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.

Disclaimer All 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.

The Irregulars found an exit quickly and were out in the London air within minutes. They wasted no time finding a phone and calling the Yard. Lestrade had long ago given them Greyson's number to be used in emergencies. Soon as his face appeared on screen Wiggins introduced himself. "Chief Inspector I'm—"

"I know who you are. You're Wiggins. You've been hanging around Lestrade and that dead detective helping them with their cases," the 'helping' was heavily laced with sarcasm, "Against regulations I might add, you disappeared several days ago. I've already traced the call. Officers will be with you shortly. Stay where you are."

"Sir we have Watson's memory board—send techies—and we have a map to Moriarty's hideout—we just escaped—Holmes and Lestrade are still down there, looking for him before he gets away."

Greyson was speechless for a full three seconds while he absorbed the full impact of this statement. "They went down there without back up?!" he hollered 'Why must she be so reckless? Even her father was never this bad.' "Alright, I'm sending every available unit to set up a hair net, any idea how many men we'll be up against?"

"Jugging from the number of guards and the size, I'd say at least fifty."

"Wonderful, I'm on my way. Don't do anything stupid." And with that, the Chief Inspector's image surrendered to blank infinity

"Stupid? We just organized a dar'ing escape from the greatest criminal mastermind of all time! What's his problem?"

Wiggins said nothing just smiled and shrugged. He knew they should call their parents but if they did said relation wouldn't let them have anything more to do with stopping Moriarty's plan and he knew they could be useful. But they had a right to know—he knew his mother was going through hell… maybe if they didn't know the details, sighing he made the call.

"Wiggins," his mother shouted, "Are you alright!?"

"Ya mom we all are. Look we still got some stuff to take care of but we're alright. I gotta call Tennyson's and Deidre's parents, I'll be back in time for dinner don't worry."

"But it's four in the morning! Surly you can get home sooner." His mother could not believe she was going to let him do what ever it was he wanted to do. She knew it was something dangerous however he would soon be of age and she knew he could take care of himself. But if anything happened to him… still he looked just fine. Perhaps she was worrying too much.

"Sorry mom but I gotta go. I'll see you at dinner. I'm fine really, bye." Hanging up he thought, 'Note to self: never let mom find out about the burn. Wonder if Mr Holmes knows any good make up tricks to cover it? Good thing she didn't press for details… if she knew she would never let me go.'

He then turned to Tennyson and said, "Time to call your folks." With that he called Tennyson's parents his mother, Joran, was looking very worried answered.

"Wiggins! Where's Tennyson? Is he with you?" Wiggins stepped aside so she could see Tennyson. "Thank God! Where are you?"

"Beeep beep whur beepbeep whir beep."

"What do you mean you have something you have to do? You get home right now."

"Beep whur beep."

"Your friends are in trouble? I understand you have to help your friends but you've been gone a week, what happened? Where are you? I'm coming down to pick you up."

"Beep beep whur." (I'll be ok don't worry; I'll be back in time for supper.)

"Tell me where you are."

(If I don't help my friends could die,) Tennyson beeped.

"That's not comforting," she replied becoming more anxious, "where are you?"

(Police are on their way here mom I won't do anything rash but my hacking skills could come in handy. I'll be ok.)

"I don't like it please come home."

(I can't yet, look Deidre needs to call her dad.)

'As if he cares,' Joran thought critically, having met the man before, 'He only takes care of Deidre because he's legally obligated too.'

"Contact me as again as soon as you can," she said then hung up. 'They all look okay. Even Deidre doesn't look like she was hurt. At least now I know they're okay.'

Tennyson sighed beneath his mask, happy his mother hadn't pressed for answers.

"Right my turn." Deidre announced as she stepped up to the phone quickly and made the call. Her father answered. "Hey dad I just want to let you know I'm okay and I'll be back in time for dinner tonight."

"Whatever. Just tell the cops so they'll stop pestering me about your whereabouts. Where have you been?"

"Around, I'll be back in time for dinner tonight, I'll see ya then." Hanging up she turned to Wiggins, "What now?"

The oldest Irregular sighed, the man's daughter disappears for a week then calls and all he can say is 'Whatever. Just let the cops know?'

"Now we wait, Tennyson have you downloaded a copy of the map onto your computer?"

"Beep." (Yes.)

"Good when Greyson gets here we give him the original, if Lestrade tries to keep us out of police business then there's no way Greyson will let us help. We don't do anything 'til Watson's been repaired. Hopefully that won't take long."

The first police cruiser landed and out stepped Murdock. He ran towards them and grabbed Deidre by the shoulders looking her over. He had been the one to interview her farther when she had first gone missing and had been very worried about her because she was female. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Murdock," Deidre took his wrist in her hands and gently removed his from her shoulders. "They didn't touch me."

Murdock looked relived. He turned his attention to the other two Irregulars. Gazing at them with large amounts of scrutiny

"How about you two?"

"We're fine Murdock. Look sir about Watson—"

"I called the techies and told them you have the board. They'll bring him here so we don't waste time getting you lot over to the yard. Greyson's going to ask you a lot of questions, might be awhile before you can get away."

Wiggins nodded, "Thanks sir."

A moment later more police cursers arrived along with some people from the tech division. The Irregulars ran over to join the swarming personnel.

"'Scuse me sir." Deidre got out Watson's board and handed it to the techie. "Here's Watson board."

He took the board and nodded, then turned and headed back to the hovervan followed by the Irregulars.

They saw Watson's body on a stretcher inside, Deidre climbed in. Tennyson couldn't because his chair wouldn't fit, Wiggins thought the techie would need space and not wanting Tennyson to be left alone waited beside him in hushed suspense.

Deidre sat to the side as she watched the techie work. He opened up Watson's head and carefully put the board back in its place, he then closed the small hatch and reactivated him.

Watson sat up with a start. "Holmes!" he cried. He then realised he was been embraced. He looked down. "Deidre? What's wrong?"

Deidre was so happy she was near tears. "It's a long story."

She turned to the techie who had Watson's elastomask. He handed it to her and she gave it to her friend who put it on. The techie then handed Watson his hat, monocle, and coat.

"Com'on," Deidre led Watson out of the hovervan to where Wiggins and Tennyson were waiting.

"Hey Watson, great to see you. You feeling al'right?"

"Yes I'm fine thank you, but what's happened?"

Wiggins started to explain and he had just gotten to the part where he woke up in a cell when he heard Chief Inspector Greyson.

"Hey you lot," he said as he walked over to them. He crossed his arms trying to look intimidating. "Okay. What's this all about?"

"Well sir—" continued Wiggins only to be cut off by Greyson

"Wait, if this is a long story I think it would be best if you gave me the map and we set up a hair net." He held out his hand and Wiggins gave him the map.

"Right," the chief inspector said looking at it, then. "All right I'll be just a moment."

He walked towards Murdock and they stared talking. While the Irregulars and Watson waited patiently, the sooner a net was established the sooner Lestrade and Holmes got backup. After a minute, Greyson walked back to them. "You were saying?"

"Well, me and Tennyson were attacked on our way home from Mr Holmes's place, I was knocked out and when I woke up I was in a cell…"

00o00

Five minutes later Wiggins had told Greyson everything he considered important—he left out the torture and the beating. Telling the Chief Inspector only about their and Moriarty's escape, the fact that Tennyson had been forced to hack the security details for the peace conference and what he knew of Moriarty's plans.

"Replace the leaders with robots—is he insane?!" Greyson brought his hand up to his face and messaged his temple he could feel the headache coming on. "Well it doesn't matter so long as we capture him. Right then you," he turned to Watson, "Escort these children to new Scotland Yard take their statements, notify their parents a.s.a-mmediatly."

Watson and the Irregulars glared at back of the chief inspector as he departed.

"I don't think he believes it," said Watson.

"Ya, well we should find an entrance to the underground and see if we can help Mr Holmes and Lestrade." Wiggins commented.

"Indeed, I expect you made a copy of the map?"

"Sure did, Tennyson's got it on his computer."

"May I download a copy?"

"Beep." (Of course.)

"I believe I know of an entrance that even the yard is ignorant of," Watson remarked after a moment, "Holmes and I have gone on several excursions to the underground we found entrances not on the yards maps. I know of the perfect one for our use."

The Irregulars grinned. It was good to have Watson back. Departing themselves, after they were a fair distance from the police Watson gestured to a bench. "Have a seat Miss Deidre."

"What? Why?"

"Because you have bruised your ribs, it's apparent from the way you walk" Deidre sighed and sat down. Watson scanned her then began to treat her.

"Wiggins I noticed you keep touching your left forearm. I know you didn't tell Greyson everything, but I would like you to tell me what I missed."

"Sure thing Watson." And Wiggins started the story over from the moment he woke up in his first cell. He was just finishing telling Watson everything that had occurred, the droid had long since finished treating Deidre and they were standing a few feet from the entrance Watson had mentioned earlier.

"My word," the compudroid gasped, horror swarming through his circuits. Images of torture swimming before his eyes. Wiggins getting beaten; Lestrade forced to torture Holmes while the Irregulars watched. Watson was a kind and benevolent soul, and though a Level 7 Law Enforcement Compudroid designed to take out doors and several unruly people at once, he was very gentle. And though he had always disliked Moriarty he had never truly hated the man, until now.

Watson had never felt such hatred, it was beyond even what his predecessor's experience. It was against their nature. He swore he would make Moriarty pay for what he had done.

They had paused momentarily at the entrance while Watson absorbed it all. "Continuing on our present course is very dangerous. I know you can help. You have handled yourselves admirably and with great courage and foresight. I can't stop you but all the same I must ask you to return to your homes."

"No'thing do'ing," Deidre replied.

"Ya Watson we can't just leave Mr Holmes, Lestrade and you even if you do have a map, we still know more about the situation then you."

Watson was about to say they had brought him up to date but Tennyson cut in

"Beep whurwhur beep." (Were coming and that's final.)

Watson sighed and turned his feet back toward his imminent destination with the Irregulars in tow. "Well come along then."

Next update will be on the 9th of November

Tootles