Chapter 4
"So what's the next port of call?" asked Dorian as they walked down towards the docks.
"Paris. Just one last member to recruit." said Nemo.
"Capture is more the word." said Allan. "And it will be quite a hunt."
"You make him sound like some kind of animal." said Mina.
"Oh, and speaking thus, Mrs. Harker, your conduct, uh, a moment ago?" asked Allan with a smile.
"Indeed." said Skinner. "We were all aquiver with curiosity."
Mina walked ahead of everyone, gripping her gloves, trying to tell her tale. Layla leaned up against the wall that was behind her as Sawyer stood next to her.
"Well," she paused, "My husband was Jonathan Harker. Together with a professor named Van Helsing, we fought a dangerous evil. It had a name, Dracula. He was Transylvanian."
"Mmm. European?" asked Skinner. "One of those radicals the newspapers love to report on?"
"I don't know, Mr. Skinner. Is the vampiric sucking of people's blood radical behavior?" she asked as she showed everyone her marks on her neck.
Skinner put his head down as Mina fixed her collar.
"Ahh." said Nemo. "Our transportation is forthcoming."
"A boat?" asked Sawyer.
"It travels on water, if that's what you mean." replied Nemo.
They all walked to the edge of the dock where bubbles were coming up from the surface.
"And beneath it." finished Nemo.
A huge monsterous machine rose from the water, towering over them at great heights. Everyone's heads were turned upwards, gazing at the size of the object before them.
"Wow." said Layla.
"I'll say." replied Sawyer.
"Behold, Nautilus, the sword of the ocean." said Nemo. "Next stop, Paris."
They arrived in Paris sooner than they had thought, and know they were running through the streets, trying to track down their last member.
Allan, Layla, and Sawyer were running through the back streets, hot on it's trail.
"I don't see what we need a big monkey for." said Sawyer. Layla laughed a bit but shut up when she saw the glare from her father.
"This big monkey has terrorized the Rue Morgue for months. Imagine the mayhem he'll give the enemy." laughed Allan.
They saw the monkey on top of the building and Allan shot at him.
"You missed." said Sawyer.
"He's not trying to hit him." said Layla.
"Turn left, Mr. Hyde." said Allan as he shot his rifle, making Hyde turn left.
They ran after him, through the back alleys as Hyde jumped from roof to roof.
"Make him turn left, boy." said Allan.
They were running through the streets, Sawyer shooting his guns at Hyde, trying to make him turn left, and failing miserably. Allan grabbed his arms and pulled them down.
"If you can't do it with one bullet, don't do it at all." said Allan.
Allan shot the rifle, causing Hyde to turn around.
"He's doubled back." stated Sawyer.
"Precisely." said Allan. "Come on!"
They were hot on his tail as Hyde ran above them. Sawyer went to shoot but didn't see the piece of roof headed straight for him.
"Look out!" shouted Layla.
They both collided into the side of a building.
"That was naughty." she said.
"Thanks." said Sawyer.
"Eyes open, boy, hmm?" said Allan. "She can't protect you all the time."
They stood against the building when Allan sniffed.
"He's afraid." he said.
"I can't smell anything." said Sawyer.
Allan ran out into the middle of the street and shot his rifle, causing Hyde to stop in his tracks. He shot two more times, causing Hyde to jump to another roof. The roof unfortunately was shot and came down, pulling Hyde along with it.
Allan shot off the flare gun letting everyone know that they had him. The net caught Hyde and dragged him straight to the Nautilus.
"Perfect. Welcome aboard, Mr. Hyde." said Allan.
Allan walked towards the ship while Sawyer picked up Hyde's hat.
"I don't think it's your size." said Layla as she walked past him.
"Ha ha, funny." replied Sawyer.
He followed her towards the ship and boarded. They walked down below to where Hyde was being held. Everyone seemed to have heard the ruckus because they soon followed.
"Hello, Dorian." said Skinner as he met him in the hallway. "The great white hunter's bagged his prize."
They walked up to the door to see a man being thrown out.
"Or the prize bagged him." said Dorian.
They walked in to find Allan, Layla and Sawyer already there, along with Nemo trying to get the big monster under control.
"Stay back if you value your life." said Allan.
Men were prodding the monster and ended up on the floor somewhere. One knocked Skinner over which allowed Dorian to help him up.
"Ow! You scratched me." said Skinner.
"Better me than him." said Dorian. Dorian turned towards where the monster was being chained. "Well, this is nice."
"Mr. Hyde, you've done terrible things in England. So terrible that you fled the country. And I'm ashamed to say that Her Majesty's government is willing to offer you amnesty, in return for your services." said Allan. Hyde took in a deep breathe as he glared at Allan. "Do you want to go home?"
"Home. Home is where the heart is. That's what they say. And I have been missing London so. Its sorrow is as sweet to me as a rare wine. I'm yours." said Hyde.
Hyde looked towards Sawyer.
"Don't be afraid." he said.
"Who says I'm afraid?" said Sawyer.
"You do!" yelled Hyde as he ripped off a chain and sent it flying towards Sawyer. Layla and Sawyer ducked just in time, or else they wouldn't have a head.
"You stink of fear!" yelled Hyde.
"Quite the parlor trick." said Dorian.
"You wait till you see my next one." said Hyde.
He began groaning and thrashing around. His body began to grow smaller and smaller, making him resemble more a man than a monster. Soon he was nothing but a skinny little man who went by the name of,
"Dr. Jekyll, at your service." he said, holding up his pants.
"So, the league is set." said Allan.
There was ticking heard as Nemo pulled a strip of paper from the wall.
"So is the date for the conference. We have three days." said Nemo.
"Three days." said Layla and Sawyer in unison.
"Can this canoe do that?" finished Sawyer.
"You underestimate the Nautilus, sir." said Nemo. "You underestimate her greatly."
Everyone was above deck, enjoying the fresh air as much as possible. Mina stood at one end of the deck, while Dorian and Skinner were at the other. Layla sat in a chair, feet propped up onto the railing, her face drowned into a book. Sawyer and Allan stood a few feet away, Allan looking out over the ocean, and Sawyer looking towards Layla and Mina, but was more focused on Layla.
"She's out of your league." said Allan.
Sawyer looked to where Dorian walked up to Mina. A few words were exchanged and Mina went to walk inside.
"Fortune rewards the bold." said Sawyer. He walked up to Mina as she approached the door. "If you require any help during the voyage, Mrs. Harker, just let me know."
"I'm curious how you think you'll assist me, Agent Sawyer." said Mina.
Layla being the curious one she was, raised her eyes from her book, focusing in on the situation.
"Heavy lifting." said Sawyer. He turned the wheel for the door, pulling it open for Mina. "Light banter. I'm a useful kind of guy."
"You're sweet, and you're young. Neither are traits that I hold in high regard." said Mina as she ducked inside.
Layla tried to stifle a giggle but didn't prevail. She covered her face with her book and tried not to make herself obvious.
Dorian walked by and gave Sawyer a light pat.
"The solar panels are fully charged." said Nemo. "We'll be diving in a moment."
Layla got up from her seat and followed Sawyer into the stairwell. Following her was her father, Mr. Jekyll, Skinner, and then Nemo.
"You know, maybe if your bold about something else, your fortunes will come from somewhere else." stated Layla.
Sawyer turned and looked at her. She had her hair down which was slightly wind blown, and had her book tucked up underneath her arm.
"That makes no sense." replied Sawyer.
"Of course it does. Maybe Mina isn't the one you should be so bold towards. If you catch my drift." she said. "Good day Agent Sawyer."
And with that, Layla turned and walked towards her room, the feeling of Sawyer's eyes burning into the back of her as she walked down the hall.
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