in all.
"I say we go." The league all stared at him.
"What?"
"We all have special abilities that are clearly needed for aid in the British Government. We've overcome Moriarty before, and I believe we could anyone else if it comes to it."
Tom considered disagreeing. "Yeah, but…what if we lose someone else?"
Nemo looked down at the message as all faces gloomed to the memory of Allan Quatermain's death. Tom, out of everyone, attached with Allan the most, so it wasn't a shock that he would grieve over it the largest.
Mina's eyes toughened at the table. "I still feel that we should check it out. Lives could be in danger."
After their past mission of saving many women, children and the scientists from Moriarty's force, most of the cabins were occupied by the dazed captives. Being they could hardly speak any English and only their native German, it was hard to communicate with them. The Nautilus was, at the moment, on their way to Germany with the purpose of liberating them.
Dr. Jekyll checked his pocket watch, fidgeting with the precious thing in a somewhat inconspicuous way to talk with his alter ego Edward Hyde.
"I'm in." he sighed.
Tom's face grieved more and more as the possibility sank into the room.
"It's gonna be too dangerous!"
Rodney Skinner turned his chair to face the American. "Sure it will. We get into danger all the time, it's what we do…I mean look at us!"
Tom looked at the properly dressed Henry, the lovely gowned Mina, the dutiful clothed Nemo, and his casual decent self.
"All right well look at me."
Tom smirked at the rogue's remark, then quickly disappearing. "Alright, I see your point. But we defeated Moriarty with six members, un-including Grey…" Mina's face raged at the thought of her past lover, who was for a time reunited, only to betray the league. Being only a set up, love seemed to be calm for the charming vampire.
"He's right. Five members might not be enough this time." Henry's eyes never lay off the pocket watch.
"I'm sure we'll figure something out." Mina said, graciously laying her hand atop Tom's shoulder.
Looking up to her, he seemed to bury his words into his hands, judging over his decision carefully. Hard enough to say no to Mina, the slight pressure of the league's decision, plus the progressively hard memory of Mongolia's memories, he simply nodded, and Nemo straightened his posture.
"So it's set." Calling for Patel, he gave him the notion to respond to Mr. Campion Bond; to assure him the league will make an effort to have a congregation in a few days.
Later—about 10:30 pm.
Tom laid on top his bed, tossing and turning under the sheets.
"Remember the flare…I'm off!"
"What?"
"Don't forget, you're the target!"
The memory of Italy's buildings falling dangerously close to the automobile; the pressure of saving the day upon him spread.
"And Sawyer?"
"He'll live to fight another day."
The touch of Mina's warm hand upon his cheek…
"Don't worry…I've had my full of throats for this evening."
Waiting in the cold of the Mongolian cave came into view of Tom's mind. Then flashbacks of the fall of the Great White Hunter and the killing of Professor James Moriarty.
"Let this new century be yours son…as the old one…was mine."
Standing over the corpse of his father figure in the African heat, saying goodbye for the last time, placing his Matilda atop his grave…
"Thanks."
The face of Allan Quatermain haunted Tom's mind…walking away from the grave…the pain of the dagger sent through his back…faster now…more and more images, bigger and bigger…clearer and clearer now…so real its as if he existed in the very room…
"Oh!" Tom woke up startled, sweat beading down his forehead. Getting up, he went into the small bathroom attached to his cabin. He turned on the faucet, and water cold as ice poured out, making its way into Tom's cupping hands and splashing his face. He traumatized at the icy water. He looked into the mirror, and saw not the young American face and the wispy blonde hairs, but the wrinkled lines and aged creases in the face of Allan Quatermain. He sighed. It's going to be a long night.
Not too far away
Dr. Henry Jekyll anxiously walked about his cabin, fidgeting with his pocket watch…yet again. He mumbled to himself as he paced frantically, really.
"This mission...I don't want to have to let you out, you will never use me again! And like Grey has said, then what use am I? Do they want you all the time? No, of course they don't. That's what I'm for. I'm a shell; your protection. I'm no use. The only use I am is when I'm helping out in the infirmary. And what respect do I get out of that? They ask for you, which is all they want…your strength. I'm losing control…"
Oh people don't respect you? Do they, now? What about the vampiress? Does she respect you? I know you feel for her, Henry. Everyone knows…
"No they don't. Tom and Rodney like her…well, Rodney would like anyone who is as lovely as Mina, but Tom definitely has feelings for her, I know it. And she knows it too. That's obvious."
Come on Henry…make a move. She wants us Henry…I can tell…Let me out…I told you once, I don't have to tell you again…she may barely look at you but she'd look at me…come on Henry…do it for Mina…
As the brute rambled on, the doctors eyes shifted from his pocket watch to his case of formulas, where his evil led him on. Slowly making his way to the box, he opened it slowly and met the small shiny, metal lock, reflecting the Edward's face.
Let me out…
Unlike last time, all vials were perfectly aligned and there. Henry took one out dead smack in the middle of the case, and held it carefully, being cautious not to drop it, and feeling the smoothness of it. Edward drifted on…the pressure rising. He released the cork of the bottle and…
A knock was heard at the door.
"Dr. Jekyll, are you in there? One of the German patients is in need of your service."
With a sigh, he corked the vial, gently placed it back in the case, and greeted Captain Nemo with a smile before closing the door behind him.