The Plan

Collinsport. As the news of the grisly murders discovered on Old Jerusalem Lot Road filters through the small village there is one who sees more than just the deaths of two young tourists. Catriona Kaye has read the account in the Collinsport Star and the ex-chairman of the Ruling Cabal of the Diogenes Club’s, much like a Sybil divining from the tasseography of the article, she has read far more within the front page account than anyone would suspect. And so, ever accompanied by Agent Nine, she has quickly proceeded to Collinsport Harbor where she intends to rent a boat in order and seek out the infamous Dr. Septimus Praetorius on the archipelago of St. Eustace Island. Where many of the pieces of the mysterious puzzle that Agent Nine has merely glimpsed will be revealed – and secrets long withheld.

The azure sky was bright and clear. Dark, bottle-green waters of the North Atlantic were still rather choppy from the passage of last night’s storms. The trip from Collinsport Pier, where they had rented the boat, had been uneventful save for the remnants of the blustery wind and the rise and fall of the ocean’s chop.

Agent Nine had sat watching as Catriona Kaye, her eyes shrouded in dark sunglasses, navigated the small motor boat. Wind in her hair. Silent. Kaye had not asked for directions. She knew precisely where they were headed – back to that strange laboratory facility within which they had arrived in Collinsport several days back.

The agent watched the attractive profile, aware that she had to keep herself ever vigilant now as she found herself becoming far too attracted to this beautiful but confoundingly enigmatic woman, whom she wasn’t sure she should call Catriona or Victoria. And since returning from Kingsport she was entirely aware of which one was which – they both had distinct personalities.

It was Victoria that intrigued her but Catriona whom attracted her.

Ahead now, she could see the small islets coming into view. The little archipelago was five miles off the coast, with the main island being St. Eustace. The lab facility seemed to have been constructed on some man-made islet.

The small motorboat slowly coasts up against the small dock of the unusual facility. Catriona Kaye shuts the motor down and lets the boat drift up to the dock. She takes off her sunglasses and places them in a compartment near the wheel. Agent Nine reaches out and pulls the boat up close to the dock and ties the boat securely to it.

“Time to see the Doctor.” She says with a sly smile. She rises from the Captain’s chair and walks over to step over the side of the boat.

Agent Nine follows her onto the dock and mildly curses at the remoteness of the place, “I never liked Doctors, Miss. And I am certain I don’t like this one.”

Catriona Kaye gives her a slightly reproachable glance as she strides across the stone flagstones of the walk leading to the doors of the facility. The agent is well aware of the security measures in place, and yet Miss Kaye does not seem to break her stride. Instead she removes the ornate Silver Key from her pocket and the security system seems to allow them entrance as they step closer to the door.

“Most people find the Doctor—an acquired taste.”

“How do I get one of those?” She gestures at the key.

At the door there is small glass panel, Kaye places her palm on it and suddenly there is a great metallic whirl, a click, as locks are disengaged and the doors slowly open.

Kaye looks back at her with a smile, ”You awake one night to find it on your bedside table, actually. At least that is how Victoria got hers.”

She slips it back into her pocket and steps into the laboratory.

Inside, among the odd collection of antique electronic equipment and more state of the art technology, Dr. Praetorius stands looking at something purple boiling in a glass beaker. Agent Nine and Catriona Kaye enter and the door closes behind them. He looks up.

He has a small glass with a clear liquid in his hand.

“Ah, Miss Kaye. Agent Nine. Good morning. Care for a spot of breakfast.” he asks lifting the glass.

Kaye striding into the laboratory raises an eyebrow, “A bit early isn’t it doctor?”

Agent Nine follows discretely behind her, ever vigilant, even here in this secure facility, as instinctively her hand rests over her gun . . . but she wishes she had drawn it like she normally would have done — the last time she was here there was a witch strangling the Doctor. But even more than that she does not trust this Praetorius.

“A mad scientist surrounded by electric bobbits and God knows what else—“ Nine looks at a boiling beaker, “And you’re questioning how early he drinks, Miss?”

“Early? It is never too early for a spot of Gin my dear.” He finishes his drink and sits the glass down, “And what pray brings you two to see me this early in the morning. I thought you and I . . . well, I thought we had had our last conversation in—your Wasteland.”

Kaye motions to the Doctor and looks to the now empty glass, “Yes, well, he should be more aware of his weaknesses . . . they have—lead to consequences in the past.”

“That my dear was Victor’s fault.” He tells her, “As you well know.”

“Yes,” She says idly, looking about the laboratory as if expecting the Baron to step out of the shadow at any moment, his gaunt face revealing his death head’s grin, “Or, so you have always said . . . be that as it may, I have come to see you regarding our mutual friend.”

“Angelique?”

“Yes,” Catriona strides over to one of the tables. She lifts a beaker and looks at it, “What have you told her?”

“I?” He asks, “I have not seen her until—until she attempted to kill me.”

“Really?” She puts the beaker down, and turns to look at him, “And even then?”

“Let’s say I did not find the opportunity to say much of anything.”

“Let me ask this another way. What does she know?” Her fingers lightly playing over the strange, antique instrument panel.

“Miss please don’t touch anything,” Agent Nine says stepping closer to her.

Dr. Praetorius looks at both of them, concern on his face, “Yes, the agent is quite right. Things her don’t like to be touched.”

“And I don’t like you evading the question.”

“I—I suspect she knows more than we wish, if not all . . . by now. After all, she has been with him all this time, I am more than certain he’s spoken of it.”

Catriona looks at him thoughtfully as he lifts a bottle of gin and pours himself another drink.

“I wouldn’t think you could keep many secrets when you are trapped in time and space.”

Kaye looks at the device before her, her long fingers lovingly running along its lines. “Yes—there is that to consider.”

“Shall we have a seat Catriona?” Dr. Praetorius looks at Agent Nine, who, having moved over to one of his work tables, seems unduly interested in the contents of a steaming liquid, “Please do be careful there and do not touch any of those beakers.” He gestures with his hand holding the newly poured glass of gin, “Please—please, this way.”

He leads the way through the maze of instruments and tables cluttered with chemicals.

Agent Nine quickly slips a sealed beaker into her pouch before following.

Catriona strides across the laboratory, her ash blonde hair windblown not so much to made her look tousled, but to give her an even more alluring look the agent thinks as she watches her walk over to the small sitting area. A dark sofa and two chairs. A small table and lamp. Agent Nine, furtively watches now as Catriona slips a delicate hand under her dress to flatten it as she takes a seat across from the doctor.

“And Báthory? What of her? How much of it does she know?” Kaye asks.

“My dear, Catriona, you are under a mistaken impression that I am privy to far more knowledge.”

“That is why Vanessa sent you, isn’t it?”

He looks at her and lifts a brow, “Is it? I thought it was to deliver a card.”

“You, a delivery boy? I’d sooner say the Baron was a saint.”

“Well, I would think if anyone should know what Erzsébet, knows, or plans, I would suspect, it would be you – “

“Meaning?”

“It was your gambit to play, my dear. I mean it was after all your plan.”

“And theirs.”

“Yes—you were sure to take advantage of that, now didn’t you.” He says and takes a sip of his gin.

“When she appeared, what did she say to you?”

“Erzsébet or Angelique my dear?”

“Both.”

“Erzsébet, if I remember properly told me she should shatter me all about the room.’ He waves the glass of gin about, “She was rather furious as you can well imagine, that infamous Báthory temper, and all. She felt it was really quite the mistake to have told Nicole of her at all. Though truth be told, I do think she was far more livid that she was not the one allowed to tell her, and as for Angelique?” He sighs, “When she arrived she informed me that she intended to kill me for, and I do want ot make sure I quite this precisely – for putting that abomination in her womb.”

Agent Nine standing at the edge of the sofa, removes the safety from the gun.

Dr. Praetorius pretends not to notice that the agent’s furtive movement and continues, “An abomination that if anyone should be killed for putting in her womb, it should be you. You know my dear; I have never known anyone to have three mothers—other than Miss Collins. Seeing as how, properly speaking you are one also . . . seeing as how it was after all through your machinations her conception was possible to begin with.”

“That doctor had remained our secret for some time.”

“Well my dear that secret is not so secret any more. As I said, she knows, and so he no doubt told her.”

“It was his plan – doctor.”

“I don’t think she sees it that way my dear—but then again, we have no way of knowing how Barnabas may have revealed the truth to, you of all people know just how clandestine he is—almost as much as you . . . and, so, Agent Nine, if I were you, I might keep an eye out for her, she is rather quite the powerful witch.” he says and pulls at his collar remembering her choking him.

“Yes—doctor that she is.” Catriona contemplates.

“Now,” he crosses his leg and sits back in his chair, “Seeing as how you have asked me questions. I think it only fair that it is time for me to ask a few of my own.”

“To which I may not answer.” Catriona Kaye tells him evenly.

“Are you still Catriona, or are you truly Victoria Wren?”

Kaye sits back with a smile, “Was it the key?”

“That is on a need to know basis Doctor.” Agent Nine suddenly speaks up – not certain who is classified to have that knowledge.

He looks up at the agent, “Oh my dear, there are so many things I need to know. “ He then looks rather languidly back to Catriona Kaye, “But, to answer your question, my dear, yes, the Key and of course that little excursion of yours to the Wasteland. Really, not quite within the power of Miss Kaye. So. Is Kaye dead?”

“No, we are . . . all together.”

He leans forward, “Oh, now that is truly interesting—you share the same body? Consciousness? Thoughts, or memory?”

“Yes.” She says. “But that is beyond the subject.”

“Oh my dear? I would think not, I mean, do I need to refresh your memory Catriona? Seeing has how Victoria now has it.”

“No—you do not doctor.”

“Then you do remember how all this began.” He asks swilling the gin in his glass, “And that little sleight of hand you pulled in order to get me access to Erzsébet Báthory. The experiment?”

“Oh I remember doctor, all too well . . . ” She says with some weariness.

“Miss Kaye, are you well?” The agent suddenly asks seeing Miss Kaye seemingly grow faint for a moment.

VIctoria Wren looks up at her and smiles weakly, “Yes.” She says to the agent, and then looks over to the doctor, “Yes, I know.”

The doctor looks over at the agent, “You will find that our Miss Kaye has very little remorse for whatever she does, whereas Victoria, well, let’s say Victoria is of an entirely different mind.”

She narrows her eyes, “The three of them planned it all, yes, I am quite aware.”

Dr. Praetorius looks at her intently, “Oh, my, it is you.”

“Catriona, my father, and her father?”

“Oh, yes. This is all rather fabulous. So how does it work, multiple personality?” He sits back. “The sins of the father’s my dear are always visited upon the daughters.”

“And so, Doctor. Is this the time?”

“Oh, now, that? I do not know—truly, only your father knew that for certain – but, yes, we all very much suspect that it is. So many things are coming together.”

“Which is why Angelique is here?”

“Now that is the question isn’t? So—even Catriona does not know?”

“I would not be asking, if she did.”

Agent Nine suddenly draws her gun and points it at some expensive looking equipment, “If you know anything that she needs to know Doctor, I would strongly suggest you had better start answering and quit being cute by half.”

The doctor looks at her then back at Wren, “Oh, now, that is a rather expansive statement my dear. Just what does she need to know? I am not at all sure, not knowing what she does or doesn’t know at this point. A much better question might be what question would YOU like me to answer Agent Nine?”

“Careful Praetorius.” Victoria Wren tells him.

“The right one.” Agent Nine tells him, looking back at Victoria Wren oddly – what is she hiding?

He looks at the agent, “And my dear just what is the right one?”

“Are you still trying to be cute with me Doctor, I suggest that is a very dangerous game to play.”

“I, Agent Nine, have never played a game with you. Which I can not assure others may not have done or may even now be doing.” He takes a sip of gin, “I mean, just what did the lovely Miss Coat’s tell you, seeing as how darling Vanessa has seen fit to put you in the eye of this hurricane.”

“Anything and everything that keeps her safe.” She tells him, the gun still pointed at the antique equipment, which she figures to him is far more worrisome than if she were to shoot him.

“Oh I really doubt that.”

Victoria fingers the Silver Key, “Doctor, I would suggest you be very, very careful where you tread.”

“So, then a question for you Agent Nine—are you aware of just whom you are—protecting?”

“Yes.” She lowers the weapon a bit.

“Really, then whom, whom do you think you are protecting?”

“Catriona Kaye.”

Victoria Wren looks at him, “It is a bit ironic, don’t you think?”

Dr. Praetorius smiles wickedly, “Oh absolutely, but then again, they do love irony.”

Agent Nine stares at him—who loves irony? What are they alluding to? What are they not saying?

“Allow me Agent Nine, the woman before you is Catriona Kaye, ex-chairman of the Diogenes Club and she is also Victoria Wren.”

“Sorry Doctor, I already knew that.”

“The enigmatic Victoria Wren, an Extraordinary Agent of the Club . . . recruited in 1913 by Mycroft Holmes”

“1911, Dr. Praetorius”

“Oh really – you see, the lie is never as good as the truth, but then again, Mycroft was led to you by a very special gentleman.”

Victoria smiles, “My dear father.”

“Who in fact was instrumental in her being recruited.” He continues.

“Special gentleman?” Agent Nine asks, “Her father?”

“Yes, well, both her father’s actually, Sir Alastair, for the Special Branch and Randolph. Who envisioned her recruitment in . . . now this is a bit sketchy, my dear, as I am not privy to certain aspects of it all and so Catriona you may need to fill in some of the specifics on this, but the plan was conceived in 1980″

“1979.” She says and fingers the key.

“Warsaw?”

“Prague.”

“Ah, Prague, always back to Prague.” The doctor smiles.

“That was when they met.”

“Randolph Carter and Barnabas Collins?” He asks.

“Yes.”

“Who knew about the opening of the gate?”

“Carter.”

“Who knew how it could be stopped?”

“Barnabas Collins.”

He sits in utter fascination as Kaye would have never been so forthcoming, and it is amazing how he can tell the difference, as this is Wren before him.

“So began the plan.”

“Yes.”

“Did . . . if I may be so bold as to ask, did you exist?” He asks uncertain if he is digging too deeply.

“No—I am part of the plan also.”

“Then, Carter . . . went back in time and . . . he conceived—”

“Me? Yes. Both of us have been conceived for the plan.”

“You and Nicole?”

“Yes.”

“Collins then he knew they would capture Báthory?”

“Yes, he had become quite an adept in the Occult, and he had seen it in one of his glimpses of the future, while he was battling Count Petofi. At the time he was not aware of the consequence of Petofi’s betrayal of her to the Russians nor of the Clubs subsequent acquisition of her.”

The doctor cannot help feeling a thrilling excitement, at all of this sudden revelation, he looks up at the agent, “Do you understand Miss Nine?”

“I-I believe so,” She says looking at Wren, at the Silver Key.

“Two adepts became aware of when the gate would be opened.”

“And who would open it.” Victoria adds.

“And they conspired to formulate a plan to save the world – or at least, so their daughters could.”

“There are rules, Doctor.”

“Yes—as I have come to understand. So, is it Orne or Hutchinson?” The doctor asks, as he has never been this close to all of the truth at once, only this time Wren is suddenly oddly silent.

“But,” Agent Nine steps forward, “Doesn’t going into the past change the future automatically? Did they not start this whole madness to begin with?”

Catriona Kaye sits forward, “Yes. Barnabas Collins had done that more than once already. And so Time was already fractured.”

The doctor is now aware that Wren has given control back to Kaye—why? Because as Kaye she knows she will not answer so forthrightly?

Kaye sighs, “You see Carter had unleashed something in the restoration of himself, from a rather bad consequence of having made a wrong choice,” She looks at the doctor, “But that is a whole different story,” she motions with her hand, “But you see, he had to travel into the past in order to get something he had forgotten, and once he obtained it, he then traveled into future, because of what he found in the scroll and there he had seen the horror of what was to come. And so he came back in time to his old friend, Barnabas Collins.”

“Why could they not just rectify things themselves?”

“Carter’s god, Yog-Sothoth, constrained his movements in time. And Collins—well, they knew the reason for the opening of the gate – to breach the dimensions in order to restore him to our timeline.”

“So—he knew he was to mysteriously disappear?”

“Just not when.” Catriona explains, “Thus, it was late one night in Collin’s London townhouse, when Crater arrived to warn him of the eventual consequences of both their actions. The ultimate catastrophe: the return of the Old Ones. And so, they conceived a grand plan – to correct what they had put into place. In order to try and advert what they had set into motion, they understood they would need someone to be there at the moment when the gate was being opened, someone who could close it; someone who would have to be well versed in all of the ancient texts, all of the terrible, arcane knowledge of the Great Old Ones; someone who could not only learn the Old One’s dark magicks, learn what drives most men mad, but at the same time be immune to the corruption that comes with their knowledge. Thus Barnabas offered his child – who would be conceived to learn everything necessary to combat them. He knew they would have to be a very special child – a child of The Darkness. Thus the idea of the Experiment: a child conceived from the egg of a vampire and an ex-vampire’s sperm to be carried and nourished in the womb of a witch, all of which drew their powers, their very existence, from the Lord of Darkness himself”

“Nyarlathotep?” The doctor says.

Catriona Kaye nods, “Yes—the formula itself.”

“You gave it to Victor?”

“Obtained from a madman.”

Dr. Praetorius ponders that source.

“But in order for her to be there at that moment, at that time – Carter knew she would have to manipulate time . . . she would need an ally that had seen and spoken to Yog-Sothoth, who knew what he knew about the ultimate gate and the gates beyond.”

“You.” Dr. Praetorius comments.

“Yes, Victoria.”

“And so, Nicole Collins why was she made a vampire and not from birth?”

“That was not part of the plan.”

“Who?” The Doctor asks

“Hutchinson.” Kaye says as her eyes narrow. “The meddler.”

“He would do that to his own granddaughter?”

“Hutchinson is evil, doctor. He gave away his daughter for a book for God’s sake. There is nothing the man won’t do. His intent was to kill off the hope before her time.”

“But Vampires are infertile.” Agent Nine remarks, “How?”

Dr. Praetorius finishes his gin, “That is where I come in my dear. No vampire egg had ever been reanimated, until I did so.”

“Frankenstein’s got to be involved.” Nine remarks dryly.

Kaye looks at him, and he sighs.

“He’s alive?” Nine asks?

“That’s classified.” Kaye says even more dryly. “But the important thing now, as Mycroft’s brother was wont to say, the game is afoot. We know that Orne and Hutchinson are moving ever closer to the endgame.”

“The End, yes, they have brought an Outer God through the spheres.”

“An outer God here?” The agent asks.

“Hastur.” The doctor tells her aware his glass is empty.

“Their plan is moving apace, Doctor.” Kaye tells him.

“Yes. But now you are here.” He says, “The two daughters have arrived.”

“And the battle will soon begin.”

“But—Victoria and I are co-joined. I am not certain what it means.”

“And how did that happen?”

“A temptation from the Haunter of the Dark.” She admits

Agent Nine looks confused, as if everything she has not just heard would not confuse her, but then again, she was an agent of the Diogenes Club, “But was Hastur not turned away by that,” and her visor flickers, “mental woman that is Collins’ friend?”

“Samantha Brook?”

The visor flickers again.

“I fear or at least Catriona feared, that he was not displaced, but that he was allowed to come through to this world. We believe he is here – in Collinsport.”

“Have you not read The Star there are those who have already seen the Yellow Sign.” Kaye nods. “Yes. He is here.”

Agent Nine shakes her head, “That—that is not good.”

“No it is not.” Catriona Kaye agrees.

“But according to Carter and Collins’ plan, the one that was put into place in 1979, the plan will be thwarted went the two daughters come together.”

“I do not know how she will react when she finds out what her father did to her—which is by far worse than what Carter did to Victoria.” Catriona Kaye says, as her voice grows worrisome. “She was created solely as a weapon.”

“Do you know what she is capable of?”
“Yes, we know what she did in Paris.”

“Paris?’ Agent Nine asks – she knew that Collins was turned in Paris, but that was all the information about Paris she had been allowed to see.

“You know HE has come to see her?” The doctor informs Catriona.

“HE’s been coming to see her for years.”

“So, how do we control her?” Agent Nine asks.

Catriona Kaye sighs, “We can’t.”

“She is a weapon my dear,” the doctor says eyeing her gun, “That we developed without a safety.”

“Which is why I had her made a member, why I sent the doctor to watch her. To keep as close an eye on her as possible.”

“Why not assign her an agent?” Nine asks. “As a member, the chairwoman would have had the right too.”

Catriona looks up at her, “Coats tried that—Mr. D’Annar.”

“And what a truly foolish idea that turned out to be.” Praetorius says with a sadden shake of his head.

“I meant a real agent.”

“Rather than trying to determine whether she’s an agent of The Darkness, he tired to protect her.”

“Seven is quite adept at dealing with vampires.” Agent Nine continues.

“Well, Five was even better.” Praetorius sighs in response to Nine’s suggestion..

Catriona looks over sharply at the Doctor.

Agent Nine’s voice hardens, “Five?”

“Yes, the poor girl is now – “ He could certainly use another drink, “We don’t know what actually happened to Agent Five. She did get close to Collins – but then . . . the poor girl . . .

[A Season Three Soap Opera Moment]

“ . . . But alas, she apparently has no recollection of her past. Believes she is Miss Brook.”

“Doctor!” Catriona Kaye says suddenly her voice taunt.

He looks at Catriona and is aware of what he has just said.

“Brook? The deranged woman?”

Catriona Kaye turns and levels an icy stare at Agent Nine, “Yes. And that is not to be discussed.” She looks back to the doctor, “That is classified.”

Agent Nine looks to Kaye, “Brook? You can’t be serious—the woman is crazy.”

“How else do think she knew how to build a weapon that almost stopped Hastur?” The doctor tells her, “Why do you think she was a member of the UN’s Task Force 141?”

“Nevertheless . . . Praetorius . . . we are as yet not certain that was her intent.”

“Not her intent – good lord, your not suggesting that she . . .”

“She purloined a scroll from the Metropolitan Bishop of Providence.” Kaye informs him, “And we are uncertain of its contents. So, it is entirely possible that our Miss Brook has seen the Yellow Sign.”

Dr. Praetorius rises, “If that is so, then I for one believe it’s time for another drink.”

“Nicole—you have established a relationship with her?” Kaye asks.

He pours another dink, “I am not certain you would call it a relationship.” He caps the bottle, “I do know she doesn’t trust me.”

Kaye sighed, “Does anyone?”

He turns and strides back over toward his seat drink in hand, with a wry smile. “No my dear no does – and for good reason.”

“Would it be best for I to see her alone, or should you come with me, when I tell her what . . .”

“Her Father has done?”

“Yes.”

“You think that wise?” He asks, taking s ip of his gin. “To let her know.”

“The time is too rapidly approaching.”

Victoria Wren fingers her key and frowns, “It is rather troublesome that she hates Catriona so.”

“Yes.” He tells her, “And so there we have it. Miss Collins distrusts or hates us everyone.”

“What if we have her come to us?”

Catriona Kaye looks at Agent Nine, “You have an idea?”

“Yes, we send her a message. A short one, with just enough intel to hook her into coming to our house.”

The doctor ponders the suggestion. “She is very much like Alice in Wonderland, driven by her enormous curiosity.”

Victoria nods, “And when she arrives?” She looks to Agent Nine.

“You tell her what you need to in the course of a conversation, between the two of you, Victoria not Catriona.”

“It is important Victoria that the two of you find a way to work jointly— it was both of your father’s plans.” The doctor tells

Victoria reaches out a hand to Agent Nine. The agent takes it.

“I feel I am going to need your support Agent Nine. This will not to be easy.”

“You will have it Miss.”

Victoria gives her hand a comforting squeeze.

The corners of the agent’s mouth flicker.

“So Doctor—have you heard anything about it – is it here?”

“The Crimson Pearl?”

“Yes.”

“No. As far as I know, it has not been found.”

“Then they are not yet ready to go forward with their plans.”

“They are getting ready, you did read this morning about the beheadings?”

“Yes.” She nods, “That is why I am here.”

“It would seem that some is seeking to restore Zachery.” He says,

“Really?”

He looks at her quizzically.

“It could be that Zachery maybe trying to restore his old mentor.”

“Mason? Oh, now that is rather dicey I would say. Find Edward Carter and you have all the Anti-Saints.” The doctor surmises. “I fear they are much further along then we suspect Catriona. I mean, I have heard rumors that Finn-Gibbon – Hutchison—has been seen in Arkham. Someone resurrected him – and we still do not know who that was. I was never able to find Curwin.” Dr. Praetorius says wearily, “And Orne, God only knows where he has taken refuge. And if what you suspect that the Yellow Sign has appeared – then Hastur is here as well.”

“We must arrange this meeting with Nicole Collins quickly.” Kaye says and squeezes the Agent’s hand that she still holds.

Agent Nine squeezes back reassuringly.

“And you my dear need to find out what Angelique Collins is up to.”

Cue Music End of Episode