A Dish Best Served Cold
Summery: Moriarty is out rule the world once again and he's had it with Sherlock Holmes's interference. He has a plan, but the detective's friends may pay the ultimate price.
DisclaimerAll Publicly Recognizable Characters, Settings, Ideas, etc. are the Property of DiC Entertainment and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Original Characters and Plot are the Property of the Author. The Author is in no way Associated with the Owners, Creators, or Producers of DiC Entertainment. No Copyright Infringement is intended.
Chapter 25 – Location, Location, Location
Moriarty's 3rd Base, Unknown Location in England
Mace tossed restlessly in her bed. 'I am so not getting any sleep tonight, wonder if this is how Marie-Antoinette felt on the eve of her death.' she sighed morosely, there was no guarantee she would die tomorrow, just a high probability. 'It's just a matter of timing. I get word tomorrow of our location to Mickey he gets word to the Yard, Yard storms base, it's a good plan, only problem is if the Yard storms the base while I'm in my session Moriarty will realize I told them and he will up the level to one hundred and leave, making sure I die a painful death right in front of Sherlock… before the yard can get to me. So again, my best chance of survival is timing if we're not in the middle of a session he won't waste time getting his revenge on me.
'I know Moriarty is going to insist on a session tomorrow, he said he would give Holmes a two day reprieve, that was yesterday and today. How am I going to time this?
'I got it!' She exclaimed inwardly a few minutes later, 'of course there's no guarantee that Moriarty is going to cooperate, but I don't think he'll object, at any rate better me then Holmes. He did save my life.'
Her hand flitted to her throat as she remembered how she had ticked off Young and he had sent his men to convince her not to pester him anymore.
Mace had been looking for Holmes that night after hearing that he had been inquiring for some information, she was so exicted at the prospect of meeting and working with him. She had been just outside the back entrance of the bar when Young's men had made their move, she had been doing alright on her own until one of them had managed to wrap her own chain around her throat. That's when Holmes had shown up, she would never forget the image of 'Scott' beating up the three remaining men—it had been priceless. Mace had recognized him of course, she had seen his picture and knew what to look for since she also used disguises quite a bit.
"Are you alright?" he had asked, turning to her.
"Ya I'm fine thanks, guess I owe you one." she wrapped her manriki-gusari around her wrist and did up the clasp.
"Think nothing of it," he said as he turned.
"Oh, But I think a great deal of it Sherlock."
He had turned back to face her so quickly she could hear his neck crick. He had simply stared at her, waiting for her to make the next move. She walked up to him, took his arm in hers and said. "Don't look so surprised, you've been looking for me after all."
"I have?"
"Well you should have been, you want information on the criminal underworld you come to me, name's Mace."
Mace sighed as her mind returned to the present. 'Hope my plan works… I don't want to die.'
It was about 7:00 p.m. the next morning when Watson 'awoke' to find his redheaded companion in conversation with the nearest mounted security camera.
"I need to talk to Moriarty. Now please, lot's to do today!" she said in a cheerful tone before taking a seat at the table. Fifteen minutes later Moriarty appeared at the door.
"Was this really of such importance that it could not wait until the completion of my breakfast?"
"What are you complaining about? Last I checked you Victorian Brits got up early, and yes, 'fraid it was." She got up and walked over to him. "I want to get an early start on things today. I have to contact some people in Manchester, and I want to see if Mickey has found anything on Young."
"Very well, I will see to it your breakfast is brought to you immediately, anything else?" he asked with a smirk.
"Let's skip the foreplay Moriarty, you know what I want you watched us eat last night."
"You wish to volunteer." It wasn't a question.
"I'd like to start as soon as I get back and get it over with if that's convenient."
"I see no reason why not, I should available, we can have another 'war conference' afterwards, Jax and Kerai will escort you"
Mace nodded and Moriarty vacated the room.
"Mace," said Watson, "are you certain you want to do this?"
"Yes Watson, I'm sure, better me then Holmes, do you really think two days is enough?" Watson shook his head. "Then this seems the only option. I'll be fine, don't worry."
"Why are we going to Manchester?"
"I… have… contacts… there. How many times do I have to tell you?"
Jax glared, "Why do you have contacts in Manchester?"
"I used to run drugs from London to Manchester when I was a teen. Now stop whining, the trip isn't that long and since we're traveling in the early morning we don't have to contend with traffic."
Eventually they landed and Jax opened the door for Mace. "Thank you," said Mace sweetly. "We're going into this pub," she said gesturing to a fairly nice upper-class establishment. "It's where I'm meeting Fletcher, he's going to update me on the criminal activities of the local mobs."
"Ever hear of a vidphone?" asked Jax
"Ever hear of a bug?" Mace snapped, Jax was becoming grating. "Look," she said messaging her forehead, "let's just go in and talk to Fletcher. Okay?"
"You're in a bad mood, though from what I hear you have good reason to be, I could hear Holmes scream, you should have seen what the shackles reduced him to; a helpless pathetic old man. It was funny."
"You're one to talk of helpless, I noticed the defensive wounds on your arm, but your knuckles are in perfect shape, you never even fight back. How pathetic is that." It was more a statement then a question.
"At least I don't follow some stinky ninety-something-relic."
"Stinky?"
"Ya he's a stinky old man, Mr Stinky." (1)
Mace turned and looked at the women. "What are you? Five?"
"Ladies," said Kerai, "as amusing as this conversation is, we have business too attend to."
Mace sighed and looked around for her contact. She saw him and smiled as she walked over.
"Ah Holmes, so good to have you among the conscious."
"Come to tell me that Mace has volunteered to take my place?" asked Holmes flatly.
"As sharp as ever Holmes, yes she has volunteered; I really must thank you, my plans would have been ruined if not for her. How ever did you come across her?"
Holmes glared at the criminal but said nothing.
"Need I remind you who will pay if you aggravate me?"
"She is a fan of Dr Watson's work and has been reading about me since she was very young. When she heard I was alive and seeking information with regards to the underground, she sought me out. Since then we meet once a week, I pay for her meal and she tells me what I wish to know."
"All you have to do is pay for the meal? I don't believe it. I understand she's been known to charge up to one thousand credits per question."
"I have to tell her a story from either this life or my past life if I have no, or insufficient, information to trade for hers."
Moriarty laughed. "She's managed to accomplish what the original Watson never could. Get the great Sherlock Holmes to tell stories on demand. Ha! I bet you would prefer to give her money."
"Will she have the option of switching places at any time?"
"Of course. I expect she may actually take the opportunity, not because she is any less loyal then Lestrade, but I intend to use both the shackles and the 'buzzer' on her at once, just to see what will happen, you know if the buzzer is placed on the head it will cause a shock equivalent to one hundred?"
"You will kill her," Holmes could scarcely believe Moriarty would attempt such a thing on someone who was still useful to him.
"I'm not going to do it out of malice Holmes. I can't use it on you or Lestrade, since neither of you are perfectly healthy—and in all probability never again will be—and my curiosity must be satisfied, surely you, a fellow scientist can understand."
"Do not insult me. I am nothing like you."
"But you are Holmes, smart, logical, cold and calculating, you're not above treating people like guinea pigs anymore then I am."
"I am not evil incarnate."
"'If you hate a person, you hate something inside of them that is a part of yourself. What isn't a part of us doesn't disturb us.' Herman Hesse, smart man. Well I have business to attend to I'll see you at our little session."
"Well I now know more about the mob in Manchester then I ever wanted to," stated Jax as the trio climbed into the hover car.
"It was most informative," said Kerai with a smile on her face.
"Can we head back to the base now?" whined Jax.
"No, I want to meet up with Mickey, see what he's found. Then we can."
"Great, I got dibs on watching you get tortured and I can't wait."
"Do you have any friends?"
"Now, now children, don't make me turn this car around," laughed Kerai.
When they got to the bar Mickey was waiting for them at the usual table. "Hey Mickey," greeted Mace as she sat down. "How are things?"
"Same old same old," he replied.
"Find anything?"
Mickey waited a moment for a nudge but didn't get one. 'Guess she doesn't care,' he thought. "Ya he'll be at that place on Dorset Street."
"Kids…" said Mace with a sigh—she couldn't get use to some things and prayed she never did.
"You okay?"
"Ya just this kinda reminds me of what happened when we robbed the Webber place."
"Ya I can see how it would." 'Actually no I don't, we got in, took their silver, got out what's she on about?' he gave her three nudges to show he didn't understand.
Mace smiled and said "Find a new place yet?"
'I'm not looking for a place but ok I'll play along,' thought Mickey then out loud. "Yes, rent's a bit higher though."
"In a nicer part of town?" Nudge.
"Ya."
"Well that's why then, you know what they say—location, location, location," Mace drawled as she gave him a nudge.
'That's where she and the others are been kept! In the tunnels we used to hide and escape in.' Mickey gave her a nudge to show he understood.
"Any other news?" she asked
"Ya Jules was caught cheating at gambling and now both his legs are broken…."
The two continued to converse on the happenings of the underground for another half hour before Mace decided it was time to go, "I'm glad things are going well, my friends seem to be impatient to leave so we'll be going, bye"
As they were leaving, Jax was practically skipping with joy.
'She must really be looking forward to my session,' thought Mace idly.
"Hey Sherlock, how you holding up?" asked Mace.
Holmes looked up at Mace, she wasn't wearing her hat, coat or even her sweater, instead she had a t-shirt that read Sarcasm Is One Of The Services I Offer he sighed. "You must reconsider this, Moriarty plans to experiment on you." Holmes was once again tied to a chair, and he looked at Mace with wary eyes, he knew she wouldn't reconsider.
"Better me then you Sherlock," replied Mace.
"He would not experiment on me, and you have already suffered enough due to your association with me," argued Holmes.
"Ya, because you're to vulnerable, look, I'm not going to change my mind, let's just get this over with."
"Short and to the point," laughed Moriarty. "Now, you know how these shackles work do you not?" he asked as he cuffed Mace in.
"Directly stimulates the nerves, ya Watson filled me in."
"Now, as Holmes mentioned, since you're in perfect health. I'm going to try a little experiment, but first, a warm up, this is level twenty-five," he said as he pressed a button.
"Ah—" Unprepared, Mace couldn't help but allow a small cry to escape her, after, however, she managed to hold her tongue.
"As I'm sure you're aware, it goes up to a hundred."
"Duly noted do you ever just shut-up?" asked Mace between gritted teeth.
"I'd watch my tongue if I were you."
"Never did really learn to keep my mouth shut." She said with a slight smile twenty-five wasn't that bad, she could hardly think for the pain but sarcasm was second nature to her.
Moriarty smiled and sat down in a second chair he had had brought in, they sat in silence as Mace sank to the floor, unable to stand due to the pain. Eventually Moriarty deactivated the shackles. She was breathing heavily and shaking slightly due to the strain but Holmes was relived to note that she seemed to be in fair shape, for the moment.
Mace looked at Moriarty, "Small wonder you don't have a girlfriend mate, ever hear of the movies?"
Moriarty smirked and turned the dial.
"Argh—" cried Mace she managed to hold her tongue but the effort was taxing, 'The longer I stay here the higher the chance I'll end up dead I gotta tick him off so he'll put me in critical condition and end the session, Gods this hurts, I'm having trouble coming up with insults'
"So Moriarrrr—" Mace couldn't finish before the pain forced her to cry out. 'Damn how am I supposed to insult the guy if I can't talk? Damn this hurts,' she thought, then aloud. "Let me see if I have this straight—" 'Focus, ignore the pain and focus, focus,' she thought as she continued after a few moments pause "You were cloned from the real Moriarty, and instead of going someplace nice like Hawaii, you stuck around here—you know shrinks have been known to be able to help people with obsessions." (2)
Moriarty sneered and once again turned the dial and pressed the button.
"Aaaahhh!" Mace continued the scream as she writhed on the floor, her body occasionally convulsing. Holmes said nothing, just silently willed her to yell "Switch."
After what seemed an eternity, Moriarty deactivated the shackles, then caused them to retract into the wall, dragging Mace to her feet.
He walked up to her, "My dear—ooomh." He stopped suddenly, as Mace had just kicked him in the groin as hard as she could - which due to her present condition wasn't that hard. Holmes was quick to note, that though she appeared wary and was having a little difficulty standing she seemed alright she even had a board expression on her face, as if the proceedings were a movie she had seen one to many times.
"I told you not to call me 'dear' Moriarty," she said dryly as Moriarty took a few awkward steps back, not having regained his composure. 'Damn,' she thought, 'I must be in poor shape, usually I get them on the floor.'
"You must be a masochist, my dear" Mace glared, but Moriarty continued, "either that, or very, very stupid." With a sadistic smile Moriarty once again turned the dial and pressed the button.
Mace was robbed of all thought. Nothing existed but the pure unending pain, she wasn't even aware that she was screaming. Holmes tried to block out her screams but they consumed his mind, penetrating, almost shattering his skull, the sound was a hundred times worse then the actual torture and he felt he would do anything to take her place, he began to wonder if she would ever stop screaming and take a breath.
Eventually Moriarty stopped and slackened the shackles so Mace collapsed on the floor. He walked up to her, crouched down and cupped her chin. "That, my dear, was level one hundred, now I believe we have sufficiently warmed up, so why don't I tell you about my little experiment? Hmmm?" He waited for Mace to respond but she was to busy trying not to hyperventilate.
"You see this little buzzer my dear?" He said as he held up his hand. Mace glanced at it but said nothing. "It's a smaller, less powerful version of the shackles, the level of pain it causes depends on how close it is to the spinal cord. If I were to grab your wrist with it you would receive a level twenty-five shock, if however I were to place it directly above your spinal cord you would receive a level seventy-five… are you listening?"
Mace was staring at the floor as the blood poured from her mouth, "You're a sadist in desperate need of a hobby, ya I got it."
Moriarty put his hand on her head.
"Ahhhh!"
Fortunately he only held it there a moment. "Now that I have your attention… If placed on the head it will cause a shock equivalent to one hundred, as I'm sure you have noticed. Now, what I want to know is what will happen if I use both shackles and buzzer. Let's find out."
Using his remote he tightened the cords and Mace was dragged to her feet once more. She realized she could feel tears, ashamed she turned her head to face the wall, she didn't want Holmes to see she was crying from the pain. Moriarty activated the shackles once more, and once more Mace was robbed of all thought, then suddenly the pain became far worse.
Holmes would never forget the look on Mace's face when Moriarty placed his hand on her head. He didn't think it was possible for a human face to contort in such a manner, never in all his years had he seen such an expression of pain. Her eyes bulged and every inch of her skin was stretched as if she was trying to escape the boundaries of her own flesh. She wasn't even screaming.
"Stop!"
Moriarty removed his hand. "Well my dear, how do you feel?"
Mace said nothing for a moment, then: "You should go over there not here, there is better."
Holmes and Moriarty looked at her then "I thought this might happen" said Moriarty.
"What have you done?" Holmes demanded, his voice barely a whisper.
"I placed the buzzer directly over where her Wernicke's area should be located, it deals with the semantic relationship between words. I seem to have given her Wernicke's aphasia, hopefully temporarily. Hmmm." He smiled. "I wonder what would happen if I placed my hand over her Broca's area. Individuals with Broca's aphasia can often only express themselves one word at a time."
"She would be useless to you, she may already be."
"Yes, well perhaps some other time. I'm sure she'll volunteer again." He cupped Mace's chin, forcing her to look at him. "Tell me my dear, how to you feel?"
"Not as bad as you look," muttered Mace, just loud enough for both to hear.
Moriarty sneered "Seems you were worried for nothing Holmes, she's fine, her usual charming insulting self." He paused as his smile became even more sadistic. "Time to fix that." He took out his remote, "I won't use both on her again until she has sufficiently recovered but I see no reason to end the session, since she still has her wits."
'Ihave a really big mouth I should learn to keep shut,' thought Mace 'seems I've just prolonged the session, still it was worth it. Though I'll probably recount that after he presses that button.'
"Moriarty, if you do not cease you will cause permanent damage, she will be useless."
"Don't worry Holmes, I have medics at the ready and I only want a few more minutes at level… eighty-five." he said turning the dial
"No, we'll switch places; I'm the one you want."
Moriarty smiled and turned to Mace. "Well Mace what do you say? Want to switch places with Holmes? He'll only have to endure three minutes, you've taken enough punishment for his sake and he can certainly take it."
Mace stared at Moriarty and said in a calm even tone, "Shut up and press the damn button."
Moriarty smiled and did just that.
Mace started to scream and cough up blood as her body continued to convulse and contort. Eventually, after precisely three minutes, Moriarty deactivated and slackened the shackles. Mace collapsed onto the floor she tried to stay on her hands and knees but slipped in her own blood and fell flat on her face.
'Well that was less then graceful,' she thought hazily.
She was pale, her eyes were bloodshot and she was hardly coherent, she barely had enough sense to breathe. She tried to roll herself onto her back but couldn't, Moriarty noticed and walked over to her, smiling he kicked her in her side forcing her onto her back.
"Ah!" Mace started to gasp for breath, gravity was forcing the blood she had coughed up as a result of the kick back down her throat choking her, she managed to cough it up and just laid there covered in her own blood, barely breathing. Holmes looked on horrified while Moriarty smiled.
"Well, I think that's enough for one day," he banged on the door and a medical team entered.
Footnotes:
(1) Jax is based on a real life person who called Holmes "Mr Stinky"—seriously, and no she isn't five she just acts like it, this was my revenge (Note don't tick off authors).
(2) This line was inspired by Maureen's comment on the rough draft of the prologue, thank you Maureen
tune in on the 7th of febuary, for the next chapter 'Too the Rescue' finally