Team Seven of Heroes Chapter 26 to 27

26.

Sherlock stood there watching the Emperor examining the twenty corpses that were his warriors. They technically placed were dead with the blood bites on the neck. He had heard of such attacks and in China they behead the dead. They don’t want them coming back undead.

“Do it.” The Emperor gave the command. “And we marched tonight. If he can reach us then I will do the same but on my terms.”

Sherlock turned away from the ritual that was done worldwide. He may be a sleuth but the killings he had seen were aftermath. He had hardly seen one done. He tried to do on a cadaver but the effect was different. There was blood but not what he anticipated. He had to simulate it with chickens and some poor pheasants. He stepped away but was joined by the Emperor.

“Dracula was not my doing. He was the imposter’s work. But what he did was not pardonable. I will kill him and the imposter. I will deep fry them like what we did to the evil Minister Qin Kuai and his wife. He betrayed the Jin Dynasty and killed the General Yue Fei under the false accusations. The couple was …”

“I appreciate the history lessons and the exotic food but can I get to the issue on hand. We have now Dracula as the new opponent. How did you know if it was Dracula?”

“Dracula visited me once in my chamber. He had wanted me dead because of the betrayal of my imposter. I told him I was not the one.” Emperor Fu Manchu revealed. “He may be a vampire but he could not distinguish me from my imposter. It could be our blood. He was to leave when my guards captured him. That was soon after we send him to the Vault. Now he may hate us both. Such anger in him and he yearned for my blood since then.”

Blood was boiling then in Mrs Hudson but it was desirable. She approached Mycroft on the wall where he had taken refuge. He did it with the English style; tea in the iron cup with the improvised pot from the boiling kettle. He was huffing from the hot served tea.

“I used to do that, serving tea and scones while you men discuss the tasks. I did wonder if we the womenfolk meant anything to you. We did have a movement for that.” The infamous strike at Bryant and May matchsticks ladies worker cut a raw nerve into the male dominant ego. “You did like your tea plain.”

Mycroft looked at the lady he once had some intimate moments and also treated her unfairly. He had expected his ladies to be demure and lovely. He knew at his age the choice of ladies was restricted to certain criteria and that lady had those before. He was not sure of it anymore after seeing her took murderous action. He had done it many times but he was a Man.

“So, India or more to be exact Sean Mercer, what was it that made you think we cannot be like Man? I mean not all of Man. We can’t have a penis or give away our birth organs.”

“And most men can’t live without one? I did wonder why but I am not a doctor or a priest.” Mycroft replied and then smiled. “I do the opposite. I kill.”

“We all kill. The butchers do that daily at the market place. I would had killed the neighbour’s cat but it was killing all the rodents in my basement.” Mrs Hudson replied. “If I can live with that cat, you can live with me.”

Mycroft did not reply then but he grabbed the lady and crouched behind the wall. The wall shook from the impact of the shells. He shouted the warning but it did not matter. The shelling took over five minutes on the wall but it did little damage.

“How did …” The lady shouted out.

“They have better guns. And they wanted to wake us before we sleep or was it prevent us to sleep.” Mycroft pushed the lady forward. He was getting a good view and regrettably then an erection. Or one leading to it. They made their way down the wall and was greeted by the other two ladies.

“Are we under attack?” Princess Fa Lo Suee asked when they met before the wall.

“I think your father have arrived to bring you back.” Mycroft replied. “We need to find cover. They will be here by morning.”

At that moment the other Emperor was seated on the horse watching the bombardment on the western side. He could not see the actual impact but he knew that his other self was there. It was obvious that the Emperor of the other side will not come alone. He would have his army with him. It was something that he will do and he did just that. He turned to look at the army he had recruited. One thing about being an Emperor was the access to hidden cache of wealth. He utilized that to recruit the army.

“Emperor, we are ready.” The Emperor looked at the mercenary who was to command the army hired with money. They were a mix of Turks, Serbians and others that were met along the route there. He had the strength of a hundred and twenty but no cannons.

“We will hold back. Let them barrage the walls. The fool knows that the place held the same item that we desired. He will stop the barrage soon and take the place. But I will tell him to come alone. He will do as I said for he is my brother. My messenger had left earlier.” The Emperor replied and then he took towards the walls.

It was then when Nayland leaned on the wall and felt the impact of the shelling. He had seen the effect of the shelling when he was training with the arm; talking to the survivors who were shelled by the gunners. The new ones were all rattled by the noise and some looked in fear when their friends were snatched off by the shells. It was scary as if the dead were taken away by demons. One of his training tasks was to feel the real barrage, and how to stay calm at times, or take to the drowning of the fear with the hard liquor. It was sad but effective.

“I say, old chap. Have you wondered if Sherlock is around? Maybe he is doing the shelling.” Mycroft choice of subject matter was deplorable at times. “I do….”

“He is not here. And right now, I am thinking of how to we survive this barrage.” Nayland replied in agitation.

“Pardon me, old chap. Didn’t mean to spring your emotion on that. I will move on.” Mycroft took off along the wall, and it was then the section came down hard onto him. He was hit by a falling slab that knocked him down. Nayland sprang into action as in his profession and saw the other was bleeding from the cut in the back of the head. He felt for life signs and found it there. He tried to pull   Mycroft to the earlier position but the man was heavy. He then felt the heavier hands that reached for the fallen wall to raise it.

It was Mr Hyde in his murderous form but the man was in control of his emotions. He raised the rubble while Nayland pulled Mycroft out.

“Hyde? How was…”

“The boffins at London produce the antidote to help me become the doctor but only temporary.” Mr Hyde replied before he motioned to Mycroft. “How is he?”

 Mycroft was bleeding and medical care was needed. It came at the opportune time by Mrs Hudson. She saw the bleeding and reached for her underskirt to tear a strip.

“Not that he will get aroused over it now.” Mrs Hudson bandaged over with the silky strip she tore. “It’s clean and could be of use to him now.”

Nayland worked on the bandage and then pulled Mycroft to the more secured part of the wall. He then turned to look for the other doctor and caught a glimpse of the so named monster dropping from the wall to the outside.

“No!” Nayland screamed out. He knew that Mr Hyde was in danger. “The man is mad. He is insecure… inside.”

As for Sherlock, nothing was secured while he watched the gunners took turns to barrage the walls. They have moved into position immediately upon reaching the distance. The gunners were deployed and the warriors were then given a detour towards the walls.

“My imposter stayed away from the walls, but he can’t hide forever. As we barrage the walls my warriors will attack the mercenaries hired by him.” The Emperor there told Sherlock.

“What if I tell you that the wall held the gate to the Elixir of Life? You may just destroy it then.” That statement made the Emperor glared at Sherlock. He then signalled the gunners to stop their bombardment.

“I know not you in person, Mr Holmes but I do have reports of your exploits from the other. One thing I learned from those reports was that you are to be considered in any decision I am to make.” The Emperor smiled and then asked the sleuth to explain.

“I read the scrolls and the stones. The Elixir is at Jiayu Pass. If you destroy the fortress, you may well destroy the Elixir. Or Lazarus will seek vengeance on you.”

It was then the Emperor’s aide announced the arrival of a messenger for him.

“My Emperor, he holds the signet ring of yours.”

27.

Mr Hyde in his bigger frame and strength ran on his four limbs propelling him forward like an enraged beast. He had taken the so named antidote to revert to that form but it was never revealed to the others that in his new form, he could hear voices. Those voices were tormenting him and his emotions were in disarray. It was not his previous form when he changed, he was a monster; a predator to tear limbs but in the new voices, he was directed by others. He heard their commands and he will do the tasks. He was rushing towards the cannons. The voice told him to stop the gunners.

“The fortress must be preserved. Destroy the guns.”

The monstrous form cleared the distance in minutes just soon after the guns stopped. He did not pause in his steps and was soon onto the surprised gunners. He grabbed the hot barrel and swung it like a bat towards the other gun. The gun weighed over a thousand pounds and in the hands of the monstrous frame; it was like a baseball bat. The gun lifted with the carriage flew across the short distance and crashed into the other gun. Both the guns were then damaged. The defenders there had taken to safety where another set of gunners were in place. Then Maxim machine gunners turned their aim on Mr Hyde and released a spray of bullets at him.

“Arghh…” Mr Hyde jumped for cover when the hail of bullets hit him. He was hit in several areas on the legs and his torso but the wounds were not deep. Somehow in his turned form, his skin had hardened in its thickness. The bullets penetrated this skin but just below the surface. He sought cover behind some crates and checked his wounds. It was hurting but he may not just die then. He heard the lull in the shooting and assumed the reloading of the gun was then. He rushed at the maxim gunner and smashed his fist on the barrel. He then tossed the gun before he confronted the gunner but they have fled the scene. He was to pursue when he heard the new command.

“Return to the fortress.”

As for the Emperor Fu Manchu, he regarded messengers are brave couriers of news. Most times, they get killed for their acts and their Emperors will do the needed vengeance upon their death. They reckoned the service rendered was an act that justified their rank but a life lost was then unrecoverable.

“Tell your Emperor, I will see him at sun up at the Fortress. Come alone as he requested and we will decide the outcome of the war.”

Sherlock looked at the Emperor and smiled. Obviously, Fu Manchu believed in him too on the Elixir. He was then to ask the other on the issue.

“The Elixir of Life was sought by many including my forefathers, Emperors and others. Even the aligned holy men sought it. Why the need to live on?” Emperor Fu Manchu laughed. “Nobody wants to die. Not even when they are promised reincarnation. We are mortals and yet we desired to be immortals. Or be like the demi-gods to live in heaven.”

“Is there one? I wondered. And I wondered why swap mine here for there at the named Heaven. I am the Emperor here. Why should I serve another Emperor? I read your ancient readings. I am sceptical if there is Heaven or Hell. I am also on the Angels. Maybe there was none, but men like us with the gift of immortality. As a follower of Buddhist, I am believing on Samsara; the karma of life and after life with reincarnation. Our body is a vessel that we discard upon death and from there, we accept ourselves into a new one.”

Sherlock was not a religious follower although he has his trust in God. It was the Emperor who went on with his concept of life.

“You heard of Lazarus?”

Sherlock looked at Fu Manchu. He knew of Lazarus and how it draws the same parable as in the Elixir.

“Lazarus died and yet he was resurrected after four days. And then he died years later. He was not immortal. He was given another chance in living. He met death though. I am telling you that immortality does not really exist. We are all fools to think that we can live on forever.”

“Then why meet your imposter and …. why saved the fortress?” Sherlock asked.

“All in good time, detective. That is one mystery you may solve today…. for the world to know.” Fu Manchu replied. At that moment, the aide arrived to inform the Emperor on the destruction of the guns.

“Well then, proceed on to find my imposter’s army. Let them do battle while I faced the imposter.”

As for Watson, his surprise then was the meeting of another enemy there at the Hall where he was idling with Dracula and Van Helsing. The newly arrived then sat down and took a goblet of wine. He smiled at the standing Sergeant who was unsure of the next step of action.

“Doctor Watson, I am ever pleased to see you in person. We are both healers; though I am of the vices of the underworld.” Doctor Moriarty smiled. “Please don’t down play my role in your tales Doctor Watson. Sherlock is a formidable foe but he lacked the finer characteristics to remove the threat. We are both doctors; termination is an option. Painful but needed at times. As for me, I am the Emperor of the world I build but there will be others not in sync with me and their end served my purpose.  Its mathematics logic; we just need to resolved the final equation.”

“Doctor Moriarty, I have no doubts on your resolution but I am a medical doctor, and saving lives is my final equation. Not that it always works with my simple logic but it’s my desired equation.”

“Bravo! Doctor Watson, you are obviously the man I have to meet more often but taking tea breaks with you does delayed my work in managing my empire. Pardon me, if I am to be rude. Are we due to talk here or moved onto some place more desirable?”

“Yes, we are pressing for time. We shall move on soonest.” Dracula smiled. “After all, we can’t keep all our friends and enemies waiting at the gates too long. It will appear barbaric in appearance.”

Barbaric was how Mrs Hudson reflected on when she looked at the man lying there under the shade of the wall. When her husband died on her arms, she sworn off other men but little hopes materialised soon, or at worse some short romances. She was young and needed comfort then, with a yearning to be loved. She finally found it in a dashing man she was to serve scones and tea. It was easy to maintain that relationship; he was a lost pup inside and herself then a mere pussy that needed love. There were some restraints to their relationship; her tenant above her unit may be considered intrusive but there were moments when he was away or swooning to his other love; the violin. The good doctor despite appearing at odd hours was however blind as a bat to her presence. She may to him, the tea lady to mutter a word of thanks while he lapped at the tenant’s eccentric offerings. She would have been more appealing to the doctor but her rendezvous with the other Holmes, kept her French maid costume in the closet too. She enjoyed the brief period they were pawing each other, and soon she found out on his profession. The Service does not encourage fraternity between staff, and more so with those on active tasks. She was told to lay-off and the decent thing was to avoid the laid. She took that task to heart and terminated the relationship. It ended mutually and the tea still got served, although Mycroft did have some apprehension whether he was to be poisoned. She kept her identity safe until the recent M declared to her that she was to be part of the team.

“Where am I?” Mycroft woke up with a throbbing headache and saw his comfort was the arms of the lady. He excused himself and sat up looking sheepishly at his predicament. He asked on the barrage and was told that it had ended.

“How…What happened to me?” Mycroft muttered and was sealed his lips when Mrs Hudson kissed him. He responded back before he was pushed off by her.

“You…. Never mind that. You are still alive.” Mrs Hudson looked away. “Now we have to prepare for battle.”

Mycroft staggered to his feet and then moved to check for his weapons. He turned to look at the departing lady. He had himself smiling that there was more to his life then.