Posted by Bowen Cates on 4/8/2008, 1:40 pm, in reply to "Chapter 24 part one"
24.207.121.197
“I have used this” the criminal drew from a pocket of his belt, a small glass vial, Theodore could see from Holmes’ expression that he knew what it was.
“Yes Holmes, it is,” Moriarty swished the liquid playfully between two fingers as he watched their reactions. “How could I resist when I heard of your original pretended use of it. You must remember to thank Mr. Smith should you come across him in the after life.”
Theodore almost choked. However, the detective maintained his composure.
“I had it injected into your system before your enclosure in the tank, Mr. Trent has, of course, been spared its effects, after all, it is not, in reality, contagious my touch.”
“No! You can’t-” Theodore yelled.
Moriarty cut him off, “oh I assure you, Master Trent, I already have. You, Holmes will live to see your young friend die, you will then disappear, be transported back to your own time where you will die from a disease no one can cure. As I have no doubt that Mr. Smith, having been executed as a result of your efforts, will be most unwilling to help you,” He chuckled softy under his breath.
“Master Trent never travels in time, you are sent back, time is corrected and I am free to rule London from my web without interference, you see, you must admit that it is a best case scenario.
“And of course, there is the little detail of ensuring that I am ‘reborn’ in this new time line. To ensure that eventuality I will, upon the destruction of Master Trent, take it upon myself and Fenwick to instate a sample of my DNA in a secret laboratory, which I have unearthed from certain historical files.
It will be sufficient to serve my purposes after the installation of certain modern devices, which I shall borrow, from the good Sir Evan.
“When the time is parallel to my original awakening, the DNA shall be activated, the process begun automatically by the machines, and I shall once more be inducted into this century.
“Fenwick’s time line, as I have discovered from piecing together my memories of this alternate world with the help of those wonderful computer projection techniques, will not be greatly affected.
“He shall still be alive and…well, alive in this century and will find that, one day as he is walking in the hills of France during a university vacation; there is a very interesting little scientific laboratory imbedded in a hidden part of a cave…as I said, a best case scenario.
“This new self will be initiated into a time in which there are no meddlesome consulting detectives to inhibit his genius.”
“You, you, evil-” but Theodore was once again cut off, this time by Holmes, who had placed his hand on his companion’s shoulder as before.
“Mr. Trent, you must remember that all may still be set right.”
He knew what Holmes was trying to remind him of; the fact that Moriarty would not be able to kill Theodore.
But he himself was thinking about what would happen when the criminal also realized this, he would return to this time, wise to events, with no laboratory, and no dead Theodore, on top of all this, the convenient nature of the tank in which they were trapped lent his imagination to certain dark thoughts.
“Holmes.” Moriarty cackled, bringing Theodore’s mind back to the situation at hand “I should have thought you above such indulgences, false hope is of no advantage.”
The detective let his hand fall to his side once again. “It is not false hope, as you will soon become painfully aware.”
“Ha! Save your brave remarks for a later date, perhaps they may yet be replaced with pleas for mercy.”
“The only pleas that I shall have the pleasure of associating myself with will be yours Professor.”
“Ah, my friend, you never do surrender, even for a moment do you?” he rubbed his hands together delightedly. “Only remember that when you are back in your own time dying from the coolie disease, I will be standing over your future self, triumphant, either watching him disintegrate slowly, molecule by molecule or suffer an extremely painful death from the same illness you have been infected with.
“As a matter of fact, it is very possible that should that be the case, your future self will die faster then your past self; the former having already been considerably weakened by his…experiences.
“Of course, neither could be the case and I will simply be obliged to put him out of his misery, it should not be too difficult as he is currently unaware of his situation, or anything else for that matter.
“But, do not hold your breath on the subject, we shall know how the matter stands within the next…” he glanced at the watch on his wrist communicator. “Four and a half minutes. I took it upon myself, you see, to make several modifications to the molecular structure of the disease, no incubation period, isn’t science wonderful?”
Holmes said nothing, but rose to his feet and walked over to the middle of the tank; he did not stop until he was a good foot and a half from his companion.
Theodore looked at him questioningly.
“I must maintain a certain distance from you Mr. Trent, once I am visibly affected I shall no longer be my own master, I should not wish to injure you unintentionally.”
“But, Mr. Holmes” Theodore began as the detective seated himself down cross-legged at his new location. “Isn’t there something I can do? Anything?”
He was once more on the brink of tears.
“Indeed there is, Mr. Trent. Maintain your distance and do not allow anything I should say to effect you, not a word of should be taken to heart.”
Moriarty was laughing loudly behind them, but Theodore was too absorbed with terror to take note of it.
“But if it’s not contagious by touch…”
“Mr. Trent, I am well acquainted with the effects of this illness, please respect my wishes.”
“Yes sir.” Theodore hung his head and his shoulders sagged, Holmes did not respond, only stretched his legs out in front of him with an air of preparation.
The next few minutes passed in silence, with the notable exception of the diabolical laugher erupting from the criminal beyond the distorted barrier, Moriarty continued to pace, around and around, viewing his captives from every angle, the vial held tenderly in his fingers.
Theodore never took his eyes off Holmes for a second; afraid of what might happen if he did.
All too soon the detective’s breathing began to sound labored, it soon became shallow, and a cough would occasionally escape him.
Theodore watched in silent horror, but the situation was beyond his power.
“I think” Moriarty’s voice suddenly sliced through the air “that now would be the ideal time to invite our remaining guests into the room, wouldn’t you agree Holmes?”
The detective said nothing, sweat was gathering on his brow and he was beginning to shiver involuntarily.
The criminal rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
“Oh, Holmes? I had quite forgotten to mention, there is one more small detail that you should be aware of…in my alternate memories of this time, and in all my dealings with New Scotland Yard in that time line, I have no recollection of Inspector Elizabeth Lestrade.
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