Chap. 2

Enough time had passed that finding patterns on the ceiling had become duller than it had been when I began. I resumed staring at the files for nothing better to do, and noted they had yet to change since the first time I saw them move. I breathed in sharply through my nose as something brushed my shirt, I stepped back quickly only to see there was nothing there. I glared at the spot where I had been touched for a long moment, before Captains hand was on my shoulder. I looked up quickly and told him it was nothing quickly. He did not seem to believe me, and he motioned for me to follow as he walked around the corner and disappeared among the rows of bookshelves.

I quickly followed, staring at all the spines along the rows of books. They seemed never ending, and my hands ached to take them and explore their covers. Reading, it was one of the things not wrong with me. I loved to read almost as much as I loved working in the engine room with the crew; almost as much as sparing with Captain. Whatever Captain was looking for, he seemed to find it, or maybe he gave up. Either way, he smiled down at me and put his hand on my shoulder again, and directed me back the way we came. We were but a turn from the hall we had entered at the start of this 'meeting,' when the door opened and two men walked in, and Captain halted, which I imitated.

Black suit and cap was the attire of the first man to enter, and he took the coat of the other man obligingly, without a word. Grey hair and beard, dressed as I had only seen in books and from a distance, the second man entered cautiously as the first disappeared behind closed doors. The man was familiar, so very familiar, as though I had seen him thus before. My brow nit together as I tried to remember where I had seen this man before, but to no avail.

A tapping broke my concentration, and my eyes darted to where M sat. The sudden sound was uncommonly loud after so long a silence, and the man seemed to tense, "I don't like theatrics," his grizzled voice topped with accent came.

"After Africa's veldts, London's weather isn't helping your mood, I see." M's almost curt response came almost instantly, and it obviously was not the one the familiar man wanted. "Identify yourself," he said, and a moment later the halls illuminated with light, and M stated, "I'm known by many names, Mr. Quatermain."

I almost gasped aloud at his name. I suddenly remembered just where I had seen him from. A book from long ago, a book all of the legend of Allen Quatermain. My hand was clasped over my mouth, my eyes wide. By the time Captains hand shaking my shoulder shocked me from my amazement, I had already missed the introductions. Now, it seemed as though M was, 'kissing Quatermain's ass.'

"I must say, the delight is mine, meeting so notable a recruit...to this newest generation of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." Quatermain was apparently as confused as I, for I knew we would be meeting other notables, but I did not know they would have a name. I was relieved the duty of asking Captain when Quatermain said, "League of what?"

"There have been times when a danger upon the world, required the services of singular individuals." I looked up at Captain with wide eyes, my eyebrows raised, head tilted. My own personal sign of confusion, to which he smiled slightly and nodded forward. I nodded back as we walked forward and I heard Quatermain reply, "How very curious."

Our footsteps must have signaled our presence, for when we turned the corner Quatermain was already looking our way while M stated, "This museum is full of the curious." His eyes seemed to burn towards us, and I think there was disdain held especially for me in his looks, "Allan Quatermain, Captain Nemo." I looked at M with a raised eyebrow, even dressed as a boy people felt me insignificant, insignificant enough to not warrant an introduction.

"I know of Mr. Quatermain," Captain said, proud and stoic as ever, his hand on his belt. Quatermain grinned at us and said, "And I know of you, captain. Rumor has it that you're a pirate." He seemed to all but laugh at my Captain. Though there was but a subtle change, I knew of Captains distaste for the term. Not only did he dislike being called so, but also he had always theorized I had ended up alone in open water due to them. A double-edged blade that caused him to say, "I'd prefer a less provocative title." Quatermain shifted, "I'm sure you would-"

"- Gentlemen, please." M said, shifting attention to him and his explanation of what was going on. "Nations are striking at nation. Every attack marked by the use of highly advanced weaponry. These attacks are all the work of one man, who calls himself the Fantom." As he spoke both my Captain and Quartermain shifted closer and I followed, standing just behind Captain to keep the farce of lowly apprentice alive. In truth, I wanted nothing more than to sit and read the files that Quartermain currently had. I let out a soft sigh through my nose, perhaps my chance would soon come…

Quartermain stared at one of the pages and said, "Very operatic. What's in it for him?" M was quick to enter his telling again, "Profit. Those machines are his creations, the work of scientists he holds imprisoned. His attacks have nations clamoring for the weapons that assail them." I stared at M in shock, could one man truly do so much. I knew the answer, I had studied history well since I knew so little of my own, but it was still much to take in. I looked at Captain and saw he was as calm as ever, which gave me comfort enough to calm my own self.

"-Then it's a race for arms." Quartermain stated. "And millions will perish." M told us, and sat in one of the large chairs, "There's one last chance to avert war. The leaders of Europe are to meet secretly in Venice." Quartermain seemed unconvinced, "And you believe that this Fantom," he tapped the paper, "will attack that conference?"

"If he can find it," M said, matter-of-fact, "We need a team to stop him in Venice. This team consists of six-" I saw it, M's eyes flashed at me. Within them was something fierce, a look of calculation, a look of sharpness that I met with confusion, "And a half members." Quartermain's eyebrows raised as his eyes darted in my direction. I could sense Captains discontent at M's words and felt happiness in my heart from this. Any showing that he cared for me always made me happy. M's eyes did not meet mine again and he proceeded to say, "You'll have four days."

Quartermain's eyes were shocked back to M, "Four days to get to Venice? It's impossible." He stated with raised brows. "Let me worry about that," Captain said with confidence, and my pride in him swelled along with my own, for someday I would be the Captain with the same pride from my vessel. Captain and Quartermain eyed each other before Quartermain's eyes fell (a victory for my Captain) to the files and he said, "Well now, extraordinary gentlemen indeed."

"One of them is late," M stated, "Harker, the chemist."

Suddenly, a voice from nowhere sounded, making me stiffen as my gaze fell towards the noise, "Oh, chemist, eh? Do we get to blow something up then?" Even my Captain was looking for the source; Quartermain removed his glasses and said, "My eyesight must be worse than I thought."

"No, your eyesight's fine," the voice stated as my own eyes widened. The files I had seen moving before were at it once again, only this time they were floating! They slammed into the table in front of Quartermain, making him jump, "No games, M!" he commanded. M grinned and stood from his chair, "Some time ago, a talented,

Albeit misguided, man of science discovered the means to become invisible."

"Yes, I recall the tale, but didn't he die?" Quartermain asked. "Well, he did, but his process didn't," the voice from nowhere said. "You see, I stole it,

and here I stand for all to see." The voice said, and I smiled incredulously, the voice had...A sense of humor?

"Is this some parlor game?" Quartermain asked. "Believe it, the voice said, seemingly annoyed and apparently offensive. Quartermain's shoulder was shoved forward, only for him to strike backwards. The candleholder toppled as the voice said, "Easy now, Allan." The voice spoke, sounding amused. All eyes followed the sound of footsteps as he walked towards a jacket on a chair and said, "I'm feeling a bit of a draft in my nether regions." I blushed involuntarily; the invisible man was entirely exposed.

"-And I must say, it's quite refreshing." The jacket was lifted and as it apparently on its own was assembled, the voice said, "Allow me to introduce myself. Rodney Skinner, gentleman thief." The voice had a name. A hand must have been digging in his pocket for a moment later a jar appeared. It opened and revealed white cream, which was forming a face as it was spread. The faceless man was no more, "Now, I thought invisibility would be a boon to my work." He explained, "Well, you can imagine, it was my undoing. Once you're invisible, it's bloody hard to turn back."

"We finally caught him," M stated unhelpfully. "-And they'll provide an antidote.

Well, that's if I'm a good boy." Skinner said. "And are you a good boy?" Quartermain asked. It seemed a useless question, how could we be sure who he was and how he would act just by him saying? I wished once again for the ability to speak to tell Quartermain so, however this time my request was heard.

"I guess you'll find out, won't you?" Skinner told him, and hidden beneath the folds of fabric, I smiled.