Team Seven of Heroes Chapter 33

33.

“64 Baker Street,” The passenger told the hansom rider before he boarded it. The two wheel carriage pulled by the horse took to the cobbled street on that late Friday evening towards its destination. The man was dressed in a dark suit with bow tie and the matching topper hat then placed his walking stick to the left before he reached for the letter he received that afternoon. Its contents soured his mood for the evening at the club with the other gentlemen but he knew his priority then. He felt the hansom stopped but he did not bother to check. It was common on a busy Friday evening and with those late home crowds having stayed on after the rain. He recalled it was also football night; a rarity but the game but had to go on and with the new Government ruling, life was getting more rigid in the living. He had heard complaints from his peer of new taxes and those imbeciles in the House were hardly listening to the people. He was concerned as a banker but his pleas had yielded no response at all. The hansom then jolted and he felt it moving once more.

“Hurry up, chap. I got a meeting there.” The passenger tapped the roof of the hansom. The hansom then came to a halt again and the sound of doors closing was heard. The passenger agitated by the change took to the hansom door handle but it was opened from outside. He saw the open door and stepped out.

“Robert Fleming, my name is Sherlock Holmes. You may know my associates Mina Harkness and Lord Greystoke.” The sleuth introduced the others. “That is my brother Mycroft and Watson my …. Ex-associate. The one seated is Herr Van Helsing. It was Watson who advised us of your good name.”

“Notable acquaintances and clients” Lord Greystoke and Lady Harkness held equitable amount with the banker. “I am honoured to meet you here but we could do it better at my office which is a short rider away.”

“We are not here for banking purposes but of the nature that surrounds it.” Sherlock snapped out. “I was away and upon my return, I find the city in a state of….unrest if I may deduct it.”

“Mr Holmes, I ….” The banker was cued off by Mycroft.

“Hesitate not, Mr Fleming. I am with Her Majesty Service.” Mycroft resented the reference which was no more his to keep then. He glared at Watson when he saw the other looking at him. “It was Agent…Sorry I meant Doctor Watson who told them to see you in your other position as adviser to the Office of Inter-Services Research Bureau or for us in the inner circle it’s called Special Operations Executives. Its known to few and fewer knew who was in there.”

Mr Fleming was a trained personnel or he held the looks of a banker when told of the office services.

“Sir, we are at war….well, technically speaking.” Mycroft added in. “When we were crossing the Channels, we were told that our names are on the wanted list for treason. I can assure you….”

“Of which you are not and neither of you know any more than we do actually.” Mr Fleming interjected. “The office of SOE as the name stands for; comforting to use at times than the other one. We are as blind to the issue other than the land is technically under siege but we know not who. My blokes were all given the hard wall expression and the ones that thought they knew suddenly turned to silence. Only a handful of us working clandestine are sharing the information we gather.”

“Some weeks back, the Government did a surprise announcement on the threat of the economy and political scenes and opponents to their announcement were rounded up to be imprisoned. Foreigners deemed undesirable were deported and the banking sector clammed with new rules and regulations. The Army have been assigned to their camps or sent to the remote locations like Africa or India. New enforcers roamed the street and the people freedom subdued. There have been some rioting but the measures to quell them were destructive but effective. We are…”

“I think we know all that.” Sherlock was briefed by his Bakers Boys and the local precinct officers were obliging. “Tell me who is in charge now.”

“Madame Moriarty had taken over the Prime Minister position. She is supported by her husband, Frank Moriarty. He is the brother of one …”

“James Moriarty, the mathematician professor by day and the crime lord by night.” Sherlock muttered out. “We were mutual acquaintances. Tell me of the situation if…”

“You are asking me of the revolution that may take place, Gentlemen I am afraid it’s already in the planning. The top brass of the Army may be retired or restrained to their camps but the overtures I was given the …”

“Just tell me are they willing to fight?” Sherlock asked. He grew more agitated knowing then that James Moriarty had done him over.

“They will but they need the beacon to go into action.” Mr Fleming replied. “Are you that?”

“Mr Fleming, my name is John Watson, MD and also SOE agent with the double zero prefix. I was assigned to Sherlock.” The doctor looked at Holmes and then continued. “Before that I was in action at the Frontiers. I took down the Fifth Brigade who was planning a revolt…”

“Yes, I read that case file. So you are the indomitable Doctor. I am proud to meet you. We hardly meet the ones we assigned the tasks. Please continue.”

“Sir, it was some nine months back that I got the new task to check on a Mrs Moriarty. It was a task which I took on without the knowledge of Mr Holmes, but the name Moriarty is the bane of our evening conversation with him. Mr Holmes had knowledge of Mrs Moriarty although he did have his misgivings on one named Frank Moriarty. The birth records showed only James but it was later discovered that Frank was raised in highlands and only returned recently. He had moved on upon his adulthood to the continent and lived a life there equally colourful like his other twin. James Moriarty was a brilliant strategist with his stratagem of controlling the network of criminals being seen as one. He had done what the Vatican will be proud to have but his empire was truly a deadly tarantula with him the bite.”

“Amazing that you kept that from my deductions while enjoying my tea and inducing me to more cocaine.” Sherlock voiced out his animosity towards the doctor. “You of all the person in my world had truly eluded my …”

“Allow me, Mr Fleming, I will continue on.” Watson ignored the sour faced sleuth then. “It was only there that the trail of the Moriarty led to one other person known to many as M. The SOE with the assistance of the Prime Minister coined up the task towards her and from her, a team of heroes was assembled. The so named heroes…”

“Bravado… we are named as heroes.” Sherlock cut in with sarcasm. “Do I get a medal or a bullet in the head?”

“M was told of the Moriarty task with some hidden facts. M bought it and then send us away. We have lay on the evidence of one named Monsignor and the Mandarin with clues for Mr Holmes to deduct that the threat was from Monsignor. The research facility was real for Frank Moriarty wanted to develop the ultimate warrior through genetic manipulation. We gave him some insights and then drew him to one that was keen on it like the Mandarin. The research was communicated to suit the faction involved. Monsignor was only keen to hold control on the Army but he was working on it. The ex-priest was a staunch theology supporter but the greed for power shadowed his beliefs.”

“The Mandarin was told that the origin of species may be the pathway to the elixir of life but with our trip there, we were told that he had terminated all interest to our researches. His country in turmoil was his advantage to strengthen the influence. He may not be threat to us for some time but he is a major threat when he held the supreme influence there. Till then, with Monsignor defeated, we have the Moriarty’s to battle with.”

“Well said, Doctor Watson. We can start the battle soon. How shall we do it?” Mr Fleming spoke. “But a civil war here will be disastrous to us. The last one tool ten years to end. The English Civil Wars (1642 – 1651) ended with Oliver Cromwell’s victory then. It took twenty years later before Charles II returned as King and a period known as the Restoration.”

“I know that, Sir.” The assembled was quiet with all their thoughts on averting war. “I want to tell you that the SOE had it planned beforehand. We will assassinate the Moriarty’s at their stronghold.” Doctor Watson replied. “The infected wound that cannot be cured will be removed with impunity.”