Chapter 5 – The mission
Coming out of the shadows is a middle age, glasses wearing, overdressed for the season man.
"Ah Steed," Champion holds his arm out to signal him sit down at the other end of the table.
The seats in the middle get fill with Henry with Nemo to his right nearest and Skinner across from both of them.
Knowing Mina sitting next to Skinner would be lead to bickering, Tom sat in the empty chair near him allowing his lover to sit across him.
Mina, sitting her bag on the table, unbuttons the top part of her coat to allow some air circulation. Seeing the bite wound Champion gave a slight uncomforting on his face as he passes her for his chair at the other end.
After a moment of cold silence both Nemo and Steed went to speak first but both stop given the other a respectful opportunity for the first word.
"You first captain," Steed nods casually for him to go on.
"Thank You, we were confused for quit a while, the empire had assigned all of us to be this league, but not a word since Professor James Moriaty-"
"-I was begging to think I was invisible to the whole parliamentary," Skinner ads cutting Nemo off they can get straight to the point of being here.
"Yes you have our deepest apologies, many things have delayed us in taking advantage on your talents," Steed's stares away from Nemo to the other members. "Starting this year, captain, the empires will begging negotiations with India. That took time along with the doctors pardon for return to England."
Henry purposely avoids eye contact with Steed and keeps his stare down at the table seeing Hyde's reflection smiling back off of the varnish hardwood.
"And as I mentioned we had much to do on rights of using Agent Sawyer's abilities," Champion adds causing Tom to become uncomfortable.
The agent shifts his eyes around to see everyone staring down the table at him. He was able to brush them off, but not the arch eyebrow coming for him from across the table. His instincts took over telling him he to play it calm.
Before he could let out a word Skinner had to throw in his half a penny comment, "Sooo Tommy…..hiding anything?"
"Yes for good reason." Tom answers back in a serious tone.
"And please give us those reasons," Mina asks strongly but seductively to cover angry she could be holding. Her ability to do that always amazed him.
"I would Mi….everyone but it's a need to know basses-"
"- which we have applied for all of you. But considering everyone in this room haves questionable records, it will take some time." Steed says in Tom's defense.
"Can we get the real issues now," Tom says wanting to get off subject of him.
"Yes lets," Champion stands up and walks to a clock gear to move it counter clockwise until 10 o'clock. It releases a bright white screen from above them and hangs at the end of the table. He then moves the same gear clockwise to six o'clock making the lights dim. Nemo and Tom, on habit, look around them in case there are any unexpected surprises.
Flickering noise following a light beam aims on to the screen, showing a filmstrip of newspapers across the world with English subtitles. "Every nation in Europe has shared a pattern of a virus. Nothing hitting mass murder-"
"Yet?" Jekyll gives his attention in the subject of sickness that he knows very well from his early years.
"Yes doctor," Champion continues. "But it has been effecting where it counts the most yet at the same time, not very obvious to the average person."
The filmstrip shows the third paper from Germany as Mina catches on, "Only distant relations to royal families have been infected."
"All in good timing," Tom adds on to her, it was very natural that the two compliment each other in riddles. "I might not know much about the chain of royalty, but these victimizes are a distance away from a crown."
"None that I have notice have children yet. Either the sick are newly married or engaged." Mina looks at Tom with a hidden smile behind her eyes, she enjoys when they solve minds games, but her thought change to a gasp on the last newspaper. "Countess Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon Falls Ill."
"You are quit right about most of that theory Mrs. Harker, but as you just read," Champion leans against the table corner far from her. "But our own royal victim has eight children already and rumored on her ninth."
"But her children are not in line either," Mina points out while her mind tries to wrap around it.
"The next part of the film I may warn you is disturbing," Champion begging to walk around the table again this time folding his hands behind his back.
Nemo remained silent as he did not share any sympathy for the empire, as it was them who have his people inslaved. The logical side of him, fought with his emotions, on the conclusion that this not be way for his country to earn it's independence. It would leave it weak without order and open to any one else to come in and take over.
The next visual on screen was of one sick person who was lying in bed having a seazier, "This is the only non government and royal relation that conceived the virus. He was the Bowes-Lyon's stable hand at a cottage in Kingstone."
"Was she there at the time she was infected," Tom asks keeping a numb face while watching the footage that keeps showing more stages of the sickness until death.
"I am not completely sure but the body of this stable hand we've kept in great security as we are not sure how this virus spreads." Champion looks at Henry, "There is a very good nurse that has helped us in other cases, we had hope you two may come together and perform an autopsy."
"Yes," Henry face shows some confusion in the nurse part, "where will this be performed."
"Your old lecture hall" Champion smiles and leaves the Henry in his own shock and turns to Nemo. "We need someone ready to leave for shore at moments notice if we locate the mad men behind this and a cure."
"I need a map to direct me to the cottage. I want search for a lead," Tom speaks up before Champion could order him around.
"I believe it will be of help if I were to join," Mina's hand subconsciously wraps her hand around the bags handle, "A chemist is a good thing to have in case we find what contaminated these victims."
"The plan was for you to stay here and study what doctor Jekyll finds," Champion immediately cuts Mina's plan down.
"Actually I may use Mina's equipment on board of the ship and I could do it," Jekyll takes control away from Champion and sides with Mina, "her going to the source would be of great help."
"Then I don't think there is a reason she shouldn't," Steed ends the undertone argument.
"Yes, well Steed from here on the rest is yours," Champion hands the discussion to Steed as he walks into the lift and closes it in rude manor after turning around, "I have a meeting with Mr. Holmes upstairs."
"Can't stand not being the boss huh?" Skinner smirks as everyone turns his or her attention from the lift door to Steed.
Steed did not want to comment back, "Well I have been assigned as your 'Overseer' I guess you would say. As the night is befallen us soon with another layer of snow coming, I suggest we ajar this meeting and start our game plan tomorrow. Nemo I will go with you and take up room onboard."
Nemo nods his head and along with the other members rise out of their chairs, "I will give you a tour on board then."
"I would very much enjoy that," Steed smile relates to that of a little boy as he first enters the lift after it's return.
"This fella seems more laid back that the other one," Skinner whispers over to Tom as they were the last two to enter the lift.
After the lift descends up, there is nose of unseen movement from a scaffold above the table right before the sound of the clock striking at the even hour.