Chapter One; The Mysterious Letter

Basil of Baker street took a deep breath, lifting his thin and spindly fingers to stroke his chin in thought. With something close to a sigh, he shifted in his large red velvet chair, trying to get even the slightest more comfortable in the overly plush armchair, which was always his favorite, though at the moment he wanted to stand up and beat the chair into oblivion. His fingers inched slightly in need, to take up his violin and stroke up a few of those sweet notes to help his thinking. But, he knew this was not allowed, so instead he hummed under his breath, still stroking his chin, in some chance that the ministrations would make him think better. His emerald eyes never strayed from what was in front of him. After another moment of stroking, his eyes widen for the briefest second, before he chuckled.

With triumph dancing in his expressive eyes, Basil let his eyes leave the board for a second to stare at his opponent. With another chuckle, Basil lifted his dear old queen, and placed her into perfect position.

"Check mate!" Basil said simply, his slightly large front teeth prominent in his large grin.

Doctor David Q. Dawson let out a sigh as he tipped over his own king, for what seemed like the hundredth time. He lifted his paws to his face, stroking his blonde mustache with another sigh. He could never really win against Basil, though if he recalled right he had come so very close many times. Though, he did remember, now that he put serious thought to it, that eight years ago he had won, out of the sure luck, because at the time Basil had been horribly drugged. Dawson remembered vividly that he had vowed at that moment never to let Basil near a Chinese massage shop again, because after that little incident.. Well, it would be lucky if they where ever allowed to visit China again... If he recalled they had been in the Hong Kong on a case of some missing jewels. He let out a rusty chuckle as he remembered his second case, a case that had gained him a wife.

Dawson gave a slight misty sigh as he thought about his beautiful wife, his eyes glazing over with happiness as he recalled their meeting, in this very room in fact... He pulled out his musings as Basil let out a loud bout of laughter, his quick fingers setting up the chest board again, and Dawson felt a slight bit of panic enter him at the thought of playing Basil... Again.

"So sorry Old boy, I think you almost had me there! Why not give it another play, eh Dawson?" Basil said, not at all the slight panic expression that his friend had, instead focusing on placing the old and battered pieces on the slightly chipped board.

Before the shocked Dawson could even managed a reply, a soft knock echoed from the door, the slightly hallow sound made Basil look up, and tumble out of his armchair, his long legs stretching as he rushed to the door, his eyes glittering in hope that a case was on his hands. He stopped at the door, his now ruffled clothes being straighten, his paw came up, and he pushed back his hair in an almost debonair manner, that was utterly ruined as his slightly messy fur fell back. With something close to a growl, Basil knew that he needed a hair cut. His hair was a little unruly as of late, and it was pushing at his last nerve. With another almost growl, he wrenched the door open, just as another knock echoed from the other side of the door.

The mouse on the other side blinked at the slightly annoyed face that greeted him. Basil, on the other hand felt disappointment fill him at the sight of the Carrier mouse. His green eyes flickered to the slightly overflowing leather satchel that rested on the hip of the mouse. He quickly deduced that he was not here to ask for help. The Carrier was simply delivering the mail, and by the look of the gray mouse, he was a simple London mouse, nothing more. Basil squinted as he suddenly noticed the bright morning sunlight, and how Baker street was full of human activity. How strange he thought with a small dash of uneasiness, for a Carrier mouse to come so early in the morning.

The Carrier mouse, felt a little nervous at the sight of Basil's dark, green eyes that glared at him. In those eyes the mouse could see a calculating intelligence, and if he was not mistaken, a little bit of madness. With a gulp, the Carrier mouse, clutched the letter in his hands. Trembling, the mouse lifted the letter with a shaky flourish, and he held the letter in front of Basil's nose.

"A Mister Basil of Baker street?" the Carrier mouse asked, hating how his voice shook under the Basil's piercing green glare.

Basil simply nodded, his quick fingers snatching the letter out of the hands of the gray mouse. Who in turn scampered off as soon as the letter left his paws, running out into the chaos that was Baker street. Basil shut the door, turning to the ever familiar parlor, his eyes trained on the letter that was in his hands.

"Eh, Basil who was it?" called Dawson from his green velvet chair, not even looking at the now abandoned chess board.

"Carrier mouse." replied Basil, his eyes not straying from the mysterious letter.

Basil looked on thoughtfully on the letter, staring to remember where he had seen the familiar paper, and the elegant scripted that stated his name and address. With a sigh, he turned it over and saw the seal, which in truth was a simple thing of two elegantly placed letters; O and F. He opened the letter, not remembering where ever on Earth he had seen it.

On the letter only a few words warned him, and he felt excitement fill him as he read the cryptic letter;

Basil of Baker street, I coming to London. I thought to warn you.

O. F

Again, the mysterious O and F. Basil smiled his overly large grin, emerald eyes turning slightly manic.

"THE GAME'S A FOOT!" Basil bellowed out with joy.

Dawson look on, his dark eyes widening at the sight of the scrambling Basil. For the strangest reason, he felt a slight bit of dread enter him, and he felt that maybe his world was going to change.