The Diaries of an Enigmatic Manipulator

A/N: Just as a quick note reminder, not a lot of people in the league know what Siyana does, except for Captain Nemo and Dorian Gray. In the recording disc, Gray mentions what he had stolen from Siyana, but still doesn't reveal what she does, exactly, to everyone else.

Also, thanks to everyone who have been reading The Diaries of an Enigmatic Manipulator and adding it to their favorites. It's such a treat to see the many members of an active audience. 

The Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, 1899

It is my time now…it is my time to die. I can see the light now; it shines greatly, far greater than anything I could have ever imagined. My mind is filled with luminosity, and I can feel nothing but a calm sensation surrounding my entire aura. I see nothing else but an increasing radiance. It is powerful…I feel powerful.

I sense a curing power come over me…my mind is in a state of heaven, where wrongs may so abide me.

Oh, do I undergo such a peace! I could have never asked for anything better!

And yet, it is an increasing condition of my mind I endure, which is still not at ease…a feeling I cannot shake; a darkness that will refuse to be set off to the light…

And it continues to fight. The light has overpowered me…I can feel it in my bones!

And yet, I had just moments ago believed in a sense I had not anymore belonged to my body, but my soul released to forever joy. But I can feel it all now…a slight sting to my left arm…a tender sore at my back…it is all coming back! I do not yet feel dead! I cry at the sorrow of leaving this forever radiance…and I say my farewell, until we meet again, my dear eternal slumber….

"OH!" I woke to the unfamiliar surroundings of the Nautilus infirmary. How is that I am still alive? They had taken my life just moments ago…

Only injured crewmembers surrounded me, dozing off to what I hoped was a peaceful slumber…and yet, only I was there, conscious of my surroundings.

I got up, quite calm…and yet, wary. Something was not right…

I realized I was still to be dressed in my golden-brown dress, my hair still within its long braid. How long had I been cataleptic? Was I truly even in the Nautilus at all…?

But as I sprinted down the glorious ship's halls, I found all of the busily working crew to be at their normal pace, and hurriedly searched for the league. I must say, I did all my best to try and remember the last thing I could…and I was able to faintly recall memories of our attempt to stop the Fantom's interference in Venice. I had stopped one of the good Captain's crewmen, praying to the Lord he spoke English.

"Excuse me, do you know where the league is?"

He seemed to know who I was. "Yes, the Captain and everyone else are in the dining room."

Dining room…I think I know where that is.

"Thank you!"

I ran towards my destination, only to be stopped by a piercing sound! I could not identify it, but it was a very high pitched, twittering sound! I and many of the crewmen around me had to cover our ears in attempt to block the sound! But, at the same time, I ran to the league. Perhaps they knew the cause of this sound!

I did eventually find the room I was looking for just moments before the piercing sound discontinued, and the league were indeed inside. As I entered the room, Dr. Jekyll gave me a wary look, and the Captain was putting on some kind of recording disc. I greeted the Doctor and the others with a simple nod, but they all seemed to turn to the phonograph, which soon played a very curious message.

A noise was being made. "Ready professor?" spoke an unidentified woman. "Recording."

"Gentlemen…if you're hearing this, then every step leading up to it has gone as planned." M spoke.

So the disc was a recording from M…was this the origin of the sound? What did he have to say? Oh, I had a strange feeling about this!

"And I have been true to the goals set to me….yes, it's me, Dorian. As you know by now, I'm no loyal son of the Empire. My loyalty to Mr. M comes in no small part from his possession...something I hold very dear to my heart...something I would do anything to regain."

How peculiar…what, exactly, did M acquire in which Mr. Gray had desired to reclaim? As well, at that moment Dr. Jekyll had made a strange notice of twinge of some sort…or, at least, that is what I presumed. Mrs. Harker had noticed it as well.

"Are you alright?" she asked him.

"My ears hurt. It's nothing."

M continued…

"Everything so far has been misdirection. Sanderson Reed, the assassins in Kenya, your recruitment and mission, the secret conference: a myth."

As I continued to listen to M's cutting words, my insides have felt as if they were growing lighter and lighter. I feared I would lose my eyesight again, but to my surprise, my vision stayed crystal clear….

"Even the league itself; there is no league. There never was. It was a ruse to get me closer to my goals."

I…I didn't know what to say! I just felt so used!

"He likes the sound of his own voice." Tom commented.

Yes, Mr. Sawyer…although I can assure confidence is something I strongly lack….

A hint of jealousy struck my mind just then.

"You see, I want you, each of you, even tired old Quatermain…because he'll capture Hyde whereas all others have failed."

I gave my sympathies towards Dr. Jekyll. And, though, as M spoke of wanting each of us, I couldn't help but feel bemused as to what M could gain from me. My capability to blind others I would suppose, but how on Earth would he be able to do such a thing?

"The question is why. Why all this mask and mystery? Because in the war to come, I intend to wield the greatest weapon of all: the power of the League itself."

W…what? But how…?

"To that end, I set my wolf among you sheep…."

"Growl." spoke Dorian, indicating he was the specified wolf. I could help but cock my eyebrow at his entertaining comment. And yet…oh, Mr. Gray had betrayed us so! It was in despicable! And…and I had followed Mr. Gray in Venice, only for my hopes of guidance to be pulverized!

"…who'll gain your trust, quietly lead you astray…." M said.

"And all the while I'll collect you…." Dorian said. Whatever did he mean by…collect? Collect as in assemble ourselves together as a league? But no, for as my questions were soon horridly confirmed…

"…the parts of you I need: Nemo's science,"

"Magnesium phosphorus…!" Mina spoke, and I glanced in her direction. As I did so, I also noticed Dr. Jekyll strangely and slowly walk towards a hanging black mirror…

But Mr. Gray continued his unspeakable revelation. "…Skinner's skin sample, Jekyll's potion, Siyana's genes, and Mina's blood."

My what? I looked down at my hand in which had been slashed in Venice, which, now, had been anonymously wrapped. Had…had Mr. Gray done that?

"He's stolen us…and we let him." Dr. Jekyll commented, with pure venom in his voice. I could not have agreed more! It is not fair for me to be unaware of my surroundings! If I had not been blinded so, I would not have let Mr. Dorian Gray slice my palm!

"If you fail to save Venice, then I get my war. And if you succeed, well, it's a small price to pay for Gray to go about his task." M spoke.

"War will come, sooner or later, as inevitable as summer into autumn."

Not if we are able to stop it! I fear the very thought of a world-wide war…I merely shivered! And I must say, I was quite impressed by my impervious bravery this evening!

"Now, some of you, perhaps Quatermain if he isn't dead, will pause to ask why I'm letting you know all this. What fool reveals his stratagem before the game is over?"

There was a pause, and I unsuccessfully attempted to contemplate the possibilities.

"It is over, for you..."

My heart sunk; my weight lifted.

"...because my voice isn't the only sound being made."

I feared the worst.

"While I've rambled on, a secondary layer of inaudible sound, higher than humans can hear, audible to dogs and lower animals, has been heard by crystal sensors dotted about your vessel…"

It was a distraction. This is all a distraction….

This ship was filled with...!

"Senses…attached…to bombs." Dorian spoke.

My eyes widened as the league and I looked at each other in horror.

A laugh was heard on the recording.

"'Bomb' voyage…"

I gasped. The Captain immediately smashed the phonograph on the floor. We all glared into each other's eyes for what we were convinced to be the last time as Nautilus shook in destruction.

The league and a few crewmembers fell to the left side of the room as the explosion went off. I, myself, hit the wall, and nearly bumped into Agent Sawyer. Oh…we were to die! We were to die! The Captain had struggled to climb out the dining room and to the control room, and the league and I followed.

And yet, my perception had increasingly, if not instantly gone white! I hugged the sides of the control room's wall as I prayed to the Lord.

Our father, who art in heaven…

"OUT OF THE WAY!" I heard to whom I thought was to be Nemo, shout.

"We have to surface!"

"We're taking in too much water! Controls are not responding!"

Oh good Lord, what are we to do? We are done forth, I say, DONE FORTH!

And just then, as I continued to pray and struggle to my lack of vision to such a dangerous situation, I began to tear.

I began to continue my prayer out loud (where it was more a mumble), for I believed we all could have used some words of hope.

"Give us this day, our daily bread, and give us those trespasses, as we forgive those who trespassed against us, and lead us not, into temptation, and deliver our sins from evil..."

I felt the sense that someone was listening to my words, or watching my attempt to pray besides my choking down the constant flow of tears.

"Primary engine room almost full!" I heard a man say. "Aft bulkhead open. Pump valves are jammed!"

"Seal it off!"

"But there are men in there, Captain!" I believed the man was to be a crewmember, then.

"For the greater good, we must seal it!"

I gave a heavy sigh, and prayed again for the soon-to-be-drowned crewmen. This time, I tried yet another prayer.

"Hail Mary, full of grace…"

"What are you talking about?" I heard someone shout. It sounded like the doctor. Was he concerned for the men as well?

As I prayed constantly, my aura began to feel a bit lighter. And so I prayed, and prayed, and prayed, all aloud, until to the point where I heard someone mumble.

"Siyana…you're…you're…glowing!"

I had stopped, and looked around for my speaker.

I had attempted to grope for them, and had nearly tripped and fallen before unidentified arms caught me.

"I have you, Siyana, I have you."

I believed them to be Agent Sawyer's words.

We had held on to each other for what I assumed to be eternity, simply waiting for our time to end; for the time in which the Nautilus would sink to the bottom of the ocean, and we would be stranded, if not drowned. I continued to pray for at least ten times, and then, out of nowhere, instead of feeling weightless by being pulled down by the pressure of the sea, I felt pressured against the wall very tightly as my heart raced in hope. This could have only meant one thing—the Nautilus was lifting! But who could have done this?

For the next minute or so as this feeling of hope and pressure occurred, my sight had slowly begun to return…I could make out certain images of people and thrown over furniture. As it came back even more, I was able to make out pipes and controls, then, more descriptively, leaking pipes and wrecked controls.

The ship had suddenly seemed to be weightless again, and then, we all fell under the pressure once more. The room had leveled off, and light seeped in through the windows.

We had surfaced.

I had smiled…actually smiled…and then, I began to laugh. Agent Sawyer, who I had been holding on to this entire time, laughed for joy as well. I was able to faintly see his smile. And, as I laughed harder, smiled wider, and regained my vision fully, I could surly see my skin give off such a golden radiance I have never seen before. I was, indeed, glowing.

The league and a few crewmembers, and soon enough, I began to pick up all fallen pieces of furniture and set them upright. I had looked around the room, to all the other members and looking to see if everyone was okay, and noticed Dr. Jekyll's absence. Where was he? Was he injured?

Soon enough, the good Doctor had walked in on us, dressed in dry clothes, hands behind his back.

He smiled. The other members seemed to give him a thankful glance, although mine was confused. Mr. Quatermain gave him a 'thumbs-up'.

"Let's not make a saint out of a sinner. Next time he may not be so helpful."

Whatever did he mean?

"Can we still follow Gray, or…?" he directed to Mr. Q.

Allan sighed. "Well, we were the faster, but now we're the tortoise to his hare." The good Doctor helped him reclaim a fallen chair.

"So we're done." he responded, disheartened.

"No…we're alive. If M has any ideas to the contrary that gives us an edge."

I whipped my head up to Agent Sawyer, who was nearly inches from me. He directed to the rest of the league; he even looked in my direction in which I nearly gave a concerned expression.

The Captain instead, gave a doubtful expression. Shaking his head, he spoke, "The sea is vast…he could be anywhere."

"Yeah, well, I'm an optimist. Now maybe that's a crime to you twist up so-and-so's, but it keeps me from going crazy." he said, matter-of-factly, whilst retrieving a fallen table.

I gave Agent Sawyer a slighted glare.

"You're optimism's out of place." Mina spoke, incredulously.

I nearly jumped as Tom Sawyer smacked a silver bottle upon the table. He eyed Mrs. Harker.

"You're wrong. Cause we'll get our man…."

Mr. Q sat down. We all seemed to be listening intently to Tom's words.

"…at least I will."

There was a pause, and I waited anxiously for him to continue.

"That other agent I told you about…was my childhood friend...."

I viewed the grief in his voice. At a glance, I saw Captain Nemo's sentimental appearance for his words. He seemed quite touched by it, as was I.

"…We were agents together…until the Fantom shot him dead." I could hear the pure venom in his voice!

"Now you can be done. But I am not. I will avenge his death."

I…I did not know what to say. Tom's words have touched me, and yet…

Dr. Jekyll walked in from out of the corner, shrugging his shoulders. "It's not about any one of us Tom…it's bigger than that." he spoke. Tom paced hastily to the Doctor.

"Yes it is, Jekyll." I feared Agent Sawyer was getting just a tad testy. Then he calmed;

"The fate of the world is in our hands…" he paused for us to look at each other. I eyed him, discretely, with eyes of reliance.

"…the world." He let us sink it in.

"So M tricked you. He brought you all together and you walked straight into his trap. But, the way that I see it, that was his big mistake. He brought you together."

His words of confidence were so…so uplifting!

"I mean, look at all of us. Before this league was assembled we would probably have never met each other. We've realized a lot more about each other than we could have possibly imagined. And M thought trying to trick us would pull us apart…but it's the complete opposite."

Tom lifted his arm, indicating to each one of us.

"Quatermain is the best one-shot hunter I've ever come across…and, and I don't think I've ever seen a ship as big as the Nautilus."

Mr. Q and the Captain gave appreciative glances.

"I've never met a vampire before…and seeing someone as brawn as Hyde will always make me think twice about how tough I think I am."

I saw Dr. Jekyll make an amused face.

"Even Siyana…she's one of the most hopeful women I've ever met, due to her ability to give off streams of powerful light."

I smiled in admiration; such sweet words!

"He brought us together." he repeated.

"And I'm not about to let him tear us apart."

There was a point as it all sank in, gleefully. "He has a point." Dr. Jekyll spoke, smiling. I smiled as well.

Mr. Quatermain inhaled; "So the boy becomes a man." he said descriptively.

Tom contemplated the tribute.

"Perhaps a leader of men…"

"And women…" Mrs. Harker suggested. I could not have said better words! And I smiled, knowing we were ready to take on anything the Fantom throws at us. We were ready to fight.

Just then, a crewmember burst through the door. "We're getting a signal!" he spoke.

A signal? Did he mean a message?

The league and I hurriedly followed the man to a small room. Inside, a crewmember was listening in onto a machine, and writing down its results.

"Morse code…" Mr. Q said, perceptibly.

"What's it say?" asked Mina.

""Hello my freaky darlings."" said the man, raising his eyebrows. Poor man must wonder what crazed fools we were to receive such messages! Ha!

And yet, this message sounded much like…

"Skinner?" Tom finished my thought.

The crewmember astonished us all. "Uh…hiding on board little fish…with Gray and M…East by Northeast…follow my lead."

A/N: Extra scene with Tom speaking before Skinner's message was a deleted scene, and then I added some extra words to his dialogue. (Starting from "I mean, look at all of us.", and ending at "And I'm not about to let him tear us apart.")