At long last a update! From here on out, the updates will be a bit faster. ;)

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In the dark streets, a Figure walked about, whoever it was; seemed to have a limp. As the figure moved closer to a street lamp, light began to uncover it. The person had a peg leg and a broken wing...

Fidget was breathing deeply, but was well and alive nonetheless.

As he limped further into the night, he was hit in the face with a Mousedom news paper. Prying it from his face the bat took a look at it.

Breaking News! A mad rat is on the loose; he has escaped from Mousedom county jail, and goes by the name Genz! Be on the lookout, he is very dangerous!

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The house of Baker Street was peaceful and quiet as everyone slept; until a loud panicking pounding sound hit the front door.

Judson was the first to awaken and began to get worried as she woke Dawson up, but Basil was the first to get up and answer it, more in a irritated mood.

"I'm not a detective any more…I shouldn't have to put up with mice at my door at this time of night." Basil slightly grumbled. He was mostly just tired and a small part of him hurt, but it was by his own choice he wasn't solving cases anymore.

Opening the door, he did not expect what he saw; his eyes got frightening wide.

Just as the door opened, a girl fell to the ground, a pool of blood surrounding her. Basil was taken aback by the gruesome sight, but pulled himself together and yelled for Dawson, who by now; was in the room and had seen the woman fall.

The woman looked about the age of 20 and was in very bad shape. It was clear that she was attacked, but they were not sure by what. She had huge bite marks on her side and on her left ear. If Basil didn't know better, he'd swear someone or thing, tried to eat her.

"Call an ambulance!" Basil braked out knowing full well, she would need more help then what Dawson could provide.

In no time, all three of them were in the waiting room, waiting for the news of the girl's condition.

The sight in itself made Basil a little queasy, it wasn't that he couldn't handle the sight of blood, that wasn't the case at all…it was the helplessness, and the thought of how he felt only a year ago. Images of blood pooling around him flashed in his mind, slowly causing him to slip into a panic state of mind.

"Basil?" Dawson's voice jumped Basil out of his threatening state and the mouse looked up at his friend. "Are you okay?" he asked as he walked up to him taking a seat between him and Judson.

Basil smiled a little and gave a quick, silent nod. "Just…." Basil closed his eyes pushing the thoughts away. "Just tired old fellow." He answered.

Dawson gave a smile back, and took Judson's hand seeing she needed just as much comforting.

It was a good hour and a half before any doctors came in with any news.

"Mr. Basil?" the doctor asked getting Basil and the others attention.

"That's me." the retired detective answered standing up.

"The young lady you just brought in has just gotten out of surgery; she is in room 24 if you wish to go see her now, we were able to stitch her wounds and it appears she will recover within the week." He smiled.

Basil, Dawson, and Judson walked into the room; the young woman was laying in the bed but she seemed to be fighting her sleep.

Basil took a seat next to her. "Glad to see your awake." He began.

"Who did this to you my dear?" Dawson asked, knowing Basil wanted to know just as much as he did.

The lady gave a whimper. "I don't know his name…but it was a huge, horrifying rat."

Basil shot up suddenly, "A rat?" the lady nodded.

"I was walking home when he jumped out at me….I barely escaped with my life….but I can't help but feel he let me get away."

Basil gave a questioned look. "Why do you think that?"

"He mumbled something about wanting to eat the once famous Basil of Baker Street." She replied putting her head down as if she had just sealed the detectives' fate.

Basil's heart pounded just slightly. "Why is it you came to me when it's clear I don't solve cases anymore and haven't for a good year?" Basil asked. He started to fear Ratigan had gotten out of jail, but there had been no news of it, where he's sure there would be.

"I had nowhere else to go…your place just happened to be closer." She stated softly.

"What about his looks?" Basil questioned, slight panic in his voice, but it didn't come out that way, which he was thankful for, instead it come out as a worried question, which in this situation was very appropriate; worrying for others was no weakness unless shown by one with no heart.

"The rat had red eyes and black prickly fur." She explained. Basil calmed a little, Ratigan had gray fur, not black. "And he was dressed in jail clothes." She continued.

Basil nodded in understanding, as the information was poured out to him.

"Don't worry mama; we will see that this mad rat is put away, where he belongs." Basil stated.

"Lady Alyson." She replied. Basil gave a momentary look of confusion but quickly smiled and held out his hand for her to take.

"Nice to meet you, Lady Alyson."

~Back in the ally~

Fidget kept a strong look out for the rat in the paper; he had just survived the wrath of one rat, there was no way he was going to be murdered by another.

The air began to get thicker and slowly started to show signs of rain, some drops landing just a few feet in front of the permanently injured bat.

Fidget pulled his sweater collar higher trying to get as much shelter from his shirt as possible.

In a matter of moments' the rain formed a fog around the street, making it impossible to see. But in the moment of loss Fidget felt a clawed paw grab him and pull him into the shadows.

~Hospital~

"I just have one more question." Basil said, "Where exactly did he attack you at?"

Basil wrote down the precise coordinates and walked down the hallway of the hospital, Dawson following right behind.

"Does this mean you're taking on this case Basil?" Dawson asked with hope.

"No old fellow, I'm going to let the police take care of it…once I give them these papers they will have the whole area surrounded and blocked off."

"What if he has moved by now?"

"I gave them a big enough perimeter that he would have to have a hidden pass way or super fast speed to get away." Basil grinned.

"Basil…" Dawson began, Basil stopped hearing the close footsteps stop and turned to face his friend. "Look."

Walking over to see what his friend, was showing him Basil grinned bigger and snatched up the paper on the counter they had just about walked by.

"Dawson this is the one! Genz!" a part of Basil gave a sigh, it wasn't Ratigan…but now he was confused as why this rat Genz was interested in eating him. He had never meet the rodent before, why was he on his 'hit' list?

"Maybe these chordates aren't are easy ticket out." Basil stated noticing the fine print at the bottom of the article. Genz is a blood thirsty murderer, who has eaten up to 100 mice in jail, and 23 cops who have tried to arrest him since his escape.

"Even if he doesn't move from that spot, he'll simply see it as a free meal."

When I said this was going to be DARK I wasn't kidding! And just for review sake, Basil is recalling Ratigan for a reason…please review and tell me what you think! ^_~ remember a happy writer is only happy when there are reviewers!