A Dish Best Served Cold

Summary: 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 6 - Beatings All Around

Moriarty's 1st Base, Unknown Location in New London's Underground

Ten minutes later Moriarty was in his office when Fenwick walked in and informed him that Holmes had been patched up.

"Good," replied the criminal as he headed to the Irregulars' rooms, four guard striding in his wake.

"I thrust that you children are finding your rooms satisfactory?"

"Let us go ya creep, when 'Olmes finds this place—"

Moriarty laughed and upon catching his breath replied with an amused twinkle in his eyes. "Holmes has already arrived girl and is in no position to lend assistance."

Deidre paled, "What 'ave you done to him?"

"Beat him, tortured him, what else?" Moriarty arched an eyebrow quizzically at the brunette.

"Why you lousy contemptible conniving—"

"Flattery will not assist you in your plight Miss Deidre—besides I was in need of an occupation with which to amuse myself."

"What do you want?" Wiggins growled, thinking it best to put an end to the conversation.

Moriarty smiled pleasantly, "I require Tennyson's expertise."

"Beep beep beep whur beep." (I would never in a million years help you.)

"Really you won't? my, my that does present a problem," smirked Moriarty as he brought his thumb and forefinger to his chin, "are you certain there is no way in which I might convince you?"

Tennyson glared and Moriarty's smile broadened.

"Very well. Take him." The villain pointed suddenly to Wiggins. The oldest irregular got into a fighting stance as one of the guards approached, Deidre followed suit.

"Oh please," sighed Moriarty as he pointed his ionizer at Deidre. Wiggins relaxed and let his arms fall to his sides. Two guards approached him and each grabbed one of his arms while a third shoved an ionizer into his back, the remaining guard pointed an ionizer at Deidre.

"Shall we?" Moriarty mocked courteously as he turned, relinquishing charge of Deidre to one of the guards. He walked out the door, followed by Wiggins and his guards. The last to leave was the fourth guard who had his ionizer trained on Deidre the whole time. He heard what happened to her first guard. Just as he lowered his ionizer to close the door Deidre pounced and reached it just before it clicked shut.

"No!" She shouted as she banged on the door, "Bring 'im back!" her voice cracked "Bring him back!" Wondering if she would ever see her friend again she turned her back to the door and leaned against it, she saw Tennyson, eyes wide with fear.

As they walked down the corridors Wiggins looked for any sign of Holmes, he was lead into a small plain room. There where a few stains scattered around that looked like blood. He figured this must be where Moriarty conducted the more unpleasant aspects of his work. The two guards holding onto Wiggins had their ionizers confiscated and locked up in a cabinet on the wall by the third guard who had had his ionizer at Wiggins's back. Once the ionizers were out of the Irregular's reach he turned to Moriarty waiting for the order.

"He's all yours," the sadistic glint in the criminal's eyes was anything but comforting.

The guard smiled and slowly approached the irregular; his brother had been the one to receive a dislocated knee courtesy Wiggins and he was looking forward to some revenge.

He approached slowly and clenched his fist, Wiggins stared at him defiantly as if to say 'You Won't Break Me'. The thug then slammed his fist into Wiggins's gut. Wiggins bent over and as he did the thug uppercut with his left arm hitting Wiggins squarely in the face.

Wiggins bit his tongue and blood began to flow freely from his mouth, he could feel his throat clapping painfully as it attempted to protect his air passages. The thug then started punching Wiggins in the chest and gut never letting up. Wiggins tried to fight back but with two guards holding his arms back, he struggled to no avail. He could feel his ribs begin to give way, and felt a sickening crack as one broke. The thug heard but continued to punch breaking two more and driving them Wiggins's lungs causing them to fill with blood, his coughing became more severe as he fought to control the pain.

The thug smiled at the sight and after one more punch to the gut Wiggins' legs gave out. The two holding him decided to let him fall. After all it was easier to join in the fun when they didn't have to support their victim. Wiggins was numb conscious only of the blows that kept coming from all directions as his attackers continued to kick him. He barley had the sense to churl up and bring his knees to his chin as he got into the fetal position. The first thug went to one of the cupboards and got a crowbar. He then walked towards Wiggins and motioned for his two associates to stop.

"This is for my brother," he said as he brought the crowbar down on Wiggins's left leg. It broke with a sickening crack.

"Ah!"

"Enough" Moriarty commanded at last. He nodded to two of the guards who then lifted a barely conscious Wiggins to his feet. "Remove the bandage around his left forearm." The third guard immediately did so.

"Tell me my boy." Moriarty sneered as he stepped toward his helpless victim. "Have you perhaps had the inclination to glance over The Valley of Fear?"

Wiggins suddenly became aware of the smell of hot iron as Moriarty took a step closer.

"And yes, I am afraid that I am going to digress a little—all these modern torture instruments are quite lovely but some classics just cannot be overruled." without warning the criminal suddenly seized the irregular's forearm and thrust the red hot metal into the skin.

Wiggins did a very good impression of Birdy Edwards, he made no sound except for a sharp intake of breath. It wasn't easy, this was by far the worst pain he had ever felt. A beating was something he could handle fairly well after all he did box, but his was far more intense then anything he ever felt it seemed like ages passed before Moriarty removed the iron. When he did all that Wiggins said was "That all ya got clone head?" in a shaky voice, before more blood poured into his mouth, forcing him to spit it onto the floor.

Moriarty smiled and reaching out, grabbed Wiggins's throat with his left hand and started to choke him. "You don't want to see 'all I've got' Wiggins for that would result in your slow and incredibly painful death."

Wiggins barely heard these words the world was beginning to go black; he was in too much pain.

Moriarty noticed and released his grip. "Return him to his room."

00o00

Deidre had been pacing the room while all this had been going on, when she heard the door open and two guards walk in ionizers at the ready. They were followed by two guards with…

"Wiggins!" she exclaimed ignoring the ionizers as she ran past the guards. "What 'ave they done to you?" grabbing her friend she glared at his captors, "Let him go!"

The guards smiled as Moriarty stepped into the room, "They are merely taking him to his room where he can rest—"

"I'll get him there." Grabbing a hold of Wiggins she turned to one of the guards carrying him and left hooked him in the face. The two guards who had entered the room first were about to shoot her when Moriarty raised his hand, "Very well, drop him."

The remaining guard instantly compiled, Deidre almost fell due to the sudden weight but managed to support both herself and Wiggins. Moriarty smirked and turned to leave, but stopped suddenly as if a thought had just occurred to him.

"Oh one more thing," the villain turned to Tennyson. "Refuse my request again and Wiggins will not be returned. Refuse a third time and Deidre will keep some of my more lonely and depraved men company until you chose to cooperate." With that he strode from the room followed by the two guards who had carried Wiggins and then the two with the ionizers.

Deidre, slipping her right arm behind Wiggins's shoulder and her left behind his knees hosted him up. Grateful for the strength training Lestrade had put her through but still finding it difficult. She carried him to his room and placed him on the bed. Tennyson followed.

"Tennyson go see if there's a first aid kit in the bathroom." Tennyson hovered to the washroom as fast as his chair would permit. Deidre took Wiggins's hand in hers and said "Oh Wiggins what 'ave they done to you?"

Then she noticed the mark on his forearm. A circle with a triangle inside. She recognized it immediately.

"I swear I'll kill him for this," she said her voice thick with hatred. Just then Tennyson entered with the first aid kit. They spent half an hour tending Wiggins and when they were done with nothing to distract her and realising the full weight of the situation tears began to trickle down Deidre's face.

00o00

Holmes lay in his cell, replaying the last few minutes in his head. He had been curious at first when the screen had blinked into life in front of him, but that had quickly been crushed as Wiggins appeared on the screen, surrounded by guards with Moriarty standing over him. He had feared the worst, and he had been right

The whole time the horrendous scene had been taking place before his eyes he had strained against the restraints shouting at the camera that watched him and the screen: "Stop! He is only a boy, Stop!"

When Moriarty had started toward Wiggins with the branding iron he had become desperate, "Stop this! You must stop this!"

Though he knew that whoever was watching was most likely not sympathetic and even if they were. They were in no position to end it. When he had watched Wiggins being dragged from the room he collapsed to his and did something he hadn't done in a very, very long time

He prayed.

Prayed Wiggins would be alright.

Moriarty watched the recording of Holmes' reaction to his irregular's beating a smile on his face. When the detective had begun to pray he laughed 'Really Holmes do you honestly believe that will in anyway be beneficial?' Moriarty had sent in a team of medics to tend to Wiggins as well as four guards to deal with Deidre and Tennyson. The medics had patched Wiggins up nicely and had informed him that the boy would suffer no lasting damage save the burn which would scar.

In fact, Wiggins was at present occupying himself by walking around the living room assuring Deidre that he was fine while Tennyson stayed to the side and said nothing. 'Probably blames himself, as well he should if he hadn't refused… At any rate, I should inquire if he is ready to comply with my request.' He thought with a chucked.

He walked into the Irregulars room with six guards, "It would be superfluous to state my business, what's it to be Tennyson?"

"Beep whur beep?" (What do you want me to do?)

"Follow me," he turned and left as Tennyson followed him out the door.

Wiggins hated just standing there but if he died who would look after Deidre and Tennyson? And if Tennyson still refused after he was killed Deidre would be… He shook his head he would not let that happen. No matter what it took he was going to get them out. He might die succeeding but he wasn't going to die trying, he would make sure of that.

00o00

Ten minutes later Moriarty was in his office/bedroom watching Holmes's reaction to Wiggins' beating again. It just never got old. 'Suppose I should see what he's up to. Tennyson is been carefully watched so he cannot do anything…detrimental.' He smirked, got to his feet and headed to Holmes' cell 'this should prove… amusing.'

Holmes was sitting on the floor back against the wall when Moriarty walked in. Instantly the detective was on his feet. "He's only a boy you vindictive mad man! I swear I will see you suffer for what you have done to him!"

"You know Holmes, for someone who has been stewing in honey for the better part of two hundred years your temper certainly isn't very sweet."(1)

Holmes glared as Moriarty's smirk widened.

"Well perhaps it's best we get on with our little… session." He brought out the remote. "Now let us see last time I only indulged so far as level seventy-five out of a hundred, before then it remained at twenty-five. How about for a warm up we try fifty before moving onto one hundred. Yes I think that would be the most ideal plan of action." Eyes glinting and fingers twitching with sadistic glee, he stabbed a button.

"Aaaahhhrrg—"

Holmes did everything he could to keep silent but every once in awhile a cry would escape him.

"Aaahhh—"

Holmes was grimacing in pain desperately trying to hold his tongue.

Moriarty went to the door and opened it looking at Holmes's guard, "Bring me a chair will you I want to be comfortable."

Five minutes later Holmes was on his knees grimacing in pain and Moriarty was sitting comfortably in a chair, all he needed was a bag of popcorn and one would think he was watching a movie, a really good one to judge from the look on his face. Holmes had managed to remain silent for the past several minutes and the criminal was beginning to become bored. He pressed a button and the detective collapsed. The villain waited until Holmes forced himself to his knees breathing in short gasps before inquiring in a casual tone. "Well I think that was enough of a warm up don't you?"

Holmes looked up eyes full of hatred "Wiggins… is he?" he gasped out the words

"Rest assured the boy is back to his old self and has, if I am rightly informed, suffered no lasting damage, save of course for the brand."

"I'll see you in hell professor," growled Holmes in that cold icy tone he was famous for, as he stared at Moriarty with that cold piercing gaze for which he was equally famous.

Moriarty chuckle and pressed a button.

"Aahhh!" Holmes was robbed of all thought, there was only pain, and that was all there would ever be. His body convulsed as he wriggled on the floor in agony, screaming one long scream that pierced the air around him.

This went on for about another five minutes. Then Moriarty stopped clicked the button with a casual flick of his hand, boredom creeping into his voice, "You don't seem to fully grasp your situation Holmes."

He used the remote to tighten the shackles and drag Holmes to his feet. Moriarty walked up to the great detective, getting closer until their faces were barely an inch apart.

"Allow me to enlighten you: There will be no revenge, no daring escape for you or your friends. You, and in all probability they will die here. Tennyson's computer skills will be of great use to me and the other two brats will remain here as leverage, Watson's memory board will never find it's way to its original body or even a replacement, he will remain in limbo until I decide to destroy him and Lestrade will remain, a bird in a gilded cage, a little pet of sorts. And you Holmes? Well you will remain here my favourite form of entertainment for whenever I am bored." Moriarty moved so his mouth was centimetres away form Holmes's ear "I'm going to make sure you die an old man, Sherlock Holmes."

He then took another step back and smiling in anticipation as he once again activated the shackles.

Once again Holmes could not stop himself from screaming as blood commenced to flow from his mouth as his body convulsed.

This went on until a guard entered and began to whisper something into Moriarty's ear, but could not be heard over Holmes's screams. Moriarty sighed annoyed that his fun was been interrupted. He deactivated the shackles, and Holmes collapsed, held up only by the source of his torment, as the shackles dug into his wrist causing them to bleed. "This had better be important!" shouted Moriarty as he fixed the lackey with a cold murderous glare. He was in no mood to have his entertainment interrupted for the sake of petty matters.

The crony looked nervous. "It's that Inspector sir. She's been demanding to talk to you."

Moriarty smiled. "Well Holmes it would seem the good Inspector has come to your rescue… for the moment."

Holmes barely heard, preoccupied in his half successful attempts at breathing all he could manage was one broken sentence:"Stay… away… from …her…" Holmes then began to cough again as more blood spilled upon the floor.

"You're hardly in a position to give orders Holmes," Moriarty smirked as he turned to leave.

"I swear I'll kill you…" muttered Holmes just as Moriarty reached the door. Moriarty said nothing, just pressed the button.

"Arrrgghh!" Holmes cried out, his eyes glazed over and he merely twitched in response to the shackles that still tortured him.

Moriarty deactivated them, and after making sure the detective was still alive turned to the guard "you are aware of the procedure should he cease to breathe"

The guard nodded as Moriarty headed to Lestrade's quarters.

Footnote:

Is a line my friend Alanna came up with when I was telling her about this fic.

The next update will be on the 21 of October before noon.

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