The Diaries of an Enigmatic Manipulator

A/N: Last chapter yaaay! Thank you all to those who have been reading.

Somewhere in Mongolia/M's "summer retreat", 1899

Our group hid behind a large snow-covered boulder once outside M's fortress. The plan was for Mr. Skinner and Mr. Hyde to 'distract' the guards before we could go in. Dr. Jekyll changed as quietly as he could while Mr. Skinner went ahead and got rid of the first lookout for us.

"Do you mind?" he playfully joked, while taking the man's gun, and whacking his again and again with the darn thing. "Night night!" he said, whilst hitting him for the last time. I did feel a little sorry for him. As Mr. Skinner did so, Mr. Edward Hyde went onward to attack the other man. Mrs. Harker, to my surprise, transformed into a flock of bats (in which I have never seen her do before), and fly in through several sets of small windows above the two guards.

Once the men were down, the rest of us were able to enter through the heavy steel door, in which Mr. Edward was able to willingly move for us.

We were silent as we made way into the fortress, viewing the giant stone statues of ancient ruins and looked up at the broken ceiling which let in trickles of snow, light, and cold air to fall through. I wondered what this place was before M used it for his lair.

The Captain spread out his men left and right. The league, now fully disposed of the coats and snow gear, all met in the center of the room. Mr. Skinner was dressed in his normal grease-painted, black-coated and black hat, glasses, and gloved self, carrying several cartridges of dynamite. Mrs. Harker was wearing an abnormally armor-like black dress, her hair was down and curled, and her nails were abnormally elongated. I took into consideration that that was due to her vampiric nature. Other than that, everyone's attire seemed normal, with the extra carrying of weapons.

The way we all looked at each other—oh, how it was unbearable! We looked into each other's eyes as if we would never see each other again. I could not stand it; either I was growing teary, or my vision was blurred. But I mustn't be sad. This is the time where I must be stronger than ever.

And then, Edward Hyde did something quite odd. He put his hand in the center of our human-forming circle, looking at us to do so as well, expectantly. Mrs. Harker then placed her hand on top of Edward's, then the Captain put his on top of Mrs. Harker's, then Agent Sawyer's on top of his, then Mr. Skinner, then I, then finally Mr. Quatermain adding to the pile. It would seem as if we had formed a 'go-team!' cheer departure. Once looking into each other's eyes for what we believed to be the last time, our hands collapsed, and we departed our ways.

I stood by Mr. Skinner, who had given me the dynamite so he could work to strip his clothing and accessories, and wipe the paint from his face. Soon enough, he was completely invisible. I offered his transparent body the dynamite, and he took it from my grasp, hauling it onto his shoulder.

"Let's go…" he murmured, and we ran off, my hands already glowing from the excitement.

We moved past several columns in the fortress to where the heating systems were held. It wasn't long I was trying to keep up with Mr. Skinner's lead when I heard a voice over some kind of loudspeaker. "Prepare the armaments for shipment. Prepare the armaments for shipment." it said.

Mr. Skinner must have seen my curiosity when he said, "That's for the industrial units—must be getting ready to export the weapons."

He didn't give me time to think. He kept on moving. "That means we have to hurry up."

I ran after the floating cartridges of dynamite to an area of the fortress where up ahead I could see several pipes and machinery, in which must have been the heaters and boilers; the area seemed very steamy and hot, and I could hear Mr. Skinner panting already. Before Mr. Skinner was able to do his task, a guard was walking up ahead! I knew at that moment that it was my job to be rid of him.

When he finally caught sight of us, he yelled "Hey!" and ran towards us, about to fire his rifle. Before he could do so, however, I ran past Mr. Skinner, basically pushed him back, quickly warned him to close his eyes, and I 'fired my weapon' at the man. To my surprise, my vision had only gone blind for the few seconds I released my light on the man (who screamed in agony and fell to the ground blind, dropping his gun and grasping his burning eyeballs), and then I received my vision almost instantaneously!

Before I could embrace my joy, Mr. Skinner hurriedly walked past me and we entered the smokestacks. He walked past the machinery, panting heavily (it was quite hot…and I was the one wearing clothing!), and once halfway through, Rodney Skinner took a cartridge of dynamite, set it ticking, and placed it under one of the heaters. As he continued to set the dynamite and set them in their rightful places around the factory floor and I blinded several men in our way, becoming more and more proud of my work. I could hear the many guards moan over their incapability.

As we approached further into the area, we came near the furnaces that melted iron for M's weapons. Just as it was pouring the metal into a large stony pot, Mr. Skinner sent another dynamite ticking, and as he bent down to place it next to the furnace, some of the hot sparks fell on his back!

"Ow!" he cried.

I hurried to his side. "Are you all right?" I asked.

"Yeah…yeah…that's the last of the dynamite. We should be all set. Let's go and see if we can find the others."

We passed through halls of expensive royalty; chairs, rugs, vases and paintings lined the grey stone halls and several doors and archways led us down different places in which confused my sense of direction. Mr. Skinner led me the way, however, for he of course had been inside the fortress before. We passed a few guardsmen in whom I automatically blinded as soon as they were within my sight, and gratefully my own injury passed as soon as I was done with my small combat. We found it difficult to come across another league member; we were roaming for about an hour when we heard a struggle up ahead in the halls. I ran ahead, and heard Mr. Skinner's bare footprints follow behind. I was able to hear several gunshots, and then, we had both stopped once we saw Agent Sawyer run for his life into a room and a large spur of flames follow him closely behind! The flames had stopped, and what I believed to be a man of steel—a man, perhaps, covered head to toe with armor—had walked robotically after our friend, and carrying to what we assumed to be a flamethrower! I had looked back to try and sense of Mr. Skinner was viewing as well, but I had soon heard invisible footsteps run ahead of me.

I had come to a room blazing upon fire, and could not determine whether Mr. Skinner had gone in or not! I had called his name, but received no answer. Otherwise, Tom was in there, and for all I know he could be trapped! I entered the room (which was indeed blazing with threatening heat), and squinted my eyes to defend from the fires and see if I can witness any moving figures. After about a minute of dodging flames and searching for figures or voices in the room, I heard this Mr. Skinner's voice!

"Sawyer—run for it!" he yelled, and then I heard him continuously yell in pain, which soon died off in the distance! Then, I heard a faint explosion! Where were Mr. Skinner and Mr. Sawyer?! Was Mr. Skinner hurt—is he being burned by the flames?! I was scared! And I had almost gone fully blind before I had stopped myself to stay calm and search for either man! Oh, and the heat was just unbearable!

I had come to a clearing in the corner of the room where several books lay fallen (I assumed this room used to be a library—such a shame of a waste), and a faint image of something moving. I then saw Agent Sawyer approach the same moving object and asked; "Skinner?"! Was the thing on the ground slightly shaking Mr. Skinner?! I could see it better as I approached him—his invisible body was covered in several sickening layers of melting skin and what I believed to be third degree burns!

"That's the last time I play with matches!" he joked. Oh, Mr. Skinner—how can he joke at a time like this?!

I had just approached the two when I heard a gunshot, and I viewed as a floating body-covering of ashes dropped a gun, and instead withdrew a knife in which he held to Agent Sawyer's throat! He forced Agent Sawyer to get up from Mr. Skinner's side and to stand with his throat held hostage! Had there been another invisible man; had one of M's men taken the serum and used it against us already? Who had been shot?

I had lifted my hand and was about to blind the man when he said, "Make any move and I cut his throat!"

I recognized that man's voice…it was Mr. Reed! The man who had accompanied M whilst recruiting me for the league!

"Besides…I think you have other things to worry about than saving him." he said.

I did not know what he meant! That is, until, I looked down at my blood-stained dress.

A few minutes after Mr. Reed had taken away Tom, I fell to the ground putting my hand to where I had been shot, and Mr. Skinner panting and shaking impulsively, I had truly thought the two of us were to die there, and, because of me, Agent Sawyer would probably be dead too.

"We have to get out of here…" Mr. Skinner attempted to say. I had not even realized the room was still on fire. And then, we would soon be on fire as well.

I struggled to stand up, and attempted to help Mr. Skinner up as well. We had retreated out of the blazing room with success, and yet, as I looked at our deadly injuries—Mr. Skinner's burns and my shot wound, I soon realized that my light will eventually go out. And Mr. Skinner…well…he just might not be able to make it, either. We both looked as if we were about to greet death very soon.

And yet, we struggled to walk on.

It had never come across to me that the bombs would go off at this time. And they did.

The floor shook, and soon cracked as the walls began to crumble around us. Mr. Skinner fell to the floor with a painful grunt, and I slid across the floor and hit the wall, screaming in throbbing.

I had thought we were to be smashed apart by the falling buildings, when I heard a familiar voice.

"Siyana…Mr. Skinner!"

It was Mrs. Harker. Oh, good Lord she had found us!

"Oh my God…we have to get you two out of here and back to the ship's infirmary immediately!"

She grabbed hold of Mr. Skinner and me at each of her sides, and forced us to hurriedly pace for our lives out from under the crumbling ceilings and out from around the collapsing walls! Soon enough the bombs had stopped, but we were still not yet near the fortress's entryway in which we came in. The walls discontinued deteriorating, but yet we still had to be careful. I held onto my side to try and stop the bleeding, and yet I knew that would not have helped much.

Within time, enough pain and doubt, we had reached the main hall, where a few of Nemo's men were lingering. Captain Nemo, and a half-naked Dr. Jekyll shivering underneath a blanket, stood in the center, waiting for the rest of the league.

As soon as they caught sight of us, they came running (especially Dr. Jekyll) to Mina's side to help Mr. Skinner and I. Dr. Jekyll looked at the both of us, then to Nemo, then to Mina.

"What happened?" he asked.

Mina answered for us. "There was a room on fire in which I assume Mr. Skinner to be a victim of…and it seems as if Ms. Blair had been shot."

The doctor and Captain Nemo took immediate action. Taking Mr. Skinner, Doctor Jekyll helped him lay down onto a cloth, and wrapped him up good so the immediate cold will not shock his body to death. Captain Nemo and Mrs. Harker had me sit down as well, and some of Nemo's crewmen came over. The Captain had taken out his knife and, as I eyed him with eyes of fear, he tore open my dress at the spot where it had stained. He viewed the wound with fear and pity in his eyes, or so it seemed. He looked at me.

"The bullet doesn't seem to be all too deep." he said.

Well that's good, at least!

"I'll have to take it out."

Well that's not good at all!

Making a face to bear the pain that would soon come, I agreed to lie down and allow the Captain to tear away more of my dress. Closing my eyes and sensing the Captain's hesitation, I felt the pain like hell at my side. I screamed in terror, and could hear my shouts echo around the great hall.

I heard a 'ping' on the floor, and assumed it was the bullet hitting the floor. I soon heard Dr. Jekyll's voice.

"How's she doing?" he asked.

"I'm in pain, if that counts!" I barely screamed.

I viewed as the Doctor tore some cloth from his blanket, and wrap it to my side. It wasn't much, he said, but it had to hold until we could reach the Nautilus.

As Captain Nemo and Mrs. Harker helped me stand up, and Dr. Jekyll ran to once again check on Mr. Skinner, I saw in the distance Agent Sawyer. He was carrying a body.

"Tom…" I moaned.

As he came closer, I saw who it was exactly he was carrying.

He was carrying Allan Quatermain. Allan Quatermain is now dead!

"Oh, Good God…"

Captain Nemo first caught sight of this as well, and left me in Mina's arms as he ran off to Tom, and as Allan's body was set down, I saw the Captain's teary, sad eyes glare painfully at Tom. It was all just so saddening…

Mrs. Harker focused to my attention.

"Try and rest, Siyana. We'll reach the Nautilus' infirmary soon enough."

She did not even have to speak it, for I had nearly blacked out.

I awoke to the familiar ceiling of the Nautilus infirmary, as Mrs. Harker had promised. I got up, feeling a slight pain at my side, and soon looked down to see my blood-stained dress replaced with a cotton nightgown, and felt a lump underneath at where I had been shot. While I was out Dr. Jekyll must have cleaned and covered my wound.

I also wondered who changed my dress. I suddenly felt self-conscious.

I looked around, taking in my surroundings. And soon I realized—it was over. We had won (I assume). How could we have not?

And then I remembered that Allan was dead. And Mr. Skinner—where was he?

I soon came into view with Dr. Jekyll, who noticed I had awoken and told me to lie down and rest. When I asked where Mr. Skinner was, he told me "Skinner's in bad shape, but he'll live. We have him at the other side of the room, resting. When you passed out in Mongolia, Mina flew to the Nautilus to get some extra medical supplies for our journey back. We patched you and Skinner up as best as we could."

I had to ask him; "Who changed me out of my dress?"

He laughed. "Mrs. Harker did."

"Oh…where are we now?"

"We're in the middle of the Indian Ocean, heading for Kenya where we will dock and obtain some medical supplies we might need and once the league is healed, we'll attend Quatermain's funeral. He's to be buried in his beloved Africa." He attempted to smile on my behalf.

"Oh…"

And so, I lay back down to rest as best as I could.

Kenya, 1899

Before I knew it Mr. Skinner and I were back to normal, and the league hovered the grave of Mr. Allan Quatermain, the best one-shot hunter any of us have ever met. The heat beneath the African sun was warm compared to our horrors in Mongolia. The gloom that surrounded us seemed to go on forever, as we mourned our deceased colleague and friend. A tribal man chanted in an unfamiliar dialect whilst playing with a mound of fire. I wondered of the ritual's significance.

"Do you remember he swore Africa wouldn't let him die?" asked Mr. Skinner. "I wish the old boy had been right."

I contemplated that for a moment.

"So what's next?" asked Tom.

"I have long hidden away from the world. Now I wish to see it anew as the century turns." said the Captain. He extended his arms to us. "You're all welcome to join me."

"We've all been hiding in one form of another." said Mina.

I knew exactly what Mrs. Harker was talking about. "I haven't seen the light of day in the longest time before all of this. I'm curious as to how the world really has changed all these years." I said.

Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Skinner, and Agent Sawyer looked to me with curious eyes.

"The Nautilus awaits." said the Captain, giving his final suggestion.

"So who's coming?" said Tom.

And so, we all departed the grave of our fallen Allan.

The Captain bid his goodbye by putting his hands together and giving a bow.

"So long, old chap." said Mr. Skinner. He followed the Captain back to the ship as the rest of us said Goodbye and followed.

"Goodbye, Allan." said Dr. Jekyll.

"May you live in peace, Mr. Quatermain." I said, bowing my head.

"…Goodbye." said Mrs. Harker.

As I walked off in the distance, behind Captain Nemo, and Mr. Skinner and Dr. Jekyll, Mrs. Harker joined my side and in the background, I had heard a gun cock, and Agent Sawyer say quite lowly, "Thanks."

He joined us five as we departed the African scene and made way to the Nautilus. What lay ahead for me, I was not sure. But what Mrs. Harker said about being long hidden away from the world had me open my eyes to the reality this world had to offer. It was a mystery of what lay ahead in the future, for there is much more than fear, and terror, and betrayal.

There was adventure, and friendship, and bravery…and excitement.

I was ready to take on the world again…and, I was ready to light the way.

We had gotten only so far when we had spun around after hearing the impossible sound and saw the view, of a bolt of lightning strike Mr. Quatermain's grave. Confusion and abhorrence hit our faces.

What lay ahead was indeed a mystery, because we were not to expect what had happened next.

…Africa had kept its promise.

(End.)