AN: I decided to end this chapter, as you will read it. Mycroft's blood letting will be the next one. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I hope you enjoy.
"Not I." Rang through the earpieces.
The lights were out. Including the emergency lights. It was nothing but inky blackness. The machinery was still humming. The sounds seemed louder. St. Jude's fury was made very evident. Mary could hear Mycroft messing with the torches.
"It is really dark in here."
"And very loud."
""Loss of one sense makes the others more acute."
"Correct. Mary close your eyes." Mycroft stated.
"Ok. They are closed."
Mycroft slowly opened his eyes not to blind himself. The torches gave him a four meter circle of light. Mycroft covered her eyes.
"Now you can open them."
Mycroft gradually opened his fingers. Letting the light in gradually.
"Now that is a smart idea."
Mycroft was wearing the two torches 180 degrees apart on his head. One forward. One back.
"Thanks. Now I'm sorry if this causes you any pain. Tell me and I can adjust my grip."
Mary nodded. Mycroft stood up and stretched.
"Ready?"
"Yes."
Mycroft reached under her thighs and around her back. He tightened the grip before he lifted. Mary put her left arm around his shoulders.
"Mary I need one bounce to get you up."
"Ok."
Mycroft did it fast. Mary was a bit dizzy. She just tucked into Mycroft's chest. He slowly stood up.
"Mary?"
"I'm ok. Just a bit dizzy."
"Comfortable?"
"Yes. I will let you know if something is going on."
"Ok. Ready?"
"Yes."
"I would suggest just waiting a bit before we do anything."
Fantomas opened his laptop for light. Then his phone started buzzing.
"Sir?"
"Do you see any movement?"
"No, Sir."
"Let them engage you first. Your jobs are to make sure they don't leave the Barrier."
"Yes, Sir."
"We are ready for you."
"I will let you know."
The phone went silent. Magnussen was curious.
"Will he be able to control the laptop, also?"
Fantomas wanted to strike Magnussen.
"Your hands never get dirty?"
"Excuse me."
"This laptop controls the bomb. If you did any real computer work yourself, you would know the utter stupidity of that statement."
Mycroft started slowly walking towards the others. He was making sure Mary was not hitting any of the pipes. Mycroft walked sideways through the first door. Mary was quietly appreciating the fact that Mycroft was carrying her as easy as a load of firewood.
"How much can you bench press?"
"Not much. About 63 kilos."
Just a bit over my weight.
Mary saw Mycroft smile.
"I'm asking the wrong question."
The smile widened.
"What can you leg press?"
"A tad over twice my weight."
Mary realized how much muscle Mycroft was carrying.
"Well your pretty ripped from what I can tell."
Mycroft barked out a laugh.
"No Max and Sam are "ripped". I'm just semi-solid."
"So what about 158 kilos?"
"Very close. 171 kilos."
"The next time Sherlock calls you fat I'm going to hit him."
John and Sherlock could see a circle of light making it's way down the tunnel. More importantly they could hear Mary and Mycroft laughing, deeply. The sound was bouncing off the pipes.
"That is a good sign John."
John turned towards his voice. They were all bathed in shadows now.
"Yes it is. I can tell it is Mary's real laugh. She is a realist. This is hurting her but she will take it in stride."
Sherlock placed his hand on John's shoulder. John's hand soon joined it. Sherlock didn't need to see John's face. He knew there was a smile on it. Mrs. Hudson started herding them towards the rest of the group.
"Move you two. We meet at the lift remember."
"Yes, Mam."
Magnussen had to remember he was not in any sort of control. If he had any chance of surviving this, he needed to not make Fantomas cross.
"I forgot myself. Please explain."
"This laptop is as secured as Mycroft's. The only important thing in its programming is the bomb."
Magnussen looked at the timer in the corner. 1:54:32, 1:54:31
"No matter what happens, the bomb will explode. People will die, be injured and inconvenienced. London will shut down."
Magnussen picked up on his thought.
"The Footsie will shut down for two days. At least. Which will send the rest of the markets into a slow panic. Most travel will stop to England. Which not only traps people here but goods as well. It is like disturbing an ant colony."
Magnussen watched a wide smile settle on Fantomas' face.
"Will they know who set the bomb off?"
"Of course. We worked hard to do this. I will not tolerate some other group taking responsibility and using it to promote their cause. I will send messages to the media after watching the fallout for a while."
Magnussen moves to a window.
Greg and Siger were in the lead. Siger had one of the head torches. Greg was ready to draw his weapon, if need be. Charlene and Violet were in the middle. Violet stopped her and softly asked:
"How are you doing?"
"I'll survive Mum."
"You can.."
"Mum when we are all done. We have to concentrate. There will be more than enough time."
Violet gave her a pat on the back.
"You know how he gets."
Violet laughed.
"How HE gets?"
Violet pulled her into a hug.
"Thanks Mum."
"Awww."
Violet could hear the smile in Sherlock's voice.
"You hush."
Mrs. Hudson and Violet shared a smile.
"Even if it was a clear night with a full moon you could not see them coming."
Magnussen didn't like not seeing what was coming towards him. Fantomas noticed the puzzled expression on his face.
"The Knight has to have backup."
"Of course."
Magnussen looked at Fantomas.
"Do you know them?"
"Yes. I hope you never have to meet them alone."
"Why?"
"None of the men who support Mycroft are to be trifled with. The two coming for us lead a group. They inspire a special fear in my men."
Magnussen looked poised to speak.
"It is justified. I have seen video of them murdering six of my men in one go. That was about five years ago. They have gotten more frightful since then. They move as one. They show no mercy. That phone call was to determine if my men sit still or go hunting. Now you can speak."
"Overblown."
Fantomas huffed and started typing on his laptop.
"Let me ask you one question. Knowing Mycroft's reputation, as you do. What could possibly backup "L'homme des glaces"?"
Magnussen stared out into the storm.
"Come and see. This is the video."
"My eyes are off."
"Why?"
"The light is getting farther away."
"They are moving to the meeting point. So their torches are going to recede."
"That makes me feel better."
They passed Sherlock's test station.
"So this was the set up?"
"Yes. Laptops hooked to the locking mechanisms of the doors. Controlled from a central point."
"Rather smart."
"I reluctantly agree."
Magnussen sat and watched. The men were all wearing body cameras. The video was a composite of all the body cameras. Eight men. All heavily armed walking through a wooded area. Water could be heard in the background. There was a splash. Lots of gunfire until the leader told them to stop.
"Do not waste ammo. We check before we shoot."
Dusk was falling on the wood. They kept walking. Another disturbance. A few of the men opened fire.
"What did I just say?"
The leader was not happy.
"Go and check it out."
Three men left. The next two minutes were them poking into the underbrush.
"Nothing there, Sir."
Magnussen watched as each of the men who had left started falling. They turned pale. Fell to the ground and died.
"They had been poisoned. Tiny darts to their necks."
"Thought it must have been insect bites?"
"Yes."
Magnussen watched as the rest of the group grew frightful. The leader radioed for the helicopter to meet them early.
"2.4 kilometers. Twenty minutes."
The group never made it. One by one the men were picked off. Magnussen couldn't tell how silent they actually were. He certainly couldn't hear them on the video. Or see them. Two men remained.
Greg and Siger motioned everyone to stop. There was movement beyond the next door. Siger turned off his torch and they disappeared out the door. Charlene stood listening.
"That should be Max and Sam."
"Sherlock there are also a few guards roaming about."
Sherlock paused for a moment. Just listening.
"Why is Siger out there without a gun?"
"Good point John." Charlene answered.
They could hear Charlene patting herself down.
"Really, Dad?"
"What?"
"He isn't unarmed John."
"Fingers strikes again?"
"Yes, Mum."
A few snickers burst forth.
"Who do you think taught the boys?"
Violet's explanation was cut off by shuffling and a few screams. John grabbed his gun. Ready to use it. Charlene held him back. Her face had gone all serious.
Fantomas stopped the video. He had been watching Magnussen.
"My men refer to them as "The Ghost and The Darkness".
"The psychotic lions?"
"Yes. They left my lieutenant and his second. The others were not paying attention. You will see later that even Mycroft expected better."
Magnussen watched as the cameras were yanked backwards. The gagging sounds told him they were being suffocated by a gas. The cameras jerked around as they finally passed out. Soon two voices addressed the camera. Their faces couldn't be seen.
"Greetings, Fantomas. You thought you could disturb the conference?"
A gentle tutting followed.
"We are taking these two. Let's hope they are truly loyal to you."
"I would suppose not. So what little dirty secrets are we going to learn?"
Both men were carried to a Jeep. They were dumped inside.
"One last word."
A camera was removed from one of the men. The view was of a man about 189 cm with a muscular build. He mostly blended into the background.
"We have all the goodies from your men."
The camera slowly panned across the pile of stuff on the ground.
"We will not harm them. Your men have had a long day. They need to relax."
The camera came back up to a hypodermic needle.
"I think they need to vent."
There was a quick burst of laughter. The camera bounced into the passenger seat of the Jeep. The driver dialed a mid-2000's version of a satellite phone.
Max could feel the barrel of a gun pressed to the back of his head.
"Christ, Dad! It's us! Don't shoot." Max yelled.
Torch light slowly filled the room. Siger had Max on the ground with the gun pressed to his head. Greg had Sam in a head lock. Gun to his kidney.
"Why didn't you just tell us you were coming?"
"I was whistling, Dad. You didn't hear?"
"No Sam I didn't. Sorry."
Greg released Sam.
"Let me try this again."
Greg stood in front of Sam.
"Greg Lestrade."
Greg extended his hand with a smile on his face.
"Sam Kim. Lovely to meet you."
The handshake turns into a shoulder hug.
"Thanks for helping Auggie." Sam whispers.
"Anytime."
As they break the hug Sherlock studies Sam's face. John notices his head turn to look at Max. Sherlock's eyes close as he filters through images from his two year gutting of Moriarty's network. When things got really messy, they would appear. Informal contacts. Employees in safe houses. Medical personnel.
Sherlock had learned he could trust them. He knew that Mycroft was keeping loose tabs on him. Sherlock hated that he had to rely on Mycroft to complete the mission. It was part of the original plan. Too complex and too dangerous not to have backup.
Mycroft hadn't sent just anyone to watch, help and occasionally rescue him. He had sent his best friends. Sherlock shut the door on that thought before he started getting emotional about it. Sherlock opened his eyes to everyone giving him curious looks.
"Hyia, Mycroft. How goes it?"
"By your bright and bouncy tone, you have good news?"
"We do indeed. We are bringing you back a small treasure trove of information."
"And?"
"Two lab rats to play with."
"Two? I thought there were eight?"
Magnussen could hear Mycroft's famous huff.
"Um."
Mycroft let out a deep sigh.
"Very well."
"Do we get an answer?"
"Pardon. It looks like the treaty will be signed by all the parties."
"Chuffed to bits. Anything you would like to say to Fantomas?"
"We will return your men in one piece. We will just have a chat. Laters."
The video ended.
"Everything alright?"
"Yes, John."
Sherlock walked up to Max and Sam. He wasn't sure what exactly to say.
Max looked at his watch.
"Two minutes. That was quick."
"We were betting it would take between five and ten." Sam completed the thought.
Sherlock let out a clipped:
"Thank you."
"You are more than welcome." They stated together.
"We paid him visits during his two year sabbatical."
"Thank you two."
They both bowed towards John. Charlene made the introductions. After which Max and Sam proceeded to gently crush her in a dual bear hug. They all moved to the lift and opened it. It was clear. They locked the lift.
"Don't want it going anywhere before we want it to." Sam stated.
"One question."
"Yes, John." Max answered.
"What is that wound on his left side rib cage? Under his lungs."
"Oh that little thing." Sam started.
Sherlock rolled his eyes.
"Someone thought he was a deer and tried to take him out with a crossbow." Sam continued.
"Still have the arrow pieces. Do you approve of the patch up job?" Max asked.
"I do indeed. Nice stitching work."
"They are rather talented like that."
Everyone turned towards Mycroft's voice.
"Hi everyone." Mary said with a smile and wave.
John just went on instinct. He kissed Mary on the lips. Then Mycroft on the cheek. Mycroft carried her into the lift and gently laid her down. Mary put her forehead against his.
"Thanks Mycroft."
Mycroft stood up and found John pulling him into a bear hug. Mycroft relaxed into it. Neither of them said anything. Words would cheapen the sentiment. They allowed themselves a minute before they pulled apart.
John kneeled next to Mary.
"John? Mary?"
They both looked towards Max's voice.
"We brought a few things to help with the pain, bleeding and neutralize the poison."
Sam and Max started pulling out syringes and pills from various pockets in their vests. John sat down and placed everything before him. Max could see he was shaking like a leaf.
"You two need a minute. We will leave you alone."
John gave him the most grateful look. Max shut the doors.
"John, I'm sorry."
"You didn't do anything wrong."
Mary snuffled.
"Don't start. Because if you do then I will. Then neither of us could keep on top of this."
"Agreed."
"I need to look."
"Trying to get in my knickers, Watson?"
John leaned in close.
"Why yes I am. Have a problem with that Morstan?"
"Not at all."
They both burst into laughter.
The rest of the group just turned and looked at the lift.
"Stress is bad in a stressful situation." Siger said with a shrug.
John grimaced.
"Oh you are a mess."
He was trying to be both doctor and husband. The result was doctor with lots of reactions. Which helped release some of the stress.
"But I'm your mess."
"I'm well aware."
John gave her a smile. Mary just shook her head. The whole situation was ten levels of deranged.
"What is our next move?"
They all looked at Greg.
"I know the other teams are on standby. What do we need to do before everyone else can move?"
Mycroft and Sam looked ready to launch into an explanation.
"Max. Sam. Help."
"Coming John." Max stated.
They opened the doors. John emerged with blood up to his elbows.
"Can you give her the shots while I clean up?"
"No problem." Sam answered.
"Mycroft was true to his word. My men were returned in prime condition."
"Do they still work for you?"
"They died a few days later."
"Why?"
"I killed them. They had compromised six of my ongoing projects."
The matter of factness of his tone chilled Magnussen.
"Understandable."
Sherlock followed John to the small loo in the next section. Sherlock was opening the doors and turning on the faucet. John kept smiling.
"What can I do to help?"
John dried his arms and just looked at Sherlock. John had an unreadable expression. The solider, the doctor and John's soul were in flux. Sherlock gently wrapped him up in the Belstaff. Unlike Mycroft, John needed little releases to ease the pressure back.
"I just told Mary not to do this."
"John. This is ok. It will help you think and focus."
"I'm a wimp."
"You are most certainly not. You have better emotional control than anyone here."
John let out a sobbing laugh.
"Your brother and future sister-in-law?"
"Will quietly come apart at the seams later. I do not know Charlene well enough to speak about her. Mycroft can't think at all when he gets really emotional. He needs recovery time. They really can't touch. I think this is healthier."
Sherlock could feel John shaking his head against his chest.
"The hug you two just shared is as close as he can get right now. He needed that. Thank you. If you noticed he can't really do much with Max and Sam."
John looked up and saw Sherlock smile.
"Anyway. You are not crying. You are detoxing."
John's laughter considerably lightened the mood.
Charlene and Violet had gotten into the lift with Mary. Mary was leaning against Violet. Charlene was helping Max and Sam.
John and Sherlock walked back to Mrs. Hudson and Siger guarding the far door. Max and Sam walked towards them with bloody hands. The four smiled as they passed. John turned to look as their torches cut into the dark they had just come from. Mycroft and Greg were talking.
"Mycroft." Mary sang out.
He walked to the lift.
"Yes, Mary?"
"Fiji, baby. For a month."
Mycroft stuck his head in.
"Whatever you desire, love."
Charlene was quietly laughing.
"Are you hitting on my man?"
Mary laughed and answered.
"Yes. I am. He has such pretty eyes, Charlene. Did I ever tell you that?"
"No. Do tell."
Mycroft looked at Charlene and knew part of her was in hysterics. Mycroft opened his mouth. Thinking better of it, he closed it again. He waved goodbye as a blush started on his neck. As he passed John he smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
"The pain medicine is starting to work. Good luck."
Pascal heard laughter through the fog in his head. He couldn't focus. Opening his eyes didn't help. It was pitch dark. Even worst. He was chained to something. Pascal gave into momentary panic and started struggling.
Mrs. Hudson started shushing everyone. Charlene came out of the lift. Max and Sam walked back into the room.
"Sounds like someone woke up." Mrs. Hudson said quietly.
Max, Sam, and Charlene all smiled at Mycroft.
"Auggie would you like to vent a bit of stress?" Sam asked.
"I thought you would never ask."
Mycroft turned off his head torches. The rest gathered near the lift. Sherlock had never seen that wicked of a smile on Mycroft's face before. Mycroft went out the door. Max, Sam and Charlene just listened.
Pascal heard everything get quiet. Fantomas trained them to question the silence. The storm was still raging. The laughter stopped after he gave into his panic. He had been heard. He only hoped it was one of his men. The other alternatives were not pleasant.
"Pouvez-vous exécuter ? Je ne le crois pas."
The voice was close. Pascal started kicking and throwing himself at the voice. He kicked the pipes on the other side but nothing else.
"Je ne le crois pas."
Pascal felt something touch him from above. He screamed and kicked. He was hitting nothing. Now he heard quiet feet.
"Sleepy time." Sam sang out.
Mycroft closed his eyes on the command. He could hear a few gasps.
"Clear." Max said.
Mycroft slowly opened his eyes. Pascal was temporary blinded by the lights.
"My how are you doing that?"
Mycroft had climbed the pipes. He had hooked himself around the supports. So he could hang above Pascal.
"Your brother is part mountain goat. Part gymnast." Max chuckled.
Pascal's vision cleared. He saw Watson, Sherlock, Lestrade. Then Max and Sam moved into view.
"Le fantôme et les ténèbres."
Pascal moved closer to the pipes. He was afraid to look up.
"L' homme des glaces."
Mycroft smiled at him.
"Salut."
Pascal cowered against the pipes. His English was rough but perfectly understandable.
"Quick death. Please."
Mycroft reached down and patted his head. John noted how gentle Mycroft was. Max and Sam matched him. All three of their eyes were blazing. The others backed off.
"No. You haven't even introduced yourself yet."
"Pascal. Sir Iceman."
"Pascal. Were you born during Easter?"
He slowly nodded yes. Max moved to one side of him. Sam to the other.
"Correct use of the name. I am impressed."
"Can I help you with something?"
Max, Sam and Mycroft all smiled at each other.
"So polite. I like that." Mycroft noted.
"Who are you Pascal?"
"I am no one, Iceman."
"Oh. I don't think I believe you. I know Fantomas kills those who disobey. So you must be someone who has the one strike rule."
"No, no."
"Trying to impress your boss? Grab one of our heads and get a promotion?"
Pascal curled up even tighter. Mycroft looked at his watch. He had set the timer. 1:47:45.
John didn't see any signals but Max and Sam stretched out Pascal and held him still. Mycroft reached down. Pascal flailed his head. Mycroft grabbed his hair and pulled till they were looking eye-to-eye.
"It would be better if you held still."
Pascal slowly nodded.
"Bon garçon."
Mycroft took off Pascal's communication equipment. Then he felt around the man's neck and shoulders. Mycroft's left hand found something on his left shoulder. John saw Pascal flinch.
"Is that still a bit tender? I'm sorry."
Mycroft rummaged a bit more. He pulled a necklace up into the torchlight.
"What do we have here?"
"That is a badge." Sam offered.
"A Lieutenant's badge." Max added.
"Pascal has been branded and has a gold badge. Looks like we caught ourselves a big fish."
John didn't believe it. Max and Sam let out something between a purr and a growl. John saw pure abject terror grip Pascal.
"Shh. It is ok."
Mycroft said as he gently touched his face.
"Where are they?"
"The control tower, Sir. Just them. There are 3 guards at the bottom of the stairs."
"Anything else?"
"Fantomas' laptop controls all. We are under orders to stay still till your moves are made."
.
The laptops are all connected. If I can break into one I can access the other. Sherlock thought.
.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Pascal. We will talk later."
Mycroft had both hands on his neck. He pushed, pulled and pinched. Pascal's body went limp.
Sherlock jumped. Mycroft dismounted the pipes. Mycroft could see the look on his face.
"I did not kill him, brother. He is unconscious."
Max, Sam and Mycroft walked through the rest.
"Don. Gordon. Do you remember our over enthusiastic guard?"
"Yes, Max." Gordon answered.
"Turns out he is a top Lieutenant."
"Oh we are lucky." Don stated.
"Yes we are. He will have a headache. We need to talk with him later."
"We will keep him safe and sound."
Max and Sam could hear them laughing.
The group made it back to the lift.
"Charlie, my love, I bring you a gift."
Mycroft tossed the necklace to her.
"A gold badge?"
Mycroft smiled.
"I don't have one of these yet. Thank you, Myeeks."
She placed it around her neck. John walked back into the lift. Mycroft stood in front of everyone.
"Here is the plan."
Mike Barker was silently cursing. They were changing a tire on the vehicle. They had another 30 minutes before he could even attempt to call the PM.
The ship is going to blow up before I can even call.
"Does everyone understand?"
Everyone nodded.
Max, Sam, Charlene, Mycroft and Greg walked to the next section and stopped. Max took out his phone and played with it for a moment. Greg could hear the others he hadn't met yet.
"Myc?"
"Hi Don."
"Mycroft how are you?"
"I am fine Gordon. Thanks for the backup guys."
"Anytime, Myc."
"Gordon if you would."
"Of course."
Greg watched as they all dropped to one knee. Greg backed up. Mycroft and Charlene looked at Greg and patted the space between them. Greg joined them.
"Ready, Gordon." Charlene quietly said.
.
"Grant Us, Thy Protection;
And in protection, strength;
And in strength, understanding;
And in understanding, knowledge;
And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice;
And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it;
And in that love, the love of all existences;
And in the love of all existences, the love of all goodness."
.
They all stood up.
"Mycroft what was that?"
John's voice came from the tiny speaker.
"A reworking of an ancient Druid prayer."
"That was beautiful, Gordon."
"Thanks, John. See you guys out here."
Max set the earpieces back to the previous settings. They all nodded and moved forward.
Fantomas held up his hand to silence Magnussen. Fantomas moved to one of the doors and cracked it open. Movement could be heard. It was very faint. Fantomas dialed his phone.
"Where are they? Why wasn't I informed?"
"We haven't seen anyone near the ends of the tunnel."
"Your men in this tunnel are dead or unconscious."
Fantomas gave the man a minute to confirm that none of them were answering.
"We are coming to you."
"Yes, Sir."
Fantomas grabbed his laptop and headed for the second door. Magnussen followed with a torch. The stairs descended to a landing. The landing had three exits.
"Follow me."
Noise assaulted them from both above and below. Magnussen dropped his torch and bolted. Fantomas knew all the Barrier exits. He made a quick decision that he could hide in the Barrier. Then escape when the opportunity opened.
He was keeping in the dark. The only light came from various torches. Fantomas kept moving till the floor became wet.
The room where Mary was.
Fantomas made his way to the lift. He landed up tripping over the mattress.
"Merde."
Mycroft instantly recognized the voice. He couldn't believe his luck. First one of Fantomas' top Lieutenants. Now, the man himself. Mycroft signaled deep in his throat.
"Auggie? I'm almost up to turning on the lights."
Sam heard a very quiet:
"Yes."
Mycroft didn't move. Fantomas had trapped himself. The lift and all the exits were covered. Mycroft just wanted five minutes with the man. It wouldn't do to arrest him before they had their first proper chat. Mycroft listened as Fantomas stilled.
"Auggie, I'm ready."
Mycroft slid all the way into the room. It was easy to figure that he had tripped over the mattress. Mycroft moved halfway between the door and the lift.
Sam heard Mycroft clear his throat. Sam brought the Barrier back to life. Mycroft had left the door fully open so the microphones could hear everything. His next words sent a cheer around the control room.
"Soirée plutôt orageuse. Est-ce pas, Fantomas?"
(Rather stormy evening. Is it not, Fantomas?)