The day of the mission

I hear fireworks going off from far away.

We are staying in a room at hotel some distance from Buckingham Palace.

Victoria, looking out the window anxiously, takes a nervous breath. "It looks like they're starting. I need to make this work, for all our sakes."

"Relax, Vicky. We've gotten through some bad scrapes in the past. We can handle this." Nemo says.

"I'm coming along with you, so you needn't worry if anything comes up." Van Helsing says.

"'Anything' will not be coming up, ever. All right, everyone, it's almost time. Get ready." Lupin says.

"I'll stay here and with with Nemo. I'll help with the escape on the Ornithopter if something happens... Do I have everything right?" I say. Lupin looks like she's about to agree, then suddenly furrows her brow. "What's the matter, Lupin?"

"Shh... quiet. This is strange..." Lupin says.

"Looks like 'anything' did come up. The lady thief's plans never do measure up, do they?" Van Helsing sighs and continues cleaning her gun.

"Hey now, don't scare me. Do you feel some sort of presence?' Nemo asks.

"Just the opposite. There are no footsteps from the floors above or below us. We're alone in this hotel right now." Van Helsing says.

"Ahah, it seems that way." Doreen says.

"How can you even tell that? Are you wizards or something?" Nemo asks.

Suddenly, there is a high-pitched mechanical squeal from outside.

"Ahem... Testing, testing!" That voice. We're probably all picturing the same face right now. "Ahem! This is Captain Agrona, of the Royal family Guard! This hotel is surrounded by two hundred British soldiers! Surrender, now!"

"Captain Agrona...?!" Victoria asks.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa...! What's she doing here?!" Lupin asks.

"Isn't it obvious? The government must have been made aware of our plans." Doreen says.

"That's impossible! There's no way they could have caught on! I was as careful to cover my tracks!" Lupin says.

Van Helsing, looking out through a different window, responds. "There's no denying that we're surrounded. If what this Agrona says is true... Two hundred, huh. Might be trouble."

"You think?! This is what's called a dire situation!" Nemo says.

"What are we going to do?" I ask.

Lupin falls silent, looking serious. After a brief silence, it isn't Lupin who speaks first.

It's Victoria. "Change of plans. I'll draw their attention, and you guys get out of here."

"What...?" I ask.

"Agrona is the captain of Victor's personal guard. She works under different orders than Progenitor." Victoria says. "If that's the case, then she's only after me, alone. I'll tell them that I threatened you to shelter me and act alongside me."

"But what will happen to you?" I ask.

"It'll be fine. I'll negotiate after I've been captured. I'll get through this." Victoria cuts the conversation short, as if to say that she won't accept any opposition.

I can't let her do this. "I won't let you do this! It's too early to start sacrificing ourselves to everyone." Everyone looks at me in shock. "What's the matter?"

"Oh, it's just that you never really raise your voice like that." Victoria says.

"But I can't just let you give yourself up for this." I say.

Victoria smiles gently.

"Yeah, me neither. My vote's with him." Nemo says.

"Mine, too." Lupin says.

"I appreciate the sentiment but this is probably the only way." Victoria says.

"Victoria. I reject your idea." Van Helsing says.

"Wha... Why?!" Victoria asks.

"True, we're surrounded by the army but there's always the possibility Progenitor could take you away from the army's grasp." Van Helsing says.

"That's..." Victoria says.

"Progenitor will use any means they can. They could hide you from the government on their own, and **** you." Van Helsing says. "Then, they will extract information on this boy's whereabouts from you, and then we'll all be in trouble."

"And you, Arsene Lupin! I know you're in there as well! Expect proper retribution for what you've done!" Agrona says. "I swear I'll see you in chains for interference with public duties!"

"That woman sounds more upset about me than she is about Victoria!" Lupin says.

"Ahah, then Lupin may prove to be a better decoy than Victoria." Doreen says. "But no matter the case, the ideal situation is one in which none of us is captured. If even one us gets caught, there's a chance that all of us will be placed at risks a consequence."

"I think so, too. Victoria, this problem is bigger than just you now." I say.

"You guys..." Victoria says.

"It's okay. If it really comes down to it, we'll throw you at them and run. So don't worry!" Nemo says.

"Nemo, you're terrible." I say.

"What?! I was just kidding! That as a joke! Stop glaring at me like that! It's strangely attractive!" Nemo says.

"Thank you, everyone." Victoria smiles for a moment. "There's one thing left what we can do. Let's **** our plan forward."

"What does that mean?" I ask.

"We'll split into a diversion team and a negotiation team, and act separately." Victoria says. "While the diversion team diverts the enemy's attention, the negotiation team pushes past the guards to the Ornithopter. Then they'll go straight to the ceremony and barge in from the sky, speak with Victoria, and negotiate for our safety. Worst-case, if the diversion team is caught, I promise I'll get you out."

Nemo sighs. "I'll go along with it if I must, but this is one crazy plan."

"It's the only choice we have. Our situation won't improve if we continue to lay low here." Van Helsing says.

"I don't mind. Either way, it sounds positively simulating." Doreen says.

"Right, then, we're all going along with Victoria's plan. How about you, Caleb?" Lupin asks.

"Yes, I'm fine." I say.

"Arsene Lupin and accomplices! This your final warning! Surrender now, or who knows what will happen to you!" Agrona says.

"Sheesh... When did that woman's top priority become capturing me?" Lupin asks.

"Hey, Caleb, what exactly did Lupin do to Agrona?" Victoria asks.

"Huh? She rescued me from them." I say.

"She likely takes pride in her work and her position. She's not a bad woman, just a bit of a blowhard. I bear her no ill will. But she needs to be silenced for a bit." Van Helsing loads her shotgun and places herself against one side of the window. When she reaches out to open it, suddenly something flies into the room, breaking the window.

Smoke begins pouring out of the object. It's Tear Gas!

"Everyone, out of the room!" Lupin shouts, and we all leave the room if as the gas is chasing us.

But a row of soldiers are standing in the hall, waiting for us.

"Ha... Hahaha... You're all so prepared." Nemo says.

"I don't remember Agrona being this efficient!" Lupin says.

"You should always expect the unexpected! I thought that would be second nature to you." Holmes steps out in front of the soldiers. "You're much better at falling into traps than I'd hoped. I have to thank you for making my job so much easier."

"You..." I say.

"It makes sense now... Sherlock Holmes! You're the one acting behind the scenes here!" Lupin says.

"It honours me that one of the century's greatest thieves, Arsene Lupin, knows my name." Holmes says.

"Holmes, what are you doing here?" I ask.

"Have you already forgotten what transpired a few days ago?" Holmes asks. "I was hired by the government to assist them in their investigations. I told you that when we met, it would be as foes. As I recall, I told you both you and the lady over there."

"Ahah, you're a woman of your word." Doreen says.

"Agrona has requested the arrests of both Victoria Frankenstein and Arsene Lupin." Holmes says. "She probably can't stand the fact that the woman she let escape is continuing to commit acts of terrorism."

"How did you know you're be here today?" Van Helsing asks.

"I have a massive number of criminology statistics, stored right here." Holmes taps her forehead with a finger. "Lupin, I tried predicting your next move based on your previous crimes and I'm pleased to say my analysis proved correct. The greatest thief of the century is still simply a criminal. This plan of yours is lacking in originality."

"That as uncalled for." Lupin asks.

"Haha, no offence was intended. Now, let's end this meaningless chatter and get you all arrested." Holmes snaps her fingers, and the soldiers surrounding us start to close in.

"I suppose we have no other choice." Van Helsing begins to lift her gun.

But Victoria grabs the barrel, lowering it. The two exchange a glance, then Victoria looks forward once again. "I apologise, but I can't be captured just yet."

"Well and good to say, but all your exits have been blocked. This hallway, the hotel lobby, even the streets are blockaded." Holmes says. "There is no way out."

"Yes, there is. Just one!" Victoria throws a test tube from her pocket.

Not towards the enemy.

But at her own feet.

Everyone is puzzled for a moment at this strange action. Then with a spectacular crash, the floor falls through.

"Wah...!" I say.

"Caleb!" Victoria catches me in an embrace as we fall. We land on the floor below us together. "Are you all right?!"

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you." I say.

Though Victoria is a little shaky herself, she stands me up on my feet.

"Whoooooa! That was scary! Let's get the heck out of here!" Nemo says.

We all start running together, as a team. We run down the hall, then use the stairs to go all the way down to the ground floor. We head for the rear entrance. So far, we haven't seen any soldiers.

"Was that some kind of bomb that explodes in the direction of its impact? That would be a pretty handy gadget." Lupin says.

"To be honest, it was a gamble. But I'm glad it worked out." Victoria says.

"Now what shall we do?" Doreen looks as cool as always. How is she so calm and collected?

"I don't know what to do." I say.

"Let's keep going with Victoria's plan. Me, Van Helsing, and Doreen will handle the enemies around the hotel." Lupin says.

"Hmph... A mere two hundred of them don't pose a threat." Van Helsing says.

"Caleb, you go with Victoria, got it?" Lupin says.

"Fine. I'll leave this to you." I say.

"Oh? I was quite certain you would opt to stay behind, knowing your personality. That's good judgement, Mr. Caleb." Doreen says.

"That's fine. As long as I'm here, they will never be able to overpower us." Van Helsing says.