Chapter 11: Light in the Dark

Naomi had stood up from the bed, stretching her sore body up once, and then took a few tentative steps. There was very little pain at this point, just weakness, and she reminded herself to thank John once they were on their way. Moving over, she reached for her cream color cloak, that had managed to make it from the cruiser mostly unscathed. Her lightsaber and boots were next and soon she was moving towards the door.

Mycroft followed after her, having clipped his lightsaber on his belt and thrown his cloak over his shoulders. Out of the room and in the hallway, he silently walked with her down to the lobby casting only the occasional glance her way. Hard to read as she was, he got very little from her but didn't ask. If there was anything she needed him to know, she'd tell him. It was like their very own unspoken rule.

Since they were alone in the lobby, Naomi reached out her hand and slipped into his, intertwining their fingers. Stepping closer, so the cloak sleeves covered their hands, she breathed in deep. "I'm fine." She said, not turning to look at him. "Just tired. I will let you know if that changes."

Mycroft twined his fingers with Naomi's and nodded once. "Thank you," he said softly, knowing full well she'd sensed the unease in him. "I'm simply concerned, and rightfully so, but I trust all will be well."

"I know it's hard." Naomi said, squeezing his hand briefly and resisting the urge to pull him into her arms and not let go. She didn't like his unease, and it spilled over their Force connection. "I almost lost you once too." In addition to the any number of times things could have gone horribly wrong but didn't, that needn't be said. "We do not have control over what will be, only shape it as we can to the best of our ability. But I have faith that we can succeed here." She smiled at him briefly and caught Sherlock coming from the other side of the room. They'd finish the conversation in Enochian if need be. One of the many benefits of it.

Mycroft's eyes followed Naomi's to his brother and he straightened to his full height in preparation. "I'm confident we can succeed here too," he replied quietly. "Naturally, I will do my best to make sure that happens. And we will both keep our promise and live forever," he finished in Enochian just as Sherlock, John and Natasha neared them. "Are we ready?"

Sherlock slowed as he neared to two of them. "Are we walking or stealing a landspeeder?" Before John could say anything, Sherlock put a hand out to shush him. "We're not going to get arrested."

"A landspeeder's quicker, but if we're going for stealth it's probably not the way to go," Natasha commented as she came to a stop just behind Sherlock and John. "We're ready."

Naomi smiled slightly, but it was soft and nearly unnoticeable. "Let's borrow one then. Ride it in as close as is safe and then walk the rest of the way in. It is on the other side of the city, it'll be midmorning by the time we get there. And I'd rather not expend the energy on walking."

"Agreed? Okay." Sherlock said, not bothering to receive any more confirmation than that as he zipped away from the group and headed for the door, black cloak flowing out behind him in the dramatic manner he admitted to liking.

Naomi had, regretfully, let go of Mycroft's hand, and caught John as they followed Sherlock, falling into step with him. "I'd like to thank you again, John. You've been very brave, and very determined. I am very glad you are here."

"Thank you, Master." John said, glancing over at her. He took a second to understand getting a compliment from Mycroft and Naomi in the same could hours. He chalked it up to her nearly dying, and just nodded his head. "I'm just doing what I can."

Mycroft followed after John and Naomi, while Natasha drew the hood of her cloak over her head and brought up the rear. Mycroft didn't speak, hands clasped behind his back as he moved in quiet meditation. Natasha silently observed the group for a moment, before clearing her head for what lay ahead. Molly was never far away from her thoughts, but she'd studiously kept herself in check after her initial breakdown. She'd spent a long time mastering her emotions, and then remastering them during her separation from Sherlock. She wouldn't let so much hard work go to waste now, not when so many things hung in the balance.

Still, there was tension in the air, or perhaps a faint warning in the Force. Closing her eyes, she reached out to Molly for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

Sherlock quickly found a land speeder, something that would fit the five of them. Though if deductions over the course of several years were correct, he wasn't sure Naomi and Mycroft would mind being squished together. He made a note to address it another day. He took the driver's side, eyeing it for a moment before slipping in to get it started. It wasn't particularly nice, and was outside a rundown house. A quick deduction put them as late night partiers, which means they wouldn't miss the speeder until later that afternoon, plenty of time to leave it somewhere else. He'd been properly ignoring the different feelings that were seeping off of them. John's nervousness and guilt. Naomi's pained concern. Mycroft's unease. And then Natasha… He felt a tug of compassion on his mind, but let it be. Things to do, and he had a hard time understanding emotion, it was a distraction.

John eyed the speeder, but then slipped into the back seat next to Naomi, folding his cloak around himself as the wind picked up. Once everyone was safely inside, Sherlock fired up the repulsers and they took off down the street.

Natasha leaned back against the passenger seat beside Sherlock as they sped forward and pulled out the data pad to chart out their trajectory. Their intended destination wouldn't be far away with their chosen mode of transportation, but it was still a bit of a drive, what with twists and turns through deserted but narrow streets. It was only when they were nearing the building that she put it away and closed her eyes against the cool, early winter air.

Meanwhile, Mycroft surveyed the group from his seat while covertly holding Naomi's hand between them. Their sleeves as well as their positioning ensured they wouldn't be discovered, but he kept the contact brief. It was meant to reassure, both her and himself, in a physical way. Unneeded, but certainly not unwanted.

Eventually, Natasha opened her eyes and leaned forward in her seat. Her eyes narrowed against the breeze as they neared the specified location. "Over there. You see it?"

"See what?" Sherlock didn't look away from the street as he slowed the speeder down, extending his Force senses towards the dark area she was looking at. "We aren't quite there yet…"

"The mountain." Naomi supplied quietly from the back, keeping her voice down. "There's a light. Maybe just a civilian, but it feels different."

"Another place they are keeping Cybermen?" John asked.

"Or a home base." Naomi answered.

Natasha confirmed Naomi's words with a nod, eyes still fixed on the spot she'd caught the flash. "There it is again," she said quietly, this time pointing towards the spot so Sherlock could see. Her lips pursed as she tried to decide whether or not it was a good idea to go on the speeder. "If it is a home base, there's bound to be a lot of security. You mentioned before that Moriarty would take every precaution."

"We shouldn't go on foot all the way up either," Mycroft replied from his place.

"So we get close," Natasha said. "As far up as we can manage without being seen."

"Security…plus the fact that we're walking right into a trap." Sherlock said, leaning back in his seat.

"If you know it's a trap, it's easier to beat it." Naomi replied gently. "The mountain does give many opportunities for hazardous terrain, but it does not choose sides, you can use it to your advantage as well."

Sherlock hummed thoughtfully, pushing the speeder forward again."Can you feel Molly?" He asked, glancing over at Natasha.

"Yes," Natasha answered immediately. "She's there, she's alive, and not as scared as I would've imagined. She's... determined." A small proud smile curved her lips, but it disappeared just as quickly. "I'm with Naomi, we use the terrain to our advantage. For cover, mostly, because once we're in, we're in for good."

"Deal. I'll get this as close as I can. And then it looks like we're going mountain climbing." Sherlock said, his eyes flitting up to the mountain, now lit by the gentle rays of a new sunrise. A waterfall he hadn't noticed the day before streamed from underneath where the light had been, now properly concealed. If you weren't looking for it, the building would not have been seen. Lucky break? The Force guiding them? A signal from Molly? A trap? Any number of possibilities arose. Thankfully, he was sure he had a course of action for anything that might happen. He glanced at his brother over his shoulder, but then took a turn and faced forward again. It was a couple minutes of driving very quickly and sharp turns, but he found a place to park the speeder. He hopped out, followed closely by John, and stood, looking up at it with renewed determination.

Natasha hopped out of the speeder on her side, casting a quick look up the mountain before turning to leave the satchel on her seat. What they were about to do was risky, and always there was a possibility that one or more of them would get hurt. Naomi had been hurt already and barely survived, it was only logical for her to think about the possibility that she might be hurt as well. Or worse. Sherlock, John, Naomi, they'd survive if she died, but Molly would need someone to not just take over her training but help her through the loss. Only one person came to mind for that. Her eyes drifted to Naomi and she regretted not having spoken to her sooner, but there was no time for that now. "Alright." She turned back towards the mountain. "Let's go."

Mycroft hadn't missed Sherlock's look and his eyes inevitably lingered on his brother. It was just as he was about to pull him aside and ask when he felt a strong ripple through the Force. His eyes strayed to the city and a small frown creased his brow. "Naomi."

"Cybermen." Naomi said, having felt the ripple as well. It wasn't a good one. She straightened herself up to her full height, already pulling her lightsaber out. "In the city."

"The people here." John said, a little too loudly. "What if…?" He was interrupted by an explosion a few blocks away.

"Sherlock, Natasha, I'd advise you go now. Mycroft and I can handle it as best we can here." Naomi said.

"What about me?" John asked, eyes darting to Sherlock.

"You'll come with us. You're my padawan, and we will need you." Sherlock said, glancing at Mycroft for confirmation.

"Naomi and I will take care of the city, you three go on," Mycroft confirmed with a nod. Using the Force, he drew his lightsaber to his hand. "We'll meet back here to regroup and use comm links only if necessary."

"Be safe," Natasha replied, already moving towards the mountain to start their climb.

Sherlock took off after Natasha, John on his heels. The mountain was rocky and snow covered, trees dotted up and down. But there was a path to be found. He estimated the climb shouldn't take them more than twenty minutes, not with Force jumps and sheer determination. He launched himself up, landing next to Natasha in a crouch. "You alright?"

Natasha glanced at him, determined green locking with blue. "Yeah, I'm fine." She looked back up at the mountain and tensed her body, ready to Force jump again. "I've got your back and you've got mine" The next bit she added with the slightest hint of a tease. "Just keep up, Charming." Her body launched upwards and she had to climb for a bit before she reached another edge wide enough for her to jump again.

Sherlock smirked slightly. Yes, Molly was in trouble. Yes, the planet was about to be overrun by an army of Cybermen. Yes, his rival, who'd nearly kill both him and John last time they met back when John was still very young, was here and out for blood. But Sherlock was actually enjoying this. He was working with his padawan and his partner, and otherwise a very skilled team. So he 'kept up'. Working as the well oiled team they were, even with padawans. He was definitely looking forward to getting back to work with her. But first, save the world. He could do that. He miscalculated a jump, and nearly fell, but flipped himself onto the next ledge with a smirk.

John was tired, he'd admit to that. However, he was fully alert and ready to take on whatever trap lay ahead of them. His missions with Sherlock rarely ever went completely perfectly. There was always some trouble. Both his Master's affinity for these things, and the kinds of missions they were sent on. Just last month had them both stranded on an island by an angry crime lord. He'd take the hot sun of that over the ever decreasing temperatures of the mountain any day. Pushing those thoughts aside, he jumped up, following Sherlock and Natasha as best he could.

Natasha sprang up onto a narrow ledge and plastered herself front-first against the jagged, snow-covered surface. Her eyes drifted up the side of the mountain, icy wind whipping her black robes and red hair around her with increasing force the higher up she went. For the second time during their visit to Atoa she was reminded of her homeplanet and the cold winds that were so characteristic of its climate. She'd only visited the place once more after she'd been brought to the Temple, a dangerous mission that had them trudging through snow to get from one place to another through the entire ordeal.

Then, like now, Sherlock had been with her, both of them working with their padawans to take down a growing but elusive threat to Russalband's security known only as the Winter Soldier. Then, like now, Sherlock had been enjoying himself, while John and Molly commiserated over the lack of heat. Then, like now, she'd been confident they'd succeed because, like Sherlock, she'd been enjoying herself too and they were always at their finest, at their sharpest, and at their very best when they were enjoying the game. Except that now, unlike then, Molly wasn't with them, and Natasha didn't take kindly to that.

Yes, she'd missed Sherlock, and yes, she was ready to go back to work with him. Now more than ever she was convinced that staying away for so long was a mistake, but it was a mistake she'd rectify. Later. Later when Molly was safely back in her care, the world was safe, and both men were brought to justice. She couldn't help thinking that when facing the odds they were facing, she couldn't ask for a better team, or a better partner.

Now, she stretched out her hand, took hold and Force pushed herself up the mountain, carefully moving from ledge to ledge until she was finally hauling herself over the top with a laugh on her lips.

The building, carved from the rock itself, was larger now that they were up at the top. Sherlock barely noticed the wind, or the snow, or the chill, he'd accepted it and let it go. The only thing that mattered was the mission, the game. Moriarty was up there…and they'd all dimmed their Force presence to hopefully conceal their approach. Surprise was of the essence. He leaned over the edge he'd just jumped onto to help John up the rest of the way, grabbing his padawan's hand in a firm grip. Once John was standing, Sherlock slipped in next to Natasha, leaning in to whisper in her ear. "You take point?"

Natasha nodded once in reply and fixed her eyes on the massive two-storied building now towering over them some distance away. She could sense Molly on the top floor but security was bound to be tight throughout the building, so they really only had two options. They could either march their way in through the front door, using what little element of surprise they had left. Or they could climb up from the outside and fight their way down once they had Molly in their care. Either way, she was sure they'd be fighting more than their fair share of opponents, aside from the two men they'd come to find. The only question was whether they'd be fighting against them as three or as four. Decisions, decisions.

She turned her head toward him and spoke in a whisper. "We climb up to the top floor from the outside and find Molly first."

"There's a balcony up there." Sherlock noted quietly, putting a hand on John's shoulder to bring him in. "Good landing point, if we scale the other side. One of them will be probably there with Molly, wherever she is. Can't tell who, or where the other one is." The Dark Side was prevalent here, but distinguishing them meant filtering through a excess of negative Force energy, and he couldn't pinpoint who was where.

"Then we go in through the balcony," Natasha replied quietly, reaching up to pull her windblown hair into the long red braid she preferred for battle. "I'll take care of Molly and whoever's with her, you two handle the rest. I'll join in and help as soon as I'm able." She glanced at John but settled her eyes on Sherlock. "Agreed?"

Sherlock pursed his lips briefly, thinking through it. "That will do for now, but let's keep our options open." He paused again, letting the dull roar of the waterfall push through his mind as he thought over the next few steps. Their priority should be Moriarty and Petrovich, but they were probably going to be where Molly was. They'd find her first. "Anyways, I'm sure John and I can handle it."

"I'll try to be quick with Molly," Natasha assured him. "Four of us will be better than three." If she's in any condition to fight, her mind supplied needlessly. Her jaw clenched, and she strengthened her resolve. "If she's hurt... too hurt to help... we'll reevaluate."

"We can think on our feet, Princess, we're good at that." Sherlock said, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze and then moving around the base of the building to the other side where they could scale up the rock next to the waterfall. "Let's get in there first."

Natasha spared only a brief glance for the waterfall before turning to follow both him and John up the rock. With their skills, it wasn't long before they were pulling themselves up and over the balcony to land in a quiet crouch. Natasha's eyes did the usual scan of their surroundings.

The balcony itself was long and wide, and towards the middle there was a set of ornate double doors, closed and presumably locked. Or perhaps not, if they were expecting them. She shrugged out of her cloak and dropped it in a corner before reaching for her lightsaber and turning towards Sherlock with a look and a tilt of her head that signaled she was going in first.

Sherlock nodded simply, very attune to the usual nonverbal communication. He'd taken his cloak off as well, tossing it towards a corner of the balcony for later retrieval, if necessary. The chill didn't bother him, and he would do without if necessary. His eyes swept the balcony, doing a quick calculation of it if they used it as an escape route. Once again meeting Natasha's eyes, he winked and gave her a little smirk, giving her the 'go ahead'.

John, on the other hand, would take clues from his Master. The 'separation' had been three years ago, so the padawan was much more accustomed to working solo with Sherlock. Not like he hadn't had any contact with Natasha, just not outside of the temple. He pulled out his lightsaber, tossed his cloak, and waited.

Natasha's lips curved into a small smirk and she turned and silently made her way to the double doors. Reaching for one of the handles, she twisted the nearly frozen metal and gave the door the slightest push. It gave way, and she couldn't help thinking it was all too easy. Then again, they'd always known there was a possibility it would be. Such was the nature of walking into a trap. With another glance at Sherlock, Natasha slipped in through the door and activated her lightsaber, green eyes sharp as she took in the scene in front of her.

Cybermen were guarding the room, still and quiet but decidedly awake, if that was the proper word for it. From her position she could count almost a dozen, but she was sure there were areas blocked from her view. Two mercenaries guarded doors on either side as well, but dead center was Molly in a set of glowing blue shackles, wide awake but eyes pinched closed. It was a split second of observation, and a moment later a familiar looking man stepped out from behind her. "Ivan."

"Tsarina," he greeted with a smile. "It's been a while."