Jekyll and Skinner sat in the study, each with a vat filled with their drink of choice to capable to wiping clusters of brain cells on end. The second had arrived along with Judas and Logan just a few hours ago at Afternoon.
"I hoped this day wouldn't come." said Skinner as he took a sip of his whiskey.
"I can relate."
"We have all we need, don't we?"
"Yeah, better tell the troops."
They stepped out of the study and walked to the living room, banging on Logan and Bond's rooms as they passed them to alert them that a meeting is being held.
The seven were gathered in the living room soon, they appeared to know what was the point but still stayed silent.
"Gentlemen," said Skinner, not considering Natalya who stood next to Turkish who ignored her, "Our time has come. Our final battle is nearing."
Skinner paused to collect his thoughts, he almost looked like he was about to surrender and forget about the whole thing, but he went on.
"We'll attack tomorrow night."
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"Sutler," said Judas through his cell phone, "It's your snitch."
"Hello, Mr. Kemp. What news do you have?"
"Skinner has signed on an eighth member."
"What? Who is he?"
"His name is Tyler Durden, an American Anarchist with followers both in the states and in Britain. They're using his men to launch an attack against the Crawley facility two days from now at Dawn."
"I see. How many men do they have?"
"Fifty, give or take. Now, regarding Mr. Trick…"
"Just tell me the where and when."
"Midnight, at Warehouse sixty-four in the East London Docks. And in case you haven't figured it out, there will be hell to pay if you try to stiff me."
Judas hung the phone up and looked up at Skinner.
"Do you think he bought it?" asked Skinner.
"I think so."
"Here's to hoping."
Skinner then stepped back to address the rest of the Shadows,
"Here are your missions for tomorrow night. Jekyll will head with Max Zorba and his men to Crawley to destroy FATE's primary components and engage with the league's Agents, their majority will be there, due to the false tip that we've acquired the services of Tyler Durden, an Anarcho-terrorist, this will leave the rest of us safe enough to perform our missions back here in London, of course, some Agents will still be here to protect their bases. Natalya, you will head to Asgard corporations and sabotage the All-Seeing-Eye, Bond and Turkish, you will accompany her and protect her at all costs. Judas will be settling his unfinished business with Mr. Trick. Natalya, before your mission you will disable the League's security system, after that Logan and I will enter L.H.Q. to confront Dorian and whatever Agents are still present. Tanner and Monneypenny will supply Intel through sat-com for all of you. As far as each of you is concerned, if you are done with your mission, you will head to Heathrow Airport and board a plain heading for a different location, where you will take a flight to somewhere else and so on until we all regroup in Dublin a week from now, in ten day's time, if someone hadn't arrived, then that person has been killed or in case we fail, caught. If that happens, forget you ever met that person and don't attempt to rescue him."
Skinner paused again, looked blankly into space, smiled then turned back to the Shadows and said,
"Tomorrow night it all ends, with the league reduced to a heap of rubble or with all of us falling down. The first League was put together to further cause global unrest, and then progressed to be an instrument of the greater good. There were seven of us then and there are seven of us now. A Marksman, A Spy, A Scientist, a Vampire, Immortal as well as Jekyll and I. Call it Coincidence or Devine Humor. But I do know one thing, this is no fluke, this thing is beyond all of us, it has been in the works since the beginning. I believe this is our destiny, I believe it is our calling, tomorrow night holds the true purpose of our existence."
Emotions were high at the moment, a general feeling that was a mix of despair, melancholy, and urge to raise your fist and roar defiantly at the gods of injustice and the vicissitudes of Fate.
"You have from now till this time tomorrow for yourself, enjoy it cautiously, it may be your last."
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"Big Brother has unfortunately stopped listening to common sense and instead hangs on to every word the vampire feeds him," said Dorian, "But as you understand, I have my doubts."
They were all gathered in Dorian's office, Dr. Sebastian Cain, Ethan Rayne, Prof. Karl Kroenen, Kevin Trick, Elle Driver, Sheldon Sands, Silas, Caine Marko the Juggernaut, Sofie Fatale who was still reeling from Dorian's infidelity which she hadn't revealed to anyone, and a mysterious man who dressed in a hooded coat.
"Big Brother has dispatched the majority of Agents to Crawley to protect FATE, which I cannot prevent, it's done. I've ordered the rest of the Agents to be divided between here and Asgard. I've ordered the evacuation of this building for the next few days except for necessary staff. Silas and Ms. Driver, I will dispatch you to Asgard, Mr. Marko, you will head to Crawley incase Big Brother is right, Mr. Trick, Big Brother has requested that you investigate a matter by yourself in the East London Docks. It's time for us to end this pitiful coup once and for all."
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"Would you like to do something special?" asked Natalya as she stood by Turkish on the balcony, "Maybe go out for that dinner we never finished?"
"I'm not in the mood." answered Turkish bitterly.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing… I'm fine."
"No, you're not. You've been avoiding me like the plague, what's wrong?"
"It's a critical time; I don't think I need Skinner going father superior on me."
"No, that's not it. Did I do something wrong?"
"Wrong is in the eye of the beholder. And god knows I beheld."
"What? Talk like a normal person."
"I saw you kiss him, okay?" barked Turkish as he turned around to face her, "The night he made his grand return, I saw you kiss him in the study."
Natalya was completely shocked.
"You were spying on us?"
"Yes, I was spying on you."
"Well… It wasn't what it looked like, I was testing him."
"Testing him, for what? Tongue reflexes?"
"Skinner told me to kiss him to know if it was really him."
"And you accepted?"
"What was I supposed to do?"
"I don't know, I hear that 'Saying No' thing works."
"It was just a kiss!"
"You don't understand, I saw you! You weren't making sure it was him, you were kissing him, whatever feeling you ever had for him hadn't died out. You still have hopes for you two, maybe you still love him. In any event, I'll do the sporting thing and forget there was ever a possibility of us." said Turkish as he turned to leave.
"That's very rich coming from a man who won't say his real name!... Wait, Turkish! These may be the last days of our lives; do you really want to spend it like this?"
"Yes."
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Logan picked up the phone and dialed an international number; several rings later a voice answered him.
"Hello?"
"Hank? It's Logan."
"Logan! Good to hear from you. God, we were starting to worry. Where are you?"
"London. I'll be back in about two weeks."
"Good to know. Are you alright?"
"You know me, I'm a survivor. How are the kids?"
"The kids are fine; Rogue is finally coming to terms with the resurgence of her powers."
"How about Kitty and Peter and the Swedish kid with the forehead?"
"chuckle The kids are fine, Logan, are you sure you're alright?"
"I am, I just… I'm having these issues right here; there is something that I have to do that have to be done. And I… Just forget it. Take care of the kids, Doc. And if two weeks pass and I'm not back, don't come looking for me, don't throw me a service, just let the kids know that I did what I had to do and lived like I always did."
"Logan, I think-"
"Goodbye, Hank."
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Soho, London
Sofie Fatale and Skinner sat in a coffee shop each by himself, no Agents, no shadows. Just a man and a woman with a deal and a pair of coffee mugs.
"I have to say, I'm sorry I had to resort to such measures." said Skinner as he sipped the black liquid comfort.
"What kind of measures? Devious? Cheap? Low?"
"Yes, those are accurate descriptions. You see, I'm not one to play fair, I'm a kick-them-in-the-groin, pull-their-hair and sucker-punch-them kind of guy. And truth be told, I did enjoy imagining the expression you got when you received those photos. It could have been worst, I could have posted them on the internet."
"Why do you assume I'll help you?"
"Because you'd do it yourself if you could. That's the magical effect Dorian has on people, women especially; He makes them trust him, admire him, love him, and hate him once they see past that amazing jaw and wonderful complexion of his. Dorian was never the commitment type, he collects carnal encounters with all things human, female and alive, actually I've heard some rumors regarding the female part, but that's not the point. I'm sure you're quit the lioness in the barn, but for Dorian, there is nothing such as an only cu-"
"You've made your point clear!"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to gloat. It's just the effect of spending decades in and on the hunt as both predator and prey, it's nice to see the bad guys having relationship trouble."
"You still haven't answered my question, why do you assume I'm willing to betray the League?"
"I'm not asking you to betray the League, just Dorian."
"But why do you assume I'd betray him over his betrayal?"
"Well, I'm not surrounded by Agents with guns and handcuffs am I? It looks like a great deal from where I'm sitting, to be frank. You live up to your end of the bargain and we'll take care of Dorian, should we fail, nobody will be any kind or sort of wiser. In the minute, infinitesimal chance that we win, then there is no guarantee we'll beat the rest of you lot. And in the insane possibility that we actually do win in all aspects. Then we'll let you go, no harm, no foul."
"And when are you planning on attacking exactly?" asked Sofie, she already new the answer but was testing him.
"Ha! That's for me to know and for you to be shocked with, so, do we have an accord?"
"Yes."
"Good. Now, if the lady will excuse me, I have to fuck off."
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20 Hours Later…
The day passed too slowly for all parties concerned, and neither did enjoy it as they should have, they mostly went over final details and preparations. The sole exception was Judas, who started the day with a peppered stake, then went on a bender and sealed the twenty four hours with a visit to a whore house where he indulged in carnal relaxation with more women than humanly possible.
It was ten O'clock, time for the Mutiny to begin, they all gathered in the living room as two cars waited outside as well as Max Zorba's.
It was emotional, though none expressed it in anyway. They had bonded greatly through the past months and came to care greatly about each other, and now it was all hanging in the balance.
"Alas," started Skinner, "My friends, It's time to say goodbye. For this will most likely be the last time all of us will be alive in each others' presence. We all come from different places, yesterdays, and denominations. But we've all arrived at the same place. Some of you perhaps don't believe in God, but praying never hurt anyway did it? And so, I would like to lead you in a prayer if you don't mind."
Nobody seemed to object so Skinner began,
"Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host by the Divine Power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls…Amen."
"Amen."
"Amen."
"Amen."
"Amen."
"Amen."
"Amen."
Two tears streamed down Jekyll's cheek.
"Alright," said Skinner with a choked voice, "No more sentimental speeches. Once more unto the breach dear friends."
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R&R.