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 17 - Bomb Squad
Unknown Location in New London's Underground, Suspected Base for Moriarty.
Murdock was looking around. From what he heard this was not what Moriarty's base was supposed to look like. The walls were made of stone and there wasn't any sign that the place had ever been inhabited; no computer terminals, no chairs, no nothing.
Greyson seemed to think they were missing a hidden door, or some such thing, but nothing was being registered on the scanners.
Murdock had an uneasy feeling about the whole situation, it seemed wrong, every instinct he had was screaming in the affirmative.
'Alright,' he told himself 'think, what is wrong with this situation? The map led us here, to what supposedly is Moriarty's stronghold, but there is no sign of him. It's possible that the map is fake. But, the Irregulars used it to get out, there is nothing that could have changed the map… I suppose Moriarty could have accessed it remotely and changed it after the Irregulars surfaced and before Greyson took it. That would mean that this could be a trap…'
As a former demolitionist, he was in the habit of bringing an especially designed bomb scanner with him. Within seconds, it picked up a lot of explosives.
"Greyson! This place is wired to explode! Get everyone out!"
The chief Inspector looked at Murdock, but didn't question him. "Everyone evacuate the area in an orderly fashion! Come on we've got to 'urry!"
Looking at his scanner, Murdock soon located what appeared to be the detonator attached to the trunk line. The bomb was hidden in an old fuse box, opening up the door, he saw that the timer had not been activated—in fact it was blank. That meant the bomb was set up to receive a signal that hadn't been sent yet.
'Why…? We're in position, why has no signal been sent? No matter, shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, I should deactivate this thing.' Carefully he set about his work. 'Man this is a sweet bomb… if I deactivate this device that receives the signal it will go off, then there's the mercury. This thing is practically tamper proof maybe if I…' He stopped just short of touching the bomb. 'I should wait till everyone's been evacuated before I try anything.'
Ten minutes or so later, Greyson joined him. "What's the situation, Murdock?"
"This bomb is set up to receive a signal and then blow after an undetermined amount of time—note the timer—I don't know how much time we'll have after it's activated."
"Let's not find out, can you deactivate it?"
"The things sophisticated, and pretty much tamper proof."
"Can you work with pretty much?"
"I think so sir. No bomb is completely tamper proof," and with that Murdock set about his work. He was still at it ten minutes later when the explosive was activated. "Ah crud."
"What's the problem, Murdock?"
"It's been activated sir."
"Can you stop it?"
"Think so sir."
"That's not a guarantee. Alright we're leaving, the area has been evacuated, I'll not risk our lives, to save this … establishment."
Murdock nodded it wasn't worth getting killed if no lives were in danger, but he felt sure he could prevent the explosion, and there might be squatters they didn't know about. "Just one more minute sir." he pleaded
"Very well," said Greyson, he crossed his arms and waited for Murdock to finish or give up, whichever came first.
'Com' on Murdock it's just another sensitive bomb, just like you've handled a million times… you can do this… if I cut this wire it should disable the mechanism. I think… it will either deactivate it or blow us up. Well here goes.' He held his breath and cut the wire.
The timer stopped.
"Is it deactivated?" the chief inspector inquired
"Yes sir." Murdock assured with relief
"Good, I'll have a squad come in and clean up, in the meantime, let's get back to the surface and see if we can contact Lestrade and the dead detective."
"Right," Murdock and Greyson had just reached the surface when the sergeant's wrist com began to ring he answered it and Tennyson's face blink into view.
"Hey, Tennyson what's up?" All of a sudden the youngest Irregular was replaced with Lestrade.
"Murdock you have to get everyone out of there the place is rigged to explode!"
"Ya, I know. I knew something was wrong when there wasn't even a computer terminal set up. So I scanned for explosives. I used to be on bomb squad remember?"
Lestrade smiled, the relief on her face was evident.
"Where are you?" Murdock asked.
"We're at Moriarty's base. Look, clone-head already kidnapped two world leaders and replaced them with his androids, the president of Zaniba and the president of Quaqdic. You have to do something, meanwhile we'll try to locate Moriarty."
"You do realise, the chances of Greyson actually believing you are slim to non existent. Right?"
"Right. How about, I just tell you where we are and Greyson can go over the security footage we have?"
"Sounds like a plan."
00o00
"Right," Lestrade said as she turned back to the group, "The Yard is okay and everyone is on their way over. Greyson will go over the footage. Then you kids will be escorted back to your homes."
"But we can help!" protested the Irregulars.
"I know," Lestrade sounded tired, "but you're stills kids, you shouldn't have to deal with this stuff—it's dangerous."
"All things considered, I think we're safer with you and Mr 'Olmes then anywhere else." Deidre replied.
Lestrade simply looked at Deidre it wasn't a glare or anything it was simply a This-Is-Dangerous-And-We're-All-Exhausted-Please-Don't-Argue Look.
Lestrade turned, "Tennyson while we're waiting for the yard see what you can find," she turned to the others, "The same goes for the rest of you I want to see what we can find before Greyson gets here."
No one said anything, just grabbed a terminal and got to work. Several minutes later they had obtained control of the buildings security and opened the necessary doors for the yard. Another few minutes later, Greyson appeared on one of the monitors. Lestrade gave him and the other C.I.D(1) officers directions to the security room while her companions continued to work, a few minutes later the chief Inspector was in the room.
"Alright, Sergeant Murdock since the compudroid is incapable of following orders I want you to take these children home." he glared at the Irregulars. The threesome shrugged and left with their assigned escort deciding that for Lestrade's sake they wouldn't aggravate her superior.
The chief inspector's eyebrows climb to his hair line as he watched what he had thought was a deactivatedmilitary droid follow the female child out—he'd get to the bottom of that later.
As they left they heard Greyson ask, "Alright what's this about?"
00o00
An hour later, Deidre was in her room wondering about Holmes, Watson, and Lestrade. Wishing they would call, and wondering if they were able to get any useful information about Moriarty's plan from the computers.
Deidre had been the last to be dropped of, Tennyson had been first then Wiggins.
When she had arrived home, her farther had simply said: "Thought you were going to be gone longer," and returned to the TV. and thank the gods he hadn't noticed her 'shadow.'
"Mr 'Olmes and Watson care more about me then my own dad."
Deidre eventually managed to fall asleep, Shinwell against her bedroom wall, though it was hardly a restful slumber. She was awoken at 9:00 am by the phone.
"Mr Holmes wants us to meet him over at Baker Street," Wiggins told her when she answered.
"I'll be right there."
Deidre was at 221b in record time, but she still hadn't beat Tennyson, probably due to the fact that he did not have to pace himself. Also, unlike usual, she hadn't had a problem with crowds due to the fact that everyone attempted to avoid the military droid following obediently behind her. He had this mysterious ability to clear a path. She rather liked that.
The first thing Deidre noticed upon entering was that Lestrade was asleep in Watson's chair, a cup of tea lay, hardly touched, on the table beside her.
"Ah Deidre, Shinwell," greeted the detective "so good of you to join us. I must ask you" he said addressing the latter "to, please go into the kitchen where Watson is waiting for you and will provide you with a few upgrades."
Shinwell just stood their unmoving. Holmes raised his eyebrow and turned to Deidre.
"Do what he says Shinwell," she told the droid with a smirk. It started walking towards the kitchen.
Deidre was about to ask about Lestrade when Wiggins arrived. Holmes told them to find a seat as he ignored their inquiring faces with regards to Lestrade. Once they had all seated themselves he told them what had happened after they had been sent home….
00o00
"I believe that the irregulars have already furnished you with all relevant details concerning Moriarty's plot, as well as any new information which we have amassed in the meantime, mainly that Moriarty has already succeeded in the capture of two foreign representatives," Holmes said in answer to Greyson's question.
"Do you have any evidence?"
"Indeed we have video footage."
"With elastomaks and androids that can fool DNA scanners that's not enough. The fake presidents will simply deny everything and tell us to get lost. Do you have anything else?"
"What about metal detectors?" suggested an Inspector named Johnson who had been loitering around the chief Inspector.
"I have read about a new type of droid named the Plassein droids, made with thermosetting polymers—there are no metal alloys involved. Moriarty is also likely to have made use of those," replied Holmes.
"Perfect," snapped Greyson "Do you have anything Holmes?"
"Only the assurance that Moriarty has personally confirmed everything I have related to you."
"If we go to the ones running the conference and show them the tape they'll say it's only a couple of actors with elastomasks, and since, if what you say is true." Greyson did not sound as if he believed it, "The fakes can fool DNA scanners, there is no way to prove that they are fakes. It 'ill be your word against theirs. Which, I can guarantee won't be good enough. They'll laugh at you."
"None the less we must take it upon ourselves to warn those in charge."
"The ones in charge are British Intelligence and some U.N officials—since when 'ave they ever listened to the C.I.D?" Greyson snapped. "But I suppose you're right," he turned to Johnson. "I want you, to keep an eye on things here. Make sure forensic and the people from the tech division go over everything. Lestrade, you're with me we're going to talk to the U.N officials. Holmes, I don't care what you do so long as you stay out of my way. Come on Lestrade."
As Lestrade, and the chief inspector headed for the exit, she glanced back at the detective who nodded. After she had gone, he turned to Johnson.
"Johnson will you be so kind as to send me a copy of your report when it is completed?"
"Sure thing Mr Holmes, glad you, Watson and Lestrade are okay." replied the inspector as he turned to Watson who had remained silent throughout the conversation as had everyone in the room. It had only been after Greyson had left with Lestrade that anyone actually got to work.
Holmes nodded, the Yard could shift through what evidence there was to find, as well as he could. Forensics had drastically improved since his time. Most items of interest would be on the computers and though Holmes was fairly apt with technology of the day the fact remained he was not an expert.
"Come Watson we are done here." He walked out of the room and toward the exit. The two took a cab home and Holmes was as silent during the trip as ever. The compudroid knew better then to disturb his companion.
When they finally reached Baker Street Holmes simply took his violin and started to play. Watson decided to leave him to it, and began to read a book while he waited for Holmes to finish thinking. (Provided there was ever a time when Holmes wasn't thinking.) For the next several hours Watson shifted between reading his medical book and thinking about the case.
00o00
"At around 7:00am Lestrade made her— well, I'll let her familiarize you with her experience, she will no doubt awaken soon and I must be on my way, I have a few sources that require my attention." Holmes concluded as he glanced at Lestrade. If Deidre didn't know any better she'd think he was worried.
"What's wrong with the Inspector?" asked Deidre
"Oh nothing, I merely took the liberty of slipping a sedative in her tea—without alerting her of course—it should ware off momentarily."
"What you do that for?" Wiggins inquired.
Holmes looked at Wiggins. "Because she was in a highly agitated state and I though her in need of a calming influence, she has been deprived of sleep for far too great an amount of time and needed a moments rest."
The Irregulars stared at their mentor, it was no wonder he wanted to leave and 'check his sources.' It wouldn't be pretty when the inspector woke up.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get into character." And with that he climbed the stairs to his room. The Irregulars simply stared at each other and then at the inspector. a few moments later a strange man with black hair, a goatee, and a blue blazer entered the sitting room.
"Deidre I would appreciate it if you would trail the counterfeit president of Zaniba as close as the security level will permit—which if my premonition is correct will have to be from quit a distance," here he paused, and glanced at the kitchen, "Then again… you may want to ascertain if Shinwell has any advantages which might aid you."
Deidre smiled and glanced at the kitchen where she knew her 'shadow' to be. Now there was a thought.
"Wiggins I would like you to follow the president of Quaqdic. Tennyson I want you to keep an eye out in cyberspace and alert me if Moriarty becomes in anyway traceable. However I must ask you to remain here until Lestrade awakes she will acquaint you with what has occurred in the interval. Also Wiggins, Watson will accompany you. Deidre, Shinwell will be your companion. Now if you will excuse me I believe Lestrade is stirring." And with that the great detective fled—er—left the building.
Lestrade was indeed stirring, but it was another couple minutes before she was coherent enough to talk.
"Argh what happened don't tell me I fell aslee—" Lestrade's face assumed a suspicious expression, she took her cup and sniffed.
"He drugged me!" she shouted as she surged to her feet, looking like she was ready to maul the nearest living thing. "When I get my hands on him!"
The Irregulars took a step back. They all knew that she was a force of nature unto herself. Holmes himself had admitted as much. They were actually worried about him.
"Hmm, Inspector?" Deidre interjected timidly.
"What?"
"Mister 'Olmes fle— er, left to check on ah…some sources. Wiggins and Watson are going to follow the president of Quaqdic as close as they can and me an' Shinwell 'ave the president of Zaniba. Tennyson's going to keep an eye on the net. But first we'd like to 'ear what 'appened to you after you left with Greyson." Deidre had thought it best to update Lestrade, though she was worried that the inspector would try to prevent them from investigating, but what could she do? Besides arrest them of course….
Lestrade looked at Deidre, her expression changed from shock, to annoyance, to quiet resignation in seconds. "Right, whatever, so long as you report to me as well as Holmes I won't arrest you for interfering. Deal?"
The Irregulars nodded.
"Right, there's not much to tell," Lestrade began with a sigh; "Me and Greyson went to see the U.N officials, which took about an hour to arrange. We told them what Moriarty was planning, they asked us what evidence we had, we showed them the video footage. We asked them if we could talk to the fakes and they told us that wasn't possible. They had, for – security reasons - been scanned and no one in their party had mentioned anything about them acting oddly. They also told us that they thought we were insane and that the idea that the officials had been kidnapped was ludicrous."
Here the inspector grimaced, "To make a long story short, I had a few choice words with them, and in the end they said they would question the president's entourage, to see if anything was off. But they wouldn't let me question them. Greyson, stayed behind to help British Intelligence, with the questioning and I came here to update Holmes."
Just then Watson poked his head into the room and looked at Lestrade questioningly, his expression asked plainly: 'Is it safe to enter?'
Lestrade turned to face him and crossed her arms. Though she was glaring she didn't look like she was about to attack. The doctor then entered the room followed by Shinwell. "I understand that the Irregulars have updated you on the situation?"
"Ya, I'd better get back to New Scotland Yard. You kids be careful, and call if you run into trouble."
"Sure thing Inspector." Wiggins assured her, after Lestrade had left, he turned to Watson. "Well I guess we'd better get going."
"Indeed. First we will deliver Tennyson safely to his destination, then Miss Deidre, before assuming our post and remember: everyone stay in contact."
The group of five departed.
Footnote:
(1) C.I.D. acronym for Criminal Investigation Department
Next update will be on the 25 of December as a Christmas present it will probably be in the morning but I make no guarantees.
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