Hiram groaned. ''Olivia? Olivia, is that you?''
''There, there now, Daddy,'' he heard the sweet voice of his daughter. ''You've been asleep for almost nine hours.''
''Oh, my wee bairn, I had a horrible nightmare. I dreamt I had been captured by the Viper.''
''Well, you're safe and sound now, back at good old Big Ben.''
''Big Ben?!''
Hiram's eyes snapped open and tried to take on his surroundings. He saw he was in a place filled with clockwork that was making a constant and loud chime. The toymaker looked down and saw he was tied to a chair with rope, sitting on a large platform.
''I wouldn't struggle if I were you.''
Hiram looked up and saw a familiar hooded figure standing in front of him, with Saul, Butch, Angus, Spike and Cliff with her, all with their hoods down. As usual, Spike and Cliff stood at either side of their mistress like bodyguards.
''How nice of you to join us, Mr Flaversham,'' said the Viper, in her deep, snake-like voice. The Viper removed her hood to reveal the face of Ruby Ratigan. She looked the same, apart from no longer wearing her heavy make-up, revealing her fur.
''Hello again, Ruby,'' Hiram said stiffly, staring at the gold wedding band on her left hand.
Ruby chuckled. ''You poor dear, Hiram,'' she cooed, now in her own soft and silky voice, reaching out her right hand and pinching his cheek. ''You seem to have a habit of getting yourself kidnapped, don't you? First by my husband, now me. You mustn't become too popular.''
''I'd rather it was me kidnapped than my daughter or future son-in-law.''
''A predictable response. Don't worry, unlike with my Wicked Professor, you have some company.''
She gestured to Hiram's left and the toymaker saw in horror Dawson and Pauline tied to chairs next to him. ''Doctor Dawson! Pauline!''
''Are you alright, Hiram?'' the good doctor asked.
''Yes, but are you two?''
''We're fine, Hiram,'' Pauline answered.
''Are you absolutely sure, dear?'' Dawson asked his wife, his worry reaching alarming levels.
''What's the matter?'' Ruby jeered. ''Afraid for your expectant wife?''
Dawson's eyes widened in horror.
Ruby chuckled half-heartedly at Dawson's face, her smile strained and her face clearly struggling. She sashayed over to Pauline and leaned down towards her belly. ''Congratulations, my dear,'' she said, her voice dripping with bitterness and jealousy, and placed her hand on her stomach.
''Get your slimy hands off my child!'' Pauline shouted in disgust, having heard from Butch that the B word would send the Viper into a violent, terrible rage, and she didn't want to risk harm to herself or her baby.
''You heard her!'' Dawson cried. ''Leave my wife alone and focus you attention on me, you fiend!''
''Don't worry, my dear Dawson, I'm not going to harm her … yet. I am merely congratulating her, for taunting me.''
''I'm sorry you suffered a miscarriage, I really am,'' Pauline said sincerely. ''My sister Sally lost a child herself years ago.''
''Pauline's right,'' said Dawson. ''Sally's first-born daughter was premature.''
''Lies! I hate pregnant woman,'' Ruby spat. ''They are a mockery of what I lost, all because of that runt detective –'' She reached it her pocket and pulled out a Basil doll. – ''Basil of Baker Street!''
She threw the doll towards one of the clock's gears, which squashed it like dough when it turned. Recovering, she reached into her pocket again, pulled out her gold cigarette holder, and lit it up.
''Why did Spike or Cliff kidnap my wife as well as me, Viper?'' Dawson demanded. ''I wish he hadn't.''
''It was going to be just you, doctor, but then Spike saw your beloved wife's stomach and realised she was expecting, so of course he had to bring her along as well, another victim for me to claim. The more the merrier.''
She blew smoke into doctor's face, making Dawson cough. Ruby laughed unkindly, then proceeded to do the same to Pauline. The pregnant mouse held her mouth shut as tightly as possible, determined not breathe in the smoke as it could cause harm to the baby. A whiff of smoke managed to slither up her nose, but she prayed it wouldn't affect anything. The Viper held out her hand, Spike or Cliff handed her a new dagger and the Viper held it against Pauline's neck. Pauline whimpered. Seeing this, Dawson's face twisted into rage and shouted like he had never shouted in all of his life, and hopped around in his chair trying to break free, causing Ruby to jump back in surprise as Spike and Cliff shielded their mistress.
''My, I didn't think you were feisty, Dawson!'' Ruby chuckled, amused.
''And I always thought you were a wimp,'' Saul said.
''When it comes the safety of his loved ones, Doctor Dawson is not to be underestimated, Saul,'' Hiram retorted.
''Evidently,'' Ruby said, and took a whiff of her cigarette.
Dawson wanted to berate Ruby for endangering his wife and child with smoke, but he knew there was a real risk of it encouraging the villain to harm them even further so he remained silent. Instead, he looked at Saul. ''Saul Bones, right 'Charlie'? I remember your case years ago. I'm sorry about what happened to your mother and yourself, I truly am, but your father was committing criminal activities and needed apprehending.''
Saul snorted. ''I couldn't care less about my father; he was a waste of space. It's my mother and myself for whom I am seeking vengeance. It was you and your detective friend putting him away that made Mother poorly. Yes, they had recently separated, but she still loved him and never wanted anything like that to happen. That's why she went into a deep shock, and that's what killed her. That orphanage! Basil ruined our lives! He's so inconsiderate, doesn't he ever think about what the impact of solving a case can have on other parties involved?''
Despite his actions, Dawson felt a bit of compassion for Saul. ''But, Saul, you have been working for the dangerous Viper. You have gone down a criminal path, just like your father. How do you think your mother would feel?''
''She would be glad I am avenging our family.''
Dawson raised an eyebrow. ''Are you sure about that?''
Saul hesitated for a moment.
''Don't listen to him,'' Ruby said. ''He's trying to make you soft. As you said, Saul, your mother died because Basil arrested your father. He's the root of all of your problems, and you deserve vengeance, just as I do.''
She removed the cigarette from her holder, pinching it as if it was a bug.
Any doubts Saul was squashed. ''Yeah, you're right!''
Dawson sighed in defeat. He had hoped Saul would see sense. Even though he had never liked his clingy behaviour towards Olivia, the good doctor could see that Saul was just a deeply troubled young man who had had tough childhood and was projecting that onto Basil.
Pauline told her husband he tried his best and Dawson smiled at her.
Ruby made vomit noises, pulled from her pocket her husband's gold watch and flipped it open. ''9.45, another fifteen minutes. Hiram, why don't you fill the doctor and his wife in on about what happened at the palace? I'm not saying it again.''
''If there's one thing the Viper hates, apart from those who mess with her, it's repeating herself,'' Angus said matter-of-factly.
''And because William humiliated you?'' Hiram said shrewdly.
Ruby growled and snapped the pocket watch shut, as if to empathise she wanted it be Hiram's neck, but was obviously holding back until Basil and Olivia arrived. Dawson remembered Ratigan doing the same thing in his lair after Basil had called him the R word; he had fought back the rage despite wanting to throttle Basil, and had snapped his watch shut in a similar fashion to Ruby, again as if to empathise that want, but was holding back so he could break Basil's spirit over his smarts.
Hiram then told Dawson and Pauline what happened.
''Fidget really did that?'' Dawson asked in amazement.
''David, I do believe that Fidget really has changed, for the better,'' said Pauline.
''Speaking of which, Mrs Viper,'' Butch piped up, ''why didn't you bring Fidget with us?''
''I have no use for a traitor,'' Ruby said scornfully, putting the watch away. ''If that ungrateful runt wants to help Basil, let him. Besides, he will die along with him. A fitting end it will be for our detective, for him to die at the same place he made me a widow.''
''But William didn't kill your husband!'' Hiram protested. ''It was an accident!''
''Hiram's right,'' Dawson agreed. ''You didn't see what happened that night, Ruby. Ratigan simply lost his footing – and that happened because he was trying to kill Basil. If anything killed him, it was his own fury.''
''That monster nearly beat my son-in-law to death,'' Hiram added. ''After everything he did to various rodents, that rat deserved to die.''
''DON'T CALL HIM A RAT!'' Ruby screamed in his face. ''BASIL KILLED MY HUSBAND AND HE WILL GET HIS COMEUPPANCE!''
''Lady Ruby, calm down,'' Angus soothed, rubbing his mistress's shoulders.
''Oh, Angus,'' she said, hugging him.
''Now that you mention it,'' Hiram said thoughtfully, ''there is something I'm curious about: William said you suffer from heat exhaustion, but doesn't occur very often. You often get angry like your husband did, which makes the body temperature rise, so …?''
''A little invention of mine, Mr Flaversham,'' Angus replied. ''It keeps my mistress cool most of the time.''
Ruby lifted her robe to reveal a very large but thin ice pack tied to her body. ''For a long time Lady Ruby was doing perfectly fine, even at the start when she would get angry over Butch's mistakes. But after Armstrong retrieved the professor's bell, the giddiness over having regained a piece of her husband caused her to have a few blackouts.''
''This bell is very precious,'' Ruby sighed blissfully, pulling out the gold-yellow object, looking at it as though it was something delicious. ''When we reunited seven years before he died, on our first date I gave this to Padraic as a gift, as something he could use to summon our Princess Felicia, and as you already know he gave me this.'' She held up the ring with the red stone. ''Ruby red, like my name.''
''I bet he stole it from a jewellery shop,'' Pauline said, and Hiram and Dawson agreed.
''Mrs Ratigan,'' Butch said suddenly, ''I know this probably isn't the best time, but now that I know who you really are I think I'm in love with you. You're so hot!''
Ruby grimaced, but giggled. ''I'm flattered, Butch, but I love my husband – and if he was here now, you would cease to exist for saying that, you idiot.''
''Viper!''
Everyone turned around and saw Basil and Olivia walking up the platform to reach them to reach them. Basil was wearing his usual detective attire, Olivia in her signature blue dress. Ruby and her group stood in front of the pair, forgetting about the three hostages.
''Ah, Basil,'' Ruby said pleasantly, and pulled out her pocket watch once more. ''10 p.m. exact. At least you weren't fifteen minutes late this time, like you were for Padraic's trap.''
''I know better than to be late, Aunt Ratigan,'' Basil replied, ''especially since I have three dear friend's lives on the line.''
Ruby briefly looked over her shoulder at her three victims before facing Basil once more. ''You have sense, nephew. You and Olivia are both here and no Scotland Yard! You did do it properly!''
''Of course,'' Olivia said. ''When you make a threat, Viper, it's never a bluff. Ratigan was the same, he never bluffed.''
''You really know us. Where are – ?''
''We told Helen to stay at home as it was just too dangerous,'' Basil said. ''As for Fidget, he has been taken into custody; he may have helped us, but he has still been an accomplice to both you and Ratigan so it was best he faced the consequences.''
''Poor Fidget,'' Ruby sighed in a fake sad tone, shaking her head. ''It was inevitable. He couldn't avoid if forever. Oh well, it was his own fault.''
''Hello, Olivia,'' said Saul, waving. ''If you've wondered, I really did find you attractive and the boss says once Basil has got his due, I can have my way with you if I want.''
Immediately, Basil let out a cry and he and Saul charged at each other. Saul threw punches, Basil dodged each one. Yes, Saul had beaten him at the party, but that was only because Basil had believed he was facing the Viper. Well, this time, the detective was not going to be caught off guard, not after what Saul has just said. He delivered a kick to Saul's face, sending him flying, though not too far from Ruby.
Everyone but Ruby's group cheered.
''I see he got you this time,'' Ruby said, not at all concerned about her lackey.
Saul sat up with a grunt, Butch helping him to his feet. ''Sorry, Ruby, couldn't resist,'' the young man said.
''I don't blame you, Saul,'' Ruby said, unsympathetically, staring right at Basil. ''Now, William, I can execute all of you here right now. Once I do you all in, I can disguise myself and sneak out of the country. I am a master of disguise, after all, and I have my voice imitation.''
''You really are confident, aren't you, Ruby?'' Olivia said wryly. ''Don't you think about the possibility that maybe you will be arrested and thrown in jail for your crimes?''
''Even if that was to happen, my dear Olivia, as long as I have achieved my goal of killing all of you and avenged my husband, I will be most content.''
''Ruby Maria Ratigan,'' Basil said in exasperation, ''you are officially mad! Just as mad as your husband, if not more!''
''Thank you for the compliment,'' Ruby said, talking in her husband's voice and bowing, in a strikingly-similar gesture to his.
''I'm genuinely curious about something, Ruby,'' Olivia said. ''You seem to have taken on a lot of Ratigan's personality, adding it to your own.''
''Well, I had to keep his spirit alive somehow,'' Ruby shrugged.
''Of course,'' Olivia said. ''I would also like to point out that if you had simply just carried your plan discreetly without alerting William to your presence, your plan would not have been hearted. You really overconfident, weren't you?''
''I had to have some fun with my old friend Basil at first, didn't I? It was you, Flaversham, having the audacity to see through my ruse when every idiot in Mousedom never did! What makes you so special?''
Olivia didn't waste her energy on answering such an insignificant question. Instead she said, ''By the way, at the party, as 'Regina' you told William that you took acting classes from your teacher – that teacher was Ratigan, wasn't it? Even though he was the maths professor, he gave you private acting lessons because of your relationship, and due to his previous career as a theatre actor.''
''Amazing deduction, Olivia,'' Ruby said mockingly, once more in her husband's voice. ''Yes, he did,'' she said, now in her own voice. ''He taught me everything he knew about acting; I watched him perform years ago, I had such a crush on him! When I first started at Mouse Cambridge University you can imagine how my heart soared when I discovered that Padraic Ratigan, the former brilliant actor of Claudius, was the professor and –''
She was interrupted when Spike and Cliff suddenly made noises and her group wheeled around, while Basil and Olivia were horrified. It was as though time had come to a halt. From the moment the couple arrived, they had been keeping Ruby and her minions busy while Helen and Fidget had snuck to Hiram, Dawson and Pauline and started to untie them. Pauline's ropes were untied and Fidget had almost finished on Dawson when Spike and Cliff had looked over their shoulders and spotted them.
Fidget giggled nervously. ''Uh, pay no attention to the bat and mice behind you,'' he said.
''Ah,'' Ruby said, ''I see your game, Basil. A decent strategy, I'll admit, and something I wouldn't have excepted from you, but as you can see, it failed.''
Helen was wearing regular clothes while Fidget was now dressed in his purple top, scarf, black hat and green sock on his only foot.
''You are insignificant to me, Miss Baker, but just another victim for me to claim. And Fidget, I assume you haven't realised you were wrong?''
''No,'' Fidget confirmed, folding his wings. ''I am here to help Basil rescue the others. I would rather eat dirt than return to your employment, Ratigan.''
''That can be arranged, my dear,'' Ruby said, glaring at him. ''Get them!''
Spike and Cliff charged towards Helen and Fidget. Quickly, as though they had superspeed, Basil and Olivia raced in front of them. Even though Spike and Cliff were bigger and stronger, Basil and Olivia's desire to protect their friends was far greater so just like they did with the mouse at the Rat Trap, they jumped in the air, spun around and kicked the Viper's two bodyguards in the face (despite Olivia wearing a dress not ideal for fighting in), sending them tumbling to the ground. This gave Helen and Pauline the chance to run. As they did, though, Charlie grabbed Pauline's wrist, hard.
''Pauline!'' Dawson cried.
Olivia punched Charlie, sending him flying, as Basil did to Butch.
''Why does this stuff always happen to me?'' Butch moaned. ''Can't I win just one fight?''
''Helen, get Pauline out of here now!'' Basil said and made an okay sign with his hand.
Helen nodded while Pauline looked worried. ''David!'' she cried.
''Don't worry about me, darling,'' Dawson said, standing up, his ropes unravelled, ''I'll be fine. Just go!''
Pauline nodded reluctantly and she and Helen ran away.
Ruby watched them disappear. ''So, the pregnant one got away,'' she said, calmy but with a hint of fury, clutching her dagger tightly. ''I was most looking forward to snuffing out her and her brat!''
''Well, you can't, Ruby,'' Dawson retorted, ''you'll have to settle for me instead.''
''I'll take you up on that offer, Doctor Dawson.''
The Viper snapped her fingers and Spike picked up the doctor and began shaking him like a sack of potatoes.
''DAWSON!'' Basil shouted, as Ruby began walking towards the good doctor with her dagger raised.
''Leave him alone!'' Hiram yelled, still tied to his chair.
Basil started to run to his good friend, but Cliff caught the detective off guard, grabbed his shoulder, twisted it so hard it sounded as though it was cracking, and flung him across the platform.
Olivia cried and ran over to her boyfriend, who was cradling his left shoulder.
Before Ruby could harm Dawson, Fidget jumped on Spike's face, covering his eyes with his wings, making Spike stumble about, almost comically. Ruby yelled at Fidget that she was now bitterly regretting having had him rescued.
Fidget wanted to reply to his former mistress but he was struggling to keep his hold on Spike as he continued to jiggle about. It reminded Fidget of that day at the warehouse when he was holding onto the cat's tail protecting the twins.
Saul charged towards Basil again, and they evenly blocked out each other's attacks, Basil ignoring the pain in his left shoulder. ''You know, Basil, why would Olivia choose you anyway? I mean, what sort of person has pictures and dolls of their arch-enemies on their mantle? You're a total nutjob!''
Basil retorted that he had his uncle's portrait and his aunt's doll as reminders they were still at large, but didn't expect Saul to understand that.
''Too right I don't, and I don't want to. How could Olivia accept such unorthodox stuff?'
Basil didn't answer that. He didn't need to. He couldn't care less that Saul viewed him as weird. Olivia embraced his eccentric nature and that was all that mattered to him. Saul's words were like pins bouncing off off him, meaningless.
Without thinking, Fidget began to shake Spike's head, making him jerk about even more and release Dawson. Spike continued to stumble backwards until he had reached the edge of the platform. As though in slow motion, Spike plummeted off the ledge just as Fidget jumped off him. Cliff attempted to grab his twin's hand but it was too late; Spike landed one of the rotating gears, like the one Ratigan had knocked Olivia onto all those years ago. Everyone closed their eyes as a loud scream was heard, and when they dared open them, Spike was no more.
''SPIKE!'' Ruby screamed.
Cliff sunk to the floor and began howling over the loss of his beloved twin. ''There, there, Cliff,'' his boss crooned, patting his shoulder. ''I know what it's like to lose someone you love.''
Saul said the same thing, and while the group of villains were distracted consoling Cliff, Basil and his group dashed over to Hiram's chair and untied the toymaker. They all looked at one another, unsure if Ruby was genuinely sad about her fallen comrade or not. Indeed, it was hard to tell with her, even for Basil.
A loud thud jolted them out of the thoughts and they looked to see Cliff had fallen sideways, still as a statue. ''He's become catatonic,'' Dawson said. ''The shock and grief must've been too much.''
''Well, that's just great,'' Ruby huffed impatiently, giving Cliff a shake. ''No Spike, no Cliff. It's finally come down to this, but you know what they say: if you want something done right, do it yourself.'' She told Angus to say out of the way, while her butler told her he would try to resuscitate Cliff. He'd better recover soon, she thought.
Fidget faced Butch, who apologised to Fidget but had to fight him as they were now enemies. Fidget was very agile so he manged to avoid most of Butch's blows, but he was not the best at hand-to-hand combat so when the bat grabbed his hand, Butch yanked his wing and spun him around, sending him flying onto a higher platform. Butch was amazed but happy he actually won a fight for once. But his victory was short-lived. Sensing movement, Butch looked to his left side and saw Hiram standing there, and the toymaker knocked the thug out cold with just one punch, at least two teeth falling out of his mouth.
''That's for trying to kill me, Mitchell!''
Basil had resume fighting Saul, with Dawson joining to help when it was apparent that Saul was starting to get the upper hand due to Basil's injured shoulder.
Ruby, meanwhile, found herself faced with Olivia, and Hiram cheered support for his daughter.
''I've always wanted to fight you, Olivia,'' Ruby said, cracking her knuckles, ignoring her left arm. ''Woman to woman. But you'll only embarrass yourself.''
''Your arrogance is really starting to get on my nerves now, Viper,'' Olivia spat.
She let out a cry and attempted to punch, kick and wrestle the villain, but Ruby blocked every one like a pro. Olivia let out a gasp, as though she was seeing Ruby for the first time. ''I think you'll find you're the one who is arrogant, my dear,'' the Viper said smugly, her arms in front of her like a shield. ''My fighting skills are far superior to yours.''
What a hypocrite! Hiram thought.
Olivia attempted another kick, but Ruby grabbed the young woman's ankle and slammed her against the ground, hard. Olivia groaned in pain.
''OLIVIA!'' Basil and Hiram shouted, and Dawson urged his colleague to go to his girlfriend while he fought Saul, who snickered.
Basil ad Hiram helped Olivia sit up.
''Are you alright, darling?'' Basil asked, hugging her close.
''I'm fine,'' she groaned, rubbing her head, but her fingertips showed traces of blood.
Hiram looked at the back of her head and gasped in alarm. ''She's bleeding!''
Basil looked at saw Hiram was speaking the truth, nothing serious, but Basil looked as though he was going to pass out. Pulling himself together for Olivia's sake, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a plaster, quickly placing it over the small cut on the back of Olivia's head ''William!'' she giggled shakily, as he hugged her tightly.
Basil looked at Ruby in rage, his eyes blazing like fire. How dare she harm his Livy like that? He slowly got up, ignoring his left shoulder one more, but before he could step forward, Hiram charged at the Viper himself but the toymaker was quicky overpowered; she grabbed his wrist, twisted him around and held her dagger against his neck. ''MOVE AND HE DIES!'' she shrieked at Basil and Olivia, laughing like a maniac.
Dawson and Saul stopped their fight and looked in the Viper's direction. Olivia looked both pleading and fearful, doing her best not to cry at the sight before her and Basil put an arm around her. It was as though she was reliving the night Fidget kidnapped her father all over again. Ruby grinned at them, looking more like her husband than ever, absolutely mad. Out of the corner of his eye, Basil saw a wing crawling on the higher platform and knew what to do: distract Ruby again.
''Aunt Ruby, tell us about more the robot scheme,'' Basil said in a friendly, curious voice, knowing how to get her bragging. ''It was a most genius plan.''
''Yes, it was. We thought it up together, my darling Padraic and I did. It's true he came up with idea, but it was me who suggested hiring Flaversham to build it.''
''Why doesn't that surprise me?'' Hiram asked sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
''So you're the reason that slimy rat kidnapped my father?'' Olivia said angrily.
''HE WAS NOT A RAT! AND NEITHER AM I!''
Basil and Olivia looked at each other and chuckled.
Ruby cleared her throat after calming down, an insane smile spread across her face, as though recalling the sweetest moment of her life. ''I remember that night like it was yesterday,'' she sighed dreamily.
It was a cold night in late May. The old Rodent Opera House was certainly cold, but the two individuals did not feel the cold. They were standing in the middle of the stage wrapped in a warm embrace, him holding her in his arms and her head rested against his chest.
''I do hope you've enjoyed your birthday, darling,'' Ruby said to Ratigan.
''Oh I have indeed, my Precious Ruby,'' Ratigan cooed, softly stroking his wife's hair like silk, ''I've certainly enjoyed you, my favourite present, and our pleasure – get it, pleasure?'' he chuckled giddily, like a child.
The couple were both dressed in elegant robes. Ratigan's was black with a red and dark purple fasten and the letter ''R'' in the top left corner in pink. Ruby's was red with a black and dark purple fasten the letter ''R'' in the top left corner in blue. The robes were, of course, Ruby's own designs.
Ruby also chuckled. ''Oh, Padraic, I love your sense of humour,'' she said flirtatiously.
Ratigan grinned. ''What can I say? I'm hilarious.''
They kissed passionately.
Ruby placed her hands on his strong chest and looked up at him. ''It would be even more perfect if we didn't have to worry about that miserable second-rate detective Basil of Baker Street, determined to put you behind bars and mocking your great criminal brain,'' she snarled.
''You took the words right of my mouth, my dear,'' Ratigan hissed, angry at the thought of that nosy detective. ''He's just like his father before him, my insufferable pipsqueak little brother Thomas, who also dared interfere with my wonderful evil plans! But more than that –'' He then looked down at his wife's left arm and gently lifted it up, and was concerned when he saw her wince in pain. ''Does it still hurt, darling?'' he cooed, gently rolling up the sleeve and kissing the scars that ran up her arm.
''Yes, but it always helps when you're around.''
Ratigan smiled softly before staring at the scars on her arm with burning hatred. ''Basil made a big mistake when he dared to foil your ingenious Orphan Butch Scheme, but this what he inflicted on your arm, oh he crossed a very dangerous line,'' he growled, his eyes shaking with utter rage. ''First Violet, then you – for hurting the two most beautiful creatures I love, besides our Felicia of course, I have wanted nothing more than to wring William's scrawny little neck until his eyes pop out!'' He gestured his words with his hand and closed his fist, as if he really was strangling Basil. ''And if that stupid Scotland Yard hadn't interfered that day, I would have succeeded!'' He drew in a deep breath to calm himself. ''But I assure you, darling,'' he said calmly with a smirk, ''we don't have to worry about our dear, meddlesome nephew much longer.''
Ruby smirked up at Ratigan in return. ''So, you've come up with a new ingenious criminal plan, I take it?''
Ratigan chuckled. ''Indeed. You will love it. It's the most diabolical scheme I have ever come up with. It will be the most infamous crime in history, one that, once we reveal our sweet evil romance to everyone, we will forever be remembered for.''
Ruby's diamond eyes glinted. ''Oh, do tell.''
''Well, you know our beloved queen will be celebrating her Diamond Jubilee next month? I've been thinking about it ever since our wedding day, and I have come with a most wicked, most ingenious plan to make our way to the throne: force an inferior, small-minded being to simply construct a robot replica of our beloved monarch and, on the night of her Jubilee, give our Princess Felicia a tasty treat and have the robot declare me as supreme ruler – and then we will finally reveal to all of Mousedom our sweet evil love, as the new king and queen!'' he cackled.
Ruby laughed wickedly. ''That is certainly a crime to top all of the other crimes that both you have ever committed.''
''Correction – a crime to top all crimes that WE have ever committed, my dear.''
''I suppose that means you will have to plan the part of Her Majesty's new royal consort.''
Ratigan chuckled. ''My dear Ruby, am I detecting a hint of jealousy?''
Ruby smirked. ''No, as it's only a robot replica. If it was the real thing it would be an entirely different story. Not to mention, no-one is going to think much of it given your reputation for being enamoured with older and younger lady rodents, so it's full proof.''
''My thoughts exactly,'' Ratigan agreed, and leaned down to give his beautiful wife a long, passionate kiss. ''Besides, you know I only have eyes for you, my Precious Ruby.''
''I know. I'm looking forward to this plan already – as long as you-know-who doesn't once again poke his stupid nose in.''
''Relax,'' Ratigan cooed, stroking Ruby's hair once more. ''I assure you that this time Basil will not stand in the way, because he will not be knowing about the plan – not until it's too late, anyway. If by any chance that insufferable pipsqueak nephew of ours does discover the plan earlier than I intend and tries to intervene, this time I will make sure he breathes his last breath.''
''Excellent. Once we succeed, he will finally realise your superior mind.''
''You always know what to say, my Evil Viper,'' Ratigan said in a deep seductive voice, and kissed all over his wife's neck, inhaling her beautiful, evil-scented perfume. ''He will realise your superior mind too, darling. Now there's only one thing left to do: find someone who can build a robot in the space of twenty-four hours.''
Ruby looked up her husband, her eyes gleaming. ''I think I might have a solution there.''
Ratigan looked down at his wife, his own eyes gleaming with great interest. ''Oh, do tell?'' he mimicked playfully, an insane grin spreading across his face. Whenever Ruby added her own genius part to the plan it was always perfect, so Ratigan was keen to know what she had this time. Her own evil genius was one the reasons why he loved her so. They made the perfect criminal couple.
''You've heard of that toymaker Hiram Flaversham, right? Just the other day my 'cousin' Regina was talking to a woman who wanted some clothes made for her little girl, and she's had a mechanical robot horse made by him – and she had only made the order the day before, which means he made it in the space of exactly one day.''
Ratigan's grin grew wider and he let out a loud maniacal laugh. ''My Seductive Genius, you've done it again!'' he exclaimed in delight, pulling her up, Ruby's arms around his neck and legs around his waist, kissing her with so much passion. ''It's perfect! On the night before our beloved monarch's celebration, I will simply have Fidget abduct Flaversham and have him build the robot.''
''And what's more: Flaversham has a young daughter himself, Olivia I believe she's called, so you could use her to ensure he obeys orders ... as well do your favourite sport with her, if you want.''
Ratigan grinned like a lunatic and sniffed his darling Ruby's golden hair. ''Ah, the proper motivation. Works every time.''
''By this time next month, we will be supreme rulers of all of Mousedom, and nothing will stand in our way ever again!''
''Couldn't have said it better myself, my dear. Oh, I can't wait to see the horrified looks on those parasites' faces when we reveal our sweet evil love to them. And I wonder how they will react to learn the truth about the infamous genius Viper?''
''Indeed, Ratigan and the Viper will reign supreme,'' Ruby agreed.
The criminal couple laughed. Ratigan placed Ruby on the ground, and the second his back was turned, Ruby placed her hand on her stomach. She had discovered recently she was pregnant and had been planning on telling Ratigan tonight as an extra birthday present. In light of the plan they had just thought up, however, she decided she would wait until they were supreme rulers of Mousedom, as a celebration present. Ratigan turned back round to smile at his wife, glanced at the bed in the stage's far corner and pulled the curtains closed.
''And that was that. It was the perfect plan. Once the robot decreed Padraic as 'her' new Royal Consort and gave him permission to rule, I was to come out and join him on the stage and we would finally announce to everyone our beautiful, evil marriage, reveal I am the Viper and declare ourselves as the new king and queen of Mousedom! I watched from the crowd as the plan worked like a charm – that is, of course, until you ruined it.'' Her face twisted unto one of pure loathing as she stared right at Basil as though transfixed. ''As soon as the robot turned against Padraic, I knew there was something wrong, and –''
''Ruby,'' Basil interrupted with a fuming look, before as fast as lightning it was replaced with a large smile, ''thank you.''
''What?'' she asked in surprise, not expecting that. ''You ... thank me?''
''Of course. If you hadn't suggested kidnapping Hiram in the first place, I never would have met Olivia. Thanks to her, I began to open up my heart again and be happy.''
He took Olivia's hands into his own and stared into her blue eyes.
Hiram smiled at the beautiful sight despite his situation, while Ruby made vomit noises, as though she was being sick.
''Watch out!'' Saul yelled suddenly, having pinned Dawson's arms behind his back.
Before Ruby could register what was happening, Fidget had jumped on her, just as he had done with Spike just moments before, covering her face with his wings and Hiram was able to escape. ''You stupid little –!''
While the Viper was distracted with Angus trying to help her, Basil ran over to pry Saul off Dawson. Butch groaned as he regained conscious, holding his head. He felt his mouth with his tongue and felt two more teeth were missing! How humiliating! He really needed to stop fighting. If he didn't, he would need false teeth.
The group of heroes watched as Ruby continued to struggle with her former right-hand bat, who jumped up and down every time Angus tried to grab him. It was a rather comical sight.
''Ruby Ratigan!''
Fidget jumped off his former mistress, who looked down the platform to see Helen had returned, this time with Inspector Newton and Scotland Yard enforcements. ''Up there, inspector!'' said Helen, pointing up.
''Ruby Ratigan, you are under arrest!''
''My mistress said no Scotland Yard, Mr Basil,'' Angus said angrily. ''Very disappointing.''
Basil just smiled.
Ruby thought back to Basil giving Helen an okay sign and realised something: it had been a code! Anger took her over and she pulled out her dagger and raised it as she approached Basil. Shock took over, however, when Fidget positioned himself in front the detective, his body and wings covering him like a suit of armour, and yelped as a diagonal rip made in his top. ''Fidget!'' Basil and his friends cried, and he scooped the bat up. ''Dawson!'' he said, handing the bat to his assistant.
Dawson carefully lay Fidget on the ground, pulled out a bandage from his pocket and quickly tied around the bat's body to stop him from losing blood. Hiram was reminded of the night Mitchell had hurt him and remembered Olivia doing the same thing. Fidget thanked the good doctor and moaned he was alright but feeling rough. ''He'll live, don't worry,'' he assured everyone, picking him up and gently cradling him.
All the while Dawson was carrying out his deed, Basil, Olivia and Hiram had placed themselves around him, to stop Ruby's goons from interfering.
''You know, doctor,'' Basil said, smiling, ''you never cease to amaze me how well-prepared you are.''
Dawson chuckled and Basil explained Dawson had inspired him to start carrying around his own medical supplies just in case, hence why he had had the plaster to help Olivia.
Ruby grunted in displeasure that Fidget had survived yet again.
''He's got more lives than a cat,'' Saul remarked.
Hiram and Olivia silently agreed. They were grateful to Fidget for saving Basil. He had willingly put his life on the line for someone who had previously been his enemy. If that wasn't proof Fidget had changed, nothing was.
Fidget grinned and said they couldn't get rid of him that easily.
By this time, Inspector Newton and his men had reached the platform. ''For the last time, Ruby Ratigan, you and your men are under arrest!''
''Uh, Mrs Viper,'' Butch said timidly, walking over to his mistress, ''maybe we should come quietly? I hate to say it, but it's over.''
Hiram said that Butch was talking sense for once.
''NEVER!'' Ruby shouted and looked around, desperate. It was as though she was trapped in a room and the walls were closing around her. Her plan – her brilliant, ingenious, nine-year long plan – had gone up in smoke. She had been close, so close! The rational part of her was telling her it was best to just give up, but the more stubborn, persistent, desperate was louder.
''I shall never call it quits! Not until Basil and Olivia have paid for taking away my future! I am the Viper!'' Tears filled her eyes. ''Not until I have achieved the love and respect I have always craved!''
''But you have that, Ruby,'' said Saul. ''Your career as a clothes designer –''
''That wasn't me, that was my 'cousin Regina'. I want to be appreciated for being me!'' She got on her hands and knees. ''And Padraic … my darling … I have to avenge him … I have to … get love … and alone … alone …''
Something clicked in Olivia's mind, like an oil lamp being switched on, and dared take a step forward, Basil and Hiram by her side like her own bodyguards, and dared to speak the truth. Ruby then broke down and poured out her heart about how she perceived her life while she was growing up, the love she and Ratigan had shared and how both his and their child's losses left her with nothing but revenge.
In the aftermath, due to their promise, Basil's group tried to persuade Ruby of the truth, that her parents ignoring her was all in her imagination, but she refused to believe them. Abruptly, the Viper turned around and ran up the slop. Inspector Newton yelled at her to come back, but Basil told his friend to let him sort it out. Ruby stopped running when she reached the edge of the highest platform, having run out of room. She looked down and gritted her teeth as she saw all of her boys, apart from a reluctant Angus, were willingly begin escorted by the authorities. A few policemice were carrying a still catatonic Cliff, and a few were searching the area, no doubt to retrieve Spike's body. Sensing a presence, she wheeled around and saw Basil standing there.
''Aunt Ruby,'' Basil said, walking slowly toward her, ''don't be foolish, you know you can't escape justice now.''
Staring at Basil, it was though all the rage that been building up for all these years had finally come to fruition, and the Viper began to transform: her golden hair turned wild like a lion's mane, her gloves were ripped off her hands, her feet burst from her shoes and her prosthetic fingers were sent flying. She even ripped at her robe, at where the ice pack was, and it fell to the floor. Just like her husband, she had gone feral, become the sewer rat she truly was.
''I'm not stupid, my dear William. I simply ran up here to get you on your own.''
Basil raised his eyebrows. ''Oh, really?''
''I knew you come after me alone. Even if my fate is to be carted off to prison, I still intend to take your life, William. Our last fight. As for this –'' she gestured to her savage state ''– I wanted to fight you just how my husband did before he died, though I'm going to remain perfectly calm.'' She cracked her knuckles.
''I don't fight women,'' Basil said flatly.
Ruby chuckled. ''Of course you don't, you're a proper mouse. The closest you've ever come to wrestling a woman is that one night you had with Camilla at university – too bad you will never get to have those nights with your precious Olivia. Don't worry, if Saul gets off by convincing them I merely threatened him, I'm sure he will do his best with her, just like Padraic did with Beatrice,'' she added with her signature crafty grin, knowing which buttons to press.
Immediately, Basil's insides boiled with anger and hatred. Yes, she had pushed his buttons, but the detective didn't care. He was ending this, and if engaging in a physical brawl with this villainous woman was the only way, then so be it. ''But in this case, I will make an exception.''
''I knew you would see things my way, dear nephew. Of course, we both know it's futile. Every time we have fought, who has always won? Me. As you said earlier, mice like me and Padraic are known for our brute strength. You have never beaten me, Basil.''
''Maybe I will, maybe I won't,'' Basil said, circling her, ''but I'm going to give it my all.'' He suddenly winced and rubbed his left shoulder. ''I have injured my shoulder, but if you can ignore your arm, I can ignore my shoulder.''
''You have guts,'' Ruby said respectfully. ''May the best mouse win, William.''
Basil grinned. ''Indeed, Viper.''
He looked at her and carefully calculated how to combat her without letting her win so easily as she had in their previous fights. The fact they were fighting with the Viper's true identity unveiled this time was a no-brainer.
Her advantage: my injury. My advantage: her arrogance.
Ruby punched Basil's arm, and Basil repaid her in kind. Ruby punched Basil's face twice pushing him back a few steps, feral but experienced. Ruby attempted a few more punches at his face and sides, but Basil blocked all of them, using her momentum to counter. Basil punched Ruby in her side while she was distracted with his blocks.
Ruby growled when Basil grinned at her. Normally she had him beat within seconds, but this time he was analysing how she manoeuvred in order to neutralise her! She was going to have to play dirty. Clever, she thought in admiration, but you're not the only one who can play this game, nephew. Allow me to reply.
She hooked her right arm through Basil's until she grabbed the wrist, then hooked her other arm through and grabbed his injured shoulder, targeting his weakness. She produced her claws and dug them into Basil's shoulder, causing him to cry out in pain. Despite this, Basil carried on and grabbed the hand on his shoulder as Ruby flung him around, almost knocking him off his feet, but he managed to maintain his balance. Basil scowled at her, not surprised she had responded with such underhanded tactics. Ruby attempted to punch Basil with a haymaker, but the detective once again blocked all of them, competent but predictable to Ruby, but Basil again caught her in her side. Basil attempted to then attack her shoulders in return, but Ruby blocked both attempts and scratched at his body and arms with her claws, bits of Inverness cape and fur flying. Despite being in agonising pain Basil kept fighting, adjusting his strategy. Ruby kept grabbing his injured shoulder, the wound taking its toll. As Basil had feared, his wounded shoulder was now making defence untenable.
If he didn't be clever Ruby would win – again. He glanced at the edge of the platform, saw a small crack and got it! It was the only way. While Basil did sympathise with her feelings of loneliness she had gone too insane to find redemption, like her husband, and she had caused too much trouble for many rodents, including himself. Once again, he would have to let Ruby believe she had triumphed.
Ruby picked Basil up and held him over her head with both hands, then walked over to the edge of the platform on his suggestion no noticing the small crack near it. ''What a fight that was! My most favourite ever! I commend you for keeping up with me this time, but it wasn't enough. And you shall die. 'Stay, give me drink, Hamlet, this pearl is thine; here's to thy health.' Be a dear and tell Padraic I say hello.''
With all of her strength, she threw Basil off the ledge, but to her dismay the detective managed to grab on to the ledge, dangling by his elbows. ''Hmmm, you sure are stubborn,'' Ruby said, crouching down in front of him, ''more than I give you credit for.''
''That I am,'' Basil replied, grinning, glancing at the small crack surrounding them slightly. ''Just like Fidget, I can survive anything.''
He was determined to survive no matter what. After all, he had Olivia, Dawson, Hiram, Roger, Beatrice, and other loved ones to fight for. Not to mention, if he lost so easily, they would never forgive him, and he wanted to keep his promise of giving Hiram the grandchildren he craved.
''I don't doubt that, and that's what frustrates me so. If only the clock tower had been struck by lightning with you and Olivia inside. But your luck has finally run out and this time Daddy isn't here to safe you!''
''Don't you talk about my father!''
''Touched a nerve have I, William?'' She produced her claws once more and dug them deeply into Basil's hands, causing him to yell but he kept his grip. ''Oh, speaking of which, here's my little secret.'' She leaned into his ear and whispered: ''I was the one who knocked you and your father out with the club that night.''
Basil's eyes widened as he flashbacked to the night his father died, after entering Ratigan's hideout to confront the criminal over kidnapping Beatrice, they had felt a club strike at them from behind and knocked father and son out cold. ''That was you?'' He clenched his fists. ''I should've known …''
Ruby grinned. Basil felt his blood boiling, as if he was on fire, but before he could retaliate, they both heard cracking noise and realised the part of the platform surrounding them was on the verge of breaking off. Basil moved himself away from the cracking part as fast as he could, ignoring his shoulder. Their part broke off and Basil and Ruby began to fall and the detective felt someone grab said hand. He looked up and saw Olivia lying on her front and smiled. ''Olivia!''
''Hold on, William!''
''Wasn't planning on doing anything else Livy!'' Basil laughed.
They looked aside at the broken part of the platform. ''Where's Ruby?'' Olivia asked, looking down.
They got their answer when Basil felt a tug at the the hem of his coat and looked down to see Ruby had grabbed onto him.
''If I die, I'm taking you with me, William!''
''I won't allow that!'' Olivia said, tightening her grip on Basil's hand.
Ruby smirked but before she could say anything the bell inside Big Ben suddenly let out aloud chime, so loud it startled Ruby, who let go of her grip on Basil and plummeted down below.
''LADY RUBY!'' Angus yelled from the bottom of Big Ben, being held by a member of Scotland Yard.
Olivia pulled Basil to safety and they closed their eyes when they heard a loud thud from far down below. They dared not look.
''Let's get down from here before any more breaks off,'' Olivia said, not wanting to think about it.
''I second that, darling,'' Basil said, and winced in pain from his injuries.
''Doctor Dawson will patch you up, just like he did nine years go.''
Basil nodded, placed his right arm around Olivia and the couple walked down Big Ben to re-join the others. Fidget was now standing, shaken but otherwise happy to see them alive. Olivia crouched down in front of the bat and kissed the top of his head. ''Thank you for saving William.''
Fidget blushed. ''Awe shucks,'' he giggled.
I feel like I've run a marathon. This chapter was by far the hardest to write, I rewrote it several times. But the case of the Viper is finally over. Basil has once again brought a long-running mystery to a conclusion.
Poor Butch. Apart from with Fidget, he can never win a fight. Seems to be a running gag. Chuckles.
I nearly cried when I wrote Fidget getting hurt protecting Basil, but it has made Basil see once and for all that he truly does want repent himself, and it will improve their relationship. As Basil and Saul said, Fidget is one of those people that can survive anything, just like Inspector Clouseau. Remember the Oktoberfest scene in The Pink Panther Strikes Again?
Since she always denied being a rat like Ratigan, I knew Ruby would transform into her true sewer rat self like her husband did, but I didn't want it to be too repetitive of the original film.
Basil and Ruby's fight was mostly based on Holmes and Moriarty's hypothetical fight in the film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. While he may be part Hamlet, Basil is still Holmes as well, so it seemed only right to have a Holmes-style showdown, with a sprinkle The Lion King thrown in at the end. As Basil said, he doesn't fight women, but this case was an exception. After all, Ruby is a female Moriarty and Claudius, and an evil Irene Alder, rolled into one.
I had a lot of fun writing the flashback of Ratigan and Ruby, it was a scene I had in mind from the very beginning. I just wish I had written more of them together, I really like their husband-and-wife dynamic, and that Ruby was a perfect match for Ratigan. Maybe they are alive in an alternate reality?
There were two Back to the Future references as well. I said I would try to get some more in.
Time to answer some reviews:
MillenniumPrincess: I always knew Fidget was going to redeem himself. He always had potential, especially after how Ratigan threw him off his dirigible like he was nothing. It's not often that a Disney Villain sidekick turns against their boss. As you say, Iago did, as did Enchanted's Nathaniel. Who else did? I forgot to say before, I like your name for Basil, Detective William Shakespeare Basil of Baker Street. Maybe we should use it more often? Chuckles.
The case might be closed, but the story isn't quite over just yet, as there are a few loose ends that need tying up first. Next time, after a rather dramatic showdown, things will be calmer and quieter for our heroes. There will be several more reunions, especially for Basil and Fidget, who will be delighted by them.
See you soon!
