Natalya, Jekyll and Judas, who was covered with a cloak got out of the cab and walked up the stairs to their house.
Walking through the door, they were met by Logan and Turkish, both looked upset.
"Whose this?" asked Logan, gesturing towards Judas who took of his cloak.
"Jude Kemp, he's a vampire, and our newest recruit."
"Hello." greeted Judas dryly.
"These are Logan and Turkish."
"Are you alright?" Turkish asked Natalya.
"I'm fine. But.. Is something wrong?"
There was a long pause.
"McGregor is dead."
--------------------
Jekyll, Skinner, Natalya, Logan and Judas stood above the Themes on Westminister Bridge after sunset. An urn filled with McGregor's ashes was with the Skinner.
Two black cars pulled up on the other side of the square, and those in it stepped out and started walking slowly towards the Anti-League.
Skinner opened the urn and let the ash fly in the summer wind towards the waters, while he mumbled silently, "'Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of the death, I will fear no evil; for though art with me, Old friend.'"
The men had earlier returned to the ally, where they took McGregor's body and took it to a mortuary where he was cremated. Then came here to send him off.
"Very touching, this is."
The pompous tone could mean only one thing for Jekyll and Skinner. They all turned around to see who it was.
"The vengeful compatriots bidding farewell to their fallen brother." said Dorian mockingly.
The two opposing factions stood opposite each other, Dorian had Elle Driver, Miguel Bain, Mr. Trick and Ethan Rayne at his sides. Dorian held an umbrella in his hands.
"Dorian."
"Skinner," said Dorian in a greeting, "Jekyll. It's been a long time."
"Not long enough to make us shed the urge to choke you to death." Jekyll barked.
Dorian ignored the last remark faced Logan and said, "James. I see you haven't changed, much like myself."
There was a silent moment where everyone was either feeling smug or feeling rage boil up inside them.
"What did you think, Skinner? Did you honestly believe that you'd kill my agents, find a way to kill me, blow my building up? And with what? A spy who can't pass a hamburger to save his life and some hired thugs?"
"I will, Gray. If it takes the last drop of my blood, I will end you."
"Yes. You could try of course, but you won't achieve anything. You see Skinner, there are two types of people as far as the League is concerned. Those who are worth a damn, and those who aren't. You see, If you and Jekyll were of the first category, then your government which you served so loyally wouldn't have sprayed you with bacterium. The fact that you both survived means only that you are more like roaches than I imagined. But in any event, There is one conclusion to you lot; you get crushed. I mean, you didn't even wonder how come Fat Bastard's body was still in that ally, you didn't notice that we put a tracker on him. If you did then you wouldn't have been in this situation. But you can't help it, can you? Because you're simply worth Fuck all!"
Wolverine's anger reached a peak at that instant and his claws tore out of his arms, Judas bared his fangs prepared to attack Mr. Trick. Natalya glimpsed Jekyll's eyes as they turned hazel and realized he was preparing to change.
Trick bore his fangs as well, Dorian pulled his sword out of his umbrella, Miguel and Elle raised their guns. While Ethan preferred to step back and let the others do the fighting.
"Looks like it's all going to end here, is it? No master plans, no ambush, no-"
Dorian fell to the ground, the members of the League looked in astonishment as Dorian was healing from a bullet hole in the neck that would have killed him had he not been Immortal.
"Restrain yourselves." said Dorian as he got up.
"Let me take them," said Bain as he pulled back the hammer of his gun, "I'll kill them like I did to their fat friend."
"Don't." ordered Dorian sternly.
"Incidentally, Dorian. I did think it was add how McGregor's body was still in that ally. And I didn't even have to touch him to know the tracker was in his armpit. And that was one of my men who just killed you, and if you so as much as cough in my direction, he will fire again. And believe me when I say it will hit someone who will not be able to recover from it, perhaps it will be Mr. Rayne or Miss Driver, or even your lover Miss Fatale sitting in that car over there." Skinner said as he pointed at the black car parked a great distance away.
"So you see, Dorian." started Jekyll, "We're going to walk out of here alive, and there is nothing you can do about it. Because when It comes down to it, you're still just the conceited nancy boy you always were who couldn't scratch the surface, and it is you who is worth Fuck All!"
"You don't know what you've got yourself into." said Dorian, "I won't rest till all six of your heads are tossed to my dogs."
"We expect nothing less of you, because we plan to see this till the bitter end."
Dorian turned around and walked away while his Operative stood there for a second. Judas gave Trick the finer saying, "We have unfinished business, Arsehole."
"We sure do, peckerwood." retorted Trick.
The two factions started to walk away in opposite directions.
"Let them leave." said Dorian into a microphone in his sleeve, addressing some Agents that were at the location, "But follow them back."
"That spell you did," said Dorian, "Will it affect the sniper as well?"
"If he meets with them before they return home, it will pass on to him as well." said Rayne.
"Good."
They reached to their cars, Dorian got into the back seat of his and spoke to Sofie.
"Did you see a gunman by any chance?" asked Dorian.
"No. Why?"
"No reason. I need you to recall Sands, Cain and Kroenen. I need them back here soon. Also, we might increase the roaster, I need the Eye to provide a list of candidates."
"What about the surprise that's at their home?"
"It will take care of them, but I fear there are more Shadows on the way."
----------------------------------------
The six had managed to regroup and head home, and along the way they had started arguing about what to do next.
They had gathered in the den, loudly discussing matters, Judas stood in the doorway staring ahead blankly.
"You know what's going to happen, right? said Jekyll.
"Hellfire and Damnation? I figured so." said Skinner.
"They definitely followed us here." commented Jekyll.
"But why haven't they attacked now that Turkish is not a threat?" asked Natalya.
"A siege?" Turkish speculated.
"Perhaps, they're probably lurking outside."
"Guys." said Judas, but no one paid any attention.
"I guess all those bombs and guns will come in handy, huh?" Logan said, addressing Turkish.
"Looks like."
"We can't afford to clash with the League at this point. We better be looking for some new quarters, maybe even leave the city for a while."
"You're no seriously suggesting it, are you?"
"Guys." Judas repeated, to no avail.
"What if there is a siege, what if they suddenly attack us?"
"We have a solution for that actually."
"Guys!" yelled Judas.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"What?" Jekyll asked.
"There is a bomb over there!"
They looked at where he was looking, it was a completely empty space.
"What are you talking about, it's an empty space!" said Logan.
"Look, I'm telling you, there is a timed bomb over there, and it's counting down from ninety seconds!"
Silence fell on the group for several moments.
"Son of a bitch!" said Skinner, "Ethan Rayne must have cast a spell on us. Judas wasn't affected on count of his vampirism."
"Seventy seconds."
Again, they were frozen. Not knowing what to do. Skinner looked out the window and spotted several Agents with their guns drawn, preparing to kill any one who escapes.
"Christ, they're there!"
"Sixty seconds."
They all snapped out of it. Judas looked for his sword, Jekyll and Skinner collected the important files and papers while Turkish got his rifle, Natalya went to get her lap top.
"I'll need help with the new computer." she said.
"Forget about it." said Judas, "There are forty seconds left."
"Logan..." said Jekyll, and the mutant got the message and headed to where the computer was to get it.
Natalya, Judas, Jekyll and Turkish followed Skinner to a storage room where after pulling a brick on the wall, a stair leading underground was exposed, they descended down it and reached a tunnel and they ran for their lives.
The explosion was deafening and rocked the underground tunnel, but they kept going till the shacking stopped.
They sat in the abandoned tunnel, covered in sweat and dust from the debris when a figure advanced towards them.
Logan's upper half was badly burned, the explosion had rendered him almost featureless, but he was miraculously healing at a remarkable speed.
As he reached them, the last bit of scorched tissue faded, and he handed the computer CPU to Natalya.
"Thank you." she said, but he was too angry to respond.
For twenty minutes, complete silence fell upon the group as they sat in the poorly ventilated tunnel.
"You know," started Judas, "At some point, one of us should say: What next?"
"Is there a way out of here besides the house?" asked Natalya.
"Yes. The tunnel leads to the confessional booth of a church." said Skinner.
"Then what are we waiting for?" asked Logan, "Why don't we get moving?"
"To what purpose?" said Skinner with an angry tone, "They exposed us! It's all over!"
Skinner got up and so did Jekyll.
"It's all pointless, you know. You're not likely to find out who you were, not from them anyway." Skinner said,
"Skinner, you need to calm down for us to think-" Jekyll was saying before Skinner interrupted.
"We have no guns, no house, we've lost the element of surprise, and London will be crawling with Agents looking for us. I think I've come back to my senses and I'm going to leave this country."
"Just like that, eh?" said Judas, "I'm not through the door for ten hours and you're preparing to throw in the towel?"
"Listen, Judas. I don't know you, I don't like you, and I don't trust you. So don't start passing judgment on me."
Judas rolled his eyes as Skinner went on, saying, "For a Hundred years I thought of nothing except my Vendetta. I've planned, bribed, cajoled, threatened and promised. And now I realize it's all was for nothing because my vengeance is unattainable, so shut your mouth!"
"Skinner, you better calm down before you say something you'll regret saying later." said Jekyll.
"Being too sincere isn't my main concern at the moment. It's staying alive."
"We've come this far, we can't stop."
"You've forgot whose calling the shots, Henry. And I say it's all off, so you all forget about it."
"You'd better reconsider," said Jekyll sternly, "Because if you don't lead them. Then I will."
Skinner grinned mockingly.
"You will lead them? Excuse me while I roll on the floor and split my side laughing." scoffed Skinner, "But what do you think about it, Men. Would you want to be lead by an Alcoholic whose been out of a job and boozing for the last thirty years?"
"What did you say?" said a wide eyed Jekyll.
"You think I hadn't noticed how you can't go through the day without having seven vats of scotch in you? You're pathetic Jekyll, Just like Dorian said."
"Son of a Bitch!"
Jekyll punched Skinner to the ground.
"This looks exciting." said Judas with a smile, while everybody else didn't know how to react.
Skinner got up and punched Jekyll back, who retaliated by burying his shoulder into Jekyll's sternum and shoving him into a wall.
"Stop it." said Natalya as Jekyll shoved Skinner face first into a wall, "You're going to kill him."
"Don't worry," said Jekyll as he punched Skinner in the kidneys, "I won't change. I'm perfectly able to hand him his arse on my own."
Jekyll went on dominating for thirty seconds or so before, Skinner exploded with a punch to the jaw and knocked the Doctor down, then went on to kick him in the sides. Jekyll soon caught his foot and pulled him to the ground.
"Isn't anyone going to do anything?" said Natalya.
Turkish and Logan were not very enthused, but got up and separated them.
"Turkish," barked Skinner, "let me go!"
Logan held Jekyll back tightly, as the latter said,
"I can't believe it, After all these years, when I had started to forget, you start the record again, 'Oh, It's for Nemo, Mina and all our mates!' you say, and I'm daft enough to fall for it. And as usual, when the shit hit's the fan, you're the first one to bail on your friends."
"What are you going on about?" asked Skinner.
"I'm talking about 1904! You walked out on me to try and get some payback, and left me alone for years when I needed a friend. You may have been perfectly been able to mourn on your own. But I could've used a friend back then."
"What happened in 1904?" asked Judas.
"We don't know." replied Logan.
"I may not be the man I used to be, Skinner. I may be a pathetic drunk. But at least I was there every time you needed my help for the past century. When you were dieing of a knife to your stomach I saved you. When you were rotting in prison I tore down the walls with my fists so you could escape. I even found the scientist who cured you of your invisibility. I've been by far a better friend to you than you were to me."
Jekyll had seemed to calm down a bit and so did Skinner, so Turkish and Logan let them go but stayed close to keep another brawl from japanning. Skinner was surprised at what he was hearing.
"Well why didn't you say something," started Skinner, "If I'd knew... Ah, sod it, Jekyll. We're starting to sound like a lesbian couple!"
Skinner then chuckled nervously, but no one was feeling humorous.
"I'm... I'm sorry, Henry. I had no idea, I guess I've always been a lone wolf, I thought you wanted your space as well."
"Well, you were wrong."
"Jeez. Are they always like this? I think I've stumbled into an estrogen raddled rebellion." Judas said under his breath.
"Yes, I see that now. Look, that shit about I said about you being pathetic, that was just the panic talking... You can outsmart me with half your brain tied behind your back, I know that."
"Get your head out of my arse, Skinner!" Jekyll said, "I don't give a tripe about what anyone thinks of me. That's not important right now. What's important is where we go from here.
"I didn't have anything going on before you returned. You have gotten me out of my rut, and I thank you for that. For the first time in years, I actually feel something. I'm not going to quit, If you want to leave, then go ahead, but that'll be the end of it. I'll lead what's left, and you will never talk about Vendetta anymore. So make your choice, right here, right now."
Skinner was sweating bullets by this point, he realized the severity of the ultimatum, and he didn't take too long to make up his mind.
"Okay." he said.
"Okay... What?" said Jekyll.
"I'm in it till the bitter end."
"Oh, good. Then we should leave." said Jekyll.
The six walked through the tunnel, "Where to?" asked Judas.
"We're leaving the country." said Jekyll, "We'll leave England to reevaluate our plans, we'll have to make a fresh start."
"But we'll be back, right?"
"Yeah," said Skinner, "We'll be back."