Chapter 14 - Emmeline Awakes

Chapter 14
Emmeline Awakes,
 and Finds All Is Not As It Seems
Jack reached out to steady Emmeline, putting a hand on her shoulder when she slumped down upon the hard bare floor.
'I'm really not surprised, you know,'she surprised them all by saying. ' I rather suspected my father was up to much the same thing...'
Jack stood, and lifted her elbow enquiringly. Em sighed and allowed herself to be hefted upward. Alice and Aleister approached tentatively.
Em looked about her appraisingly. 'So then,' she said, 'When are we?'
Jack shouldered the responsibility of Bearer of Great Tidings. '2076.' he made it sound almost real.
'I see.' Emmeline calculated it all, rather rationally, she told herself. Jack wasn't interested in you at all you idiot, she rationated. It, you, were just A Grand Experiment in the Name of Science. Just as you were for your in loco parentis
mad scientist pere.
'Emmeline...'Aleister started toward her-
'Doctor.' Emmeline held up her hand, palm outWard. 'Should you attempt to drug me or poke me with a syringe, or even offer me TEA I shall be emboldened to use some very unladylike kung fu upon your person and I do not wish to be forced to do so.' Em had adopted the Horse Pose and was ready for action. Or as much as one could be when hobbled by a corset and bustle . However she made up for this by laying hands upon a stray bit of rebar nearby with a rather menacing tip.
Overall, she managed to command a rather d'Artagnanish stance
 facing off against the good doctor.
The doctor turned and wisely, quietly retreated.
Emmeline straightened, now looking at the ground or merely hanging her head. And sighing.
'Alice?' she asked.
Alice also cast her eyes downward, before raising them to meet Em's now gimlet gaze. 'I used to...travel, with Frank. At Times,'Alice admitted to her friend.
'My father knew Frank.'Emmeline stated this as a fact. But she had only just become certain of it now.
'Yes.'Alice confirmed.'They sometimes, worked together.'
'Did they ever...was I ever present, during any of their...
experiments?' Emmeline finally admitted what had been hovering over her like a homing bat of late.
'Yes.'Alice looked at Emmeline. 'But I didn't know about it at the time. I only discovered it later, Em.'Alice held her hands tightly on her lap as if fearing they'd fly away.
'it happened so long ago...i didn't want to upset you, if you weren't aware...' Alice sighed, unsure. 'I thought I was sheltering you from something you did not need to know.'
'Oh, Alice...' Emmeline began pacing. 'I don't know...i don't know...in your place, what I would do. But, Alice--although I may have been quite young at the time, I do not appreciate not knowing.' She looked at Alice then, dead on & eye to eye.
'Duely noted,'Alice got the hint.
'So. 2076.No wonder I feel rather beside myself, as it were...well. What happens Now?' Emmeline wasn't one to waste Time.
Jack was somewhat amazed at Emmeline's acceptance of the whole bewildering business.But he still went carefully into uncharted waters...'Things are at a crossroads, at this point in Time.'he admitted gently.
'A Nexus point?' she asked, arching one brow.
Jack nodded. 'Exactly so. What Frank Stein and your father began, we now have extrapolated into a more streamlined timeline for  quicker, more reliable and less unsettling access into other eras...'
'...slowly, now Jack...'Parsons kept his eyes downcast and his voice low.
'You haven't opened the trunk.'Emmeline observed.
'No,'Jack replied, 'It's entirely up to you.'
'Nice to know something is...'Emmeline muttered to herself.
The worst of all this, for her, was feeling so out of control, out of the information loop. This was not her world any longer. For an independent person, this sat not well with Miss Page.'Let's get it over with,'she sighed.
'...I...don't suppose you have the key?' Jack was just asking.
Em shook her head. 'Lost, years, ages ago...literally.'
'Well, it's old enough...'he strode over to the antique in question and asked, 'May I?' as he held a hand out for the rebar still clutched by Em. She handed it over and he worked it in through the rusty handle on the lock. 'This should do it,'and put his back into muscling the oxidized relic into giving way; which it did with a groan and finally clanked open free of the trunk's hasp. 'Well, Em? Will you do the honors?'
Emmeline sighed and approached the old monstrosity without enthusiasm. Dredging up memories of a past she wished only to forget was one of the more onerous tasks she'd been fanageled into here of late. Just do it and have done with it, she told herself; adding the disheartening observation that she obviously had very little say in her bloody life anymore...
Oh well!She set her features into a hard line. If she kept her thoughts, and her mouth in check, perhaps she'd soon be free of her captors, as she now perceived her erstwhile friends, and once back in her own time, she'd hightail it.
They'd never be able to find her, once free...
So, feeling much better after making that decision at least, she brushed back her straying curls and lifted the creaking lid, turning her face away from the dust and smell of mold within.
As Jack now helped hold the lid open for Em, Aleister and Alice inched over to take a look inside. 'I don't really recall much, if anything, of what would be in here,'Emmeline
mused. 'Perhaps gloves would be best?'
Jack went to open a metal drawer and pulled on a pair of supple leather gloves, and looking questioningly at Em, she nodded, and he prepared to 'go in'.
What looked like gears, tools, and sundry odd bits of metal were removed to find underneath, some old leather-bound volumes which proved to be notebooks. 'May I?' Jack asked, as he reached for the topmost journal. Em nodded, thinking: as though I have any real say over anything here now!
Aleister was at his side and they both were intent upon the
pages. 'I can't tell at first glance what we have here, Al,'Jack ventured, thumbing through the volume in hand. 'But,
it's best that it's here at least, until we know more.' He closed the book and dove back into the trunk's labyrinthian
and musty puzzle. 'More volumes of notebooks...wait, here's something at the bottom, maybe...' He sorted the bits and pieces and papers out of the way and discovered a heavy metal
box on the bottom of the trunk. Hefting it out, it was, not surprisingly, locked.
'Ulf!'Em waved a hand at the dust.'Would you gentlemen mind if I excuse myself from this exhuming of the past for now? All the dust and must is making me quite dizzy...'
'Emmeline, of course!'Jack was at her side, and tucking the box under his arm, took her elbow with the other and proceded to escort her out of the lab. 'Close that up, will you Al? I think we've seen enough.' Aleister closed up the trunk and he and Alice followed them out and as Jack locked up, the company headed back upstairs with The Box.
                        . . . . .
Back into the parlor they rallied as Jack set the box upon the credenza and gestured for the ladies to be seated.
'Is there any of that cognac available?' Emmeline uncharacteristically enquired.
Jack flickered a quick glance at Aleister, and then taking a snifter for Emmeline, and himself, poured for them both and
strode over to Em, offering the libation with a bow. 'Thank you.' she took a hefty swallow and sat back upon the sofa's cushions, still holding the glass and gently setting the brandy to circulate with a meditative motion of her palm.
Jack took a small sip, and, not knowing what footing he was on at present, decided to remain silent.
'So.'Emmeline began,'Now that you have what you came for, what are your plans, and how soon may we return home?' Em cut to the chase.
Jack cleared his throat,'...that, may not be a good idea just yet.' He took another sip and rubbed his forehead as if trying to force his thoughts in order.
'Oh?' Emmeline took another swallow. 'Just how long do you propose to hold us here, Jack?' Her usually mellow voice was no longer recognizable from the curt and no-nonsense tones she now used.
Realizing that Emmeline had become adversarial rather suddenly, Jack was caught off-guard.
'Did you think I would never recover my senses at all, then?' Em smoothly enquired, her voice dripping with honey and irony. 'What did you expect? That we would simply be your willing accomplices in whatever grand foray you happen to have in mind for us all, for whatever purpose?'
Jack looked to Aleister, who sat stroking his goatee, and had, oddly, decided to keep mum, for once. Al spared a glance and an elevated eyebrow at Jack, then stared back at the fire and recommenced his whisker-stroking.
Finding no help from that quarter, Jack stood alone then,wondering if he'd perhaps given Em leaded instead of unleaded, inadvertently of course! 'Emmeline...I, I am truly sorry that we had to do what we did, the way we had to do it. That is, to have taken you, and Alice, so...'
'...ambushed, and abducted,' Emmeline supplied.
Jack winced, twisting his mouth into a quick grimace. He looked up at the ceiling and finding no help from on high, he blustered on. 'Yes, alright. It would seem so.' he took a swig of cognac. 'But, oh, Em...we did it only due to the emergency at hand. We had to get you and Alice out of there and away from...harm.'he ended.
'Yes, so you say.'Em kept rotating her cognac methodically.
'Emmeline...luv, do you recall, back at the theatre, I was telling you that we were being followed?' Alice spoke up.
Em frowned into her glass. 'You said that some man had been watching us, so you thought.'
Jack took up the thread,'Yes, the person following you was the one who was responsible for the sigils in our yards. He is not to be trusted, and not someone you would want to meet.' He wasn't sure how much to tell Em. Keeping secrets had made her angry, but neither did he wish to frighten her out of her wits. Well, she didn't seem scared now, but she was obviously feeling less than friendly toward him. 'If we hadn't...taken you both then, he would have.'
Emmeline heaved a heavy sigh,drank off the remainder of her drink and stood. She leisurely walked to the decanter and helped herself to more cognac. 'So. When are we going to learn who this mysterious menace is, and what the bloody hell is this all about, Jack?!'
Three pair of eyes looked up at the heretofore sedate and
proper library lady. Then Alice and Aleister looked to Jack.
'Your call, old boy,'Aleister mumbled quietly.
Jack walked over to Em, and gently took the hand not currently holding either a drink or weapon. 'Very well. We'll
tell you. I'm sorry it had to come out like this. I had hoped for a gentler approach to disclosure. But, you no longer trust us, and this pains me. I do not blame you at all.'he looked up at her then. 'But, whether you will believe me now or not, all we have done has been necessary, and Emmeline, it probably has saved your life.'
He then led her gently back to the sofa and sat beside her.
'Alright. I suppose we'll have to begin at the beginning. Long before I ever thought to be involved with it, or  anything to do with my family.' Jack looked at Emmeline. 'You aren't the only one discomfited by familial recollections.' He finished off his remaining brandy, and set down his glass.
'Yes,'he continued in a weary voice,' it's my late Uncle Daryl we all have to thank for this fine mess. At least the part that involves us in particular. Everyone comfortable? It's a tale neither short and certainly not so sweet...'
                         . . . . .
Hmmm...what goes on here, then?
So Jack, Al & Al all seem to be on the same side vs. Emmeline? or so she surmises...or has this a reach far beyond Time itself--are we all merely pawns in the game of life, as Mongo postulated in Saddles Ablaze? And Jack using Em to gain access to her father's files?--just as Dr. Parsons is perhaps using Alice in his search for the secrets of Frank N. Stein! Holy Mel Brooks! Stay tuned, same batime/batchannel for the next installment of
Emmeline Page, Revolution Solution Librarian!