Summery: The Game is afoot and Holmes along with his faithful confederates are out to apprehend the mastermind behind a series of thefts. However the investigation soon takes on a sinister turn from which no one will escape unscathed. Is Holmes’ informant and friend hiding something? Or is she just as frightened as the rest of them?

Disclaimer: All 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 One: Mace’s Mentor

221b Baker Street, Westminster, New London, UK

Holmes drew the bow across neck of his violin as he played a morose tone that was still rather soothing. Three months had passed since Moriarty had attempted world domination and subjected Holmes and everyone he cared for to torture. There was no sign of the villain save the murders of the Harrisons and Young was in a vegetative state and was likely to remain in that condition for the rest of his life. Leads had been followed but they had turned up nothing. The master criminal was nowhere to be found.

The detective’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the vidphone. Sighing Holmes carefully placed the violin back in its case and went to answer it.

“Holmes I want you in my office asa-mmediatly! There’s been a robbery and the prime minister has requested your services. So get over here.” Greyson growled his face disappeared from the screen before Holmes could respond.

‘Well this should prove interesting,’ Holmes observed mentally as he called out for Watson, that had been abrupt even for the rather brusque Greyson.

Moments later the compudroid appeared from the kitchen.

“It appears we have a case. Come, we are to go to New Scotland Yard. The good chief inspector was a new shade of red and the prime minister has asked for our services. Last time he did that we had a rather amusing venture.”

“As I recall he was tricked into consulting you,” Watson commented dryly.

“Shall we go?”

Watson chuckled and grabbed his coat.

oo0oo

Chief Inspector Greyson’s Office, New Scotland Yard, Westminster, New London, UK

Holmes and Watson entered Greyson’s office to find the chief inspector looking less red and Lestrade had been staring out the window before turning to face them upon their appearance. The prime minister was also present as were two men who, judging from their attire, stance, and the fact that they were here, could only be MI5 agents.

“Mr Sherlock Holmes I presume,” said one of the MI5 men who was about six feet one inch, with black hair and brown eyes, and he appeared to be about forty-five years of age. His somewhat overweight associate stood at 6’’9 inches, had light brown hair brown eyes and was clean-shaven like his compatriot.

“And Dr John Watson,” Holmes pointedly informed them as he gestured to Watson with his hand; they were not going to ignore him. The thin man nodded curtly in Watson’s direction, while the pudgy one did nothing but glance at the droid.

“I am Agent Milton and this is Agent Stott,” the tall man introduced his partner before settling down to the matter at hand. “I’ll get straight to the point Mr Holmes, Dr Watson, and Inspector Lestrade, there has been a series of robberies committed by a man named Abeo. He changes his appearance the way people change clothes. He enters establishments disguised as one who works there and uses cloned organs to bypass security.

“Just yesterday he entered Norwood enterprises as a Dr Bryers and stole a very important disk, he then exited the building as a Dr Bowers. The two men have been working on a programme called the Medusa Project that would enable a retarded five year old to hack into the most secure computer system. I cannot stress this fact enough Mr Holmes, any and all information is easily accessible to whoever has that disk. The databases of the British ministry, records of numerous intelligence agencies—MI5, the Canadian CSIS, the American FBI and American Secret Service—every bit of data in every country.”

“Hmmm,” Holmes had heard of Abeo before as the detective had made certain he knew of all this century’s major and unique criminals. “Quite the dilemma. What other thefts have occurred?”

“Various chemicals that can be combined to form corrosives, nerve gas, even salt clouds and cause them to rain. The Cubbits’ growth formula has also been stolen; I believe you are acquainted with them?” Holmes nodded at the agent’s inquiry. “About twenty viruses and other biological weapons have been stolen as well.”

“And you are only now seeking out my assistance?” Holmes inquired as he raised a blonde eyebrow.

“You’re an amateur detective who died over one hundred and fifty years ago and knows little about such things, frankly I doubt you can do anything at all.” Stott informed Holmes curtly.

“Heh-em,” muttered the prime minister as he cleared his throat and fixed a stern look upon Scott. “Mr Holmes I am sure you can appreciate the gravity of the situation, and I don’t have to tell you that it must remain secret. If the public were to find out, we would have mass panic.”

Holmes merely smiled and asked, “Am I to assume I have access to any and all resources you have should I request them?”

“Of course sir,” replied Milton.

“Excellent, I shall need all documentation pertaining to the thefts, everything you can find. I need to have a clear idea of what was stolen and how the theft was accomplished. I shall also require any personal information you are able to furnish me with—those associated with the crimes thorough even the smallest link. Finally, I should like to visit the scene of the latest occurrence.”

“Of course,” replied Milton, “I will accompany you and Stott will acquire the files you have requested, and bring them to your residence at Baker Street.”

oo0oo

Noorwood Enterprises, ?, New London, UK

Within the hour Holmes, Watson, Lestrade, and Milton were at Noorwood Enterprises examining the security footage and the scene. Holmes looked at everything carefully and minutely though he was not able to ascertain much. Abeo had come in disguised as Bryers, used a cloned version of Bowers’ eye to gain access to the lab, stole the programme, and substituted a disk that played a song sung by the Beatles.

“And it really doesn’t matter if I’m wrong. I’m right.”]

“Will someone shut that music off!”

“Not a fan Lestrade?” smiled Holmes.

“The substitute disk contained a virus that is causing the system to play that song repeatedly. However, the technicians believe they will have it fixed momentarily,” Watson informed the two detectives and MI5 agent.

“The sooner the better, it’s driving me insane. DNA scans only reveal DNA belonging to people who work here and an Edward Terrell?” Lestrade turned questioningly to Milton.

“Yes, that is Abeo’s real name,” the agent informed them. “You’d be wise not to call him that to his face though, the last time someone did he cut off their hand.”

“Cut it off? What type of weapons does the man use?” asked Holmes.

“He is in the habit of always carrying a machete—of all things—with him for close-up hand-to-hand combat.”

In response to that bit of intel, Lestrade and Watson felt their eyebrows rise skyward. Holmes steepled his fingers before his face, fingertip meeting fingertip. “Hmmm, can you tell me if Abeo has lived in London before?”

“Yes, several years ago, but he has not been here in years prior to these robberies,” replied Milton with his own eyebrows raised as he wondered how the information could possibly be useful.

Lestrade and Watson, however, both glanced at Holmes. They knew he was wondering if Abeo had been around when Mace had started her network; if he had been she might know something.

“Would you like to interview the doctors now Mr. Holmes?” asked Milton.

“It is doubtful they will have anything of use to add but one occasionally is surprised,” Holmes observed drolly as he removed his communicator from his pocket. Keying in the necessary string of characters, he addressed the individual on the end when they answered. “Mace this is Holmes, can you meet me in our usual spot in two hours?”

“Two hours? Ya I think I can manage that, might be a little late though,” the woman’s answer was audible to everyone in the room.

“Not to worry just get there as soon as you can,” Holmes reassured.

“Was that Mace Malone? You work with her?” Milton inquired as he gave the detective a considering look. “Girl’s been a thorn in MI5’s side for years. Keeps sending us small but useful pieces of information and demands large sums of money before she gives us any more useful details. Though I must admit her information is always accurate.”

Holmes smiled, Mace had many last names Malone, Callaway and Manning were her favourites. Malone was what she used in the phonebook, her poker acquaintances called her Callaway. It was due to this inconstancy that he called her by her first name. “Those sound like characteristics of the woman I’m acquainted with. I would not be too quick to judge Agent Milton.

oo0oo

“Well those interviews weren’t very informative,” said Lestrade as the trio strode through the parking lot, headed towards their respective vehicles. Agent Milton had departed their company at the entrance of Noorwood Enterprises as he was required to report to his superiors.

“Indeed. It is most annoying when individuals insist upon their innocence when they could be aiding investigators by answering the questions posed to the best of their knowledge,” Waton’s voice was slightly irate, but only slightly as they strode across the parking lot. “Unfortunately, it is quite clear that there were several opportunities in which anyone could have obtained a DNA sample from them.”

“Ya and cloning body parts isn’t that difficult,” added Lestrade as the three wove through vehicles, “you don’t have to be Fenwick to pull it off!”

“We have some time before my meeting with Mace. Shall we head to Baker Street and see if the good Agent Stott has the requested files?” inquired Holmes.

The other two nodded and the three headed of for 221b. As they landed their hovercars outside the house thirty minutes later they found Agent Scott waiting for them with arms crossed and looking very sour by the front door.

“Ah Agent Stott you have the files I presume?”

“Of course I have them, all the relevant information is in these disks,” the agent shoved a small package containing the disks towards Holmes before stomping off. He resented being the errand boy for a worthless 19th Century rent-a-cop.

“I take it I cannot persuade you to join us for tea?” Holmes called cheerfully to the agent’s retreating back. Stott ignored him and continued to walk.

“I say Holmes what if he had accepted the invitation? I would not want to spend any amount of time with that fellow if I could help it.” Watson commented.

“Not to worry Watson I was sure he would refuse. Now shall we review the files?”

Moments later the three were in the sitting room looking at the files through their preferred method. Lestrade was viewing them on a screen while Holmes had printed out hard copies; Watson had simply downloaded the data and was turning it over in his head trying to determine what was relevant.

“Watson, in sum how may thefts have occurred, the time the items were stolen, and the method of procurement of the stolen items?”

“Certainly,” the droid answered. “MI5 have linked together six thefts due to the presence of Edward Terrell that occurred at Cross Tech, Genetech, Cubbits’ Farm, NewGate Indoor Water Park, and Noorwood Enterprises. The first theft occurred on the 6th of this month at Cross Tech where a large amount of silver iodine and dry ice was stolen. Mr Terrell impersonated one of the company’s drivers and stole a large truck containing the chemicals. The second theft occurred on the 11th and several lethal viruses were taken from Genetech. The relevant report does not specify which viruses were taken and I surmise MI5 is reluctant to release the information to consulting investigators,” Watson added in a dry voice.

“It appears that governments are no more fore coming then they were two hundred years ago,” Holmes observed deprecatingly. “They seem to be under the impression that I need not know what I’m suppose to be looking for.”

“The report does say that every virus is contained within a metalazoni sac—which is a sort of battery for viruses. The sac is designed to run out after a twenty-four hour time period at which point the virus dies.”

“Well that’s comforting,” said Lestrade.

“Unfortunately every virus stolen is air born and kills within six hours.”

“That’s not.”

“Indeed, exactly how many such viruses were stolen?” asked Holmes.

“Twenty-six.”

“Biological warfare,” Holmes muttered in disgust as he considered the theft of the viruses, “as if man did not have sufficient means of killing himself off. What was the next theft?”

“The third theft occurred again at Cross Tech on the 15th where a large quantity of phosphorus trichloride was stolen.”

“Half the necessary ingredients for Sarin nerve gas,” Holmes observed as he had an idea what had been taken from the water park. “Did the theft occur in the same manner as the previous Cross theft?”

“Yes it did. The fourth theft was the Cubbitts growth formula on the 21st—stolen in much the same fashion as the Medusa Project two days ago on the 27th. A shipment of chlorine heading for the NewGate Indoor Water Park was high jacked on the 24th—fortunately there were no injuries.”

“Chlorine, wonderful,” Lestrade muttered sarcastically. “Combine that with the phosphorus trichloride and you’ve got Sarin.” Sighing at the knowledge, the Yard inspector glanced at the mantel clock and noted the time. ““Holmes you should probably head out; you’re due to meet Mace in twenty minutes.”

“Hmm,” the detective hummed, his exacting mind still occupied with arranging the facts of information into a logical picture.

“Would you like me to drive you Holmes?” Watson offered.

“No need Watson I can handle it,” the Victorian responded with a shake of his head as he stood.

“Maybe I should call a cab,” suggested Lestrade.

“That will not be necessary,” replied Holmes as he reached for his Inverness and deerstalker, before heading out the door.

oo0oo

Café, Crêpe, New London, UK

Seated at the café he used to rendezvous with his informant, Holmes put down his cup of tea as he pulled out his pocket watch. Mace was fifteen minutes late. While this was not surprising it was still annoying.

“Hey Sherlock,” the redheaded woman called out as she breezed into the café and headed towards him, taking the seat across from the waiting Victorian. “What’s new?”

“There have been a number of connected thefts that merit looking into,” Holmes responded amiably. “I also wish to know what you could tell me about a man named Abeo.”

“Real name Edward Terrell, born May 5, 2060 in Manchester,” Mace answered promptly as she waved an advancing waiter away. “Calls himself Abeo because of his ability to change his appearance—as I’m sure you know Abeo means ‘change’ in Latin. Few know what he really looks like though I can tell you he’s an albino. Lived in London several years ago. I used to do transportation jobs for him as payment. He taught me some of his art—he’s one of my mentors.”

Mace took a moment to observe Holmes’s reaction to that last bit of information. Beyond a slight dilation of his pupils there was no response, and even she couldn’t be sure it simply wasn’t because of the light as outside sunlight broke through the clouds and brightened the interior of the café.

“He is a true psycho Holmes. He is not evil, simply lacks a conscious. He takes no pleasure in killing, but he doesn’t mind it either—he would not hesitate to kill me if it profited him.” Mace said with a neglectful shrug. “The only think that binds him to others is he word—which once given is given. A comparison that you could understand would be a gentleman’s debut of honour—his word is his bond. He has no friends and no family. Also, he’s honest. He doesn’t lie because it doesn’t profit him to be doubted. An interesting character really. Avoid crossing him if you can, he’s not the best fighter but he’s fair and he’s wily…. Now why do you ask?” Mace concluded as she leaned towards the detective.

“What can you tell me of his recent activity?”

“Answer my question,” Mace responded with a determined look of inquisition.

“He has stolen items of value,” was all Holmes was willing to volunteer.

“Liar,” Mace hissed a hard look on her face as she levelled a glare at her companion. “If it was merely an item of value you would not be in such a hurry to meet. He has stolen something dangerous, and from what I hear he may be working for the current most dangerous man in London. I know you met with MI5—this is not the time to play games; tell me what you know or this conversation is over.”

Holmes gave the redhead woman a considering look, he had suspected that this side of her personality existed—and investigation had supported his deduction—but he’d never witnessed it before. Mace was not a woman that appreciated being kept in the dark or being played with.

“My dear Mace, items of value usually are dangerous,” Holmes chided. “I would hope you of all people would be aware of that.” He held up a hand to forestall her sharp tongued response and continued. “In sum: four chemicals, various strains of infectious agents, the Cubbitts growth formula, and a computer hacking program.”

“Hacking program? You mean the Medusa Project? I heard there had been a break-in at Noorwood,” Mace pondered allowed as she tried to decipher what the Victorian meant by ‘infections agents’. Wait, the definition of virus was ‘ultramicroscopic infections agent’ which meant, “The viruses stolen from Genetech two and a half weeks ago.” At the detective’s confirming nod, Mace continued speaking. “Sorry I hadn’t told you, I had been sworn to secrecy. Did I miss anything?”

“The chemical thefts, which occurred from NewGate Indoor Water Park and Cross—” [Pink text modification.]

“Tech.” Mace hissed again, green her eyes narrowed. “That company is messed up Holmes, no matter how hard I try I can’t find out much about it, but what I do find out is not comforting.” Mace paused and glared at the table, then she turned and looked around, “Where’s the waiter?”

“What do you know?”

“Cross Tech is a company focused on research and development owned by Xavier Cross, once they have a working item they sell the contract rights—with very benificial clauses to themselves—to government endorsed manufactueriers.” Mace paused as she saw a waiter approach; she waved her hand and said, “We’re leaving.” Placing five credits on the table as a tip she rose, “Walk with me.”

Holmes obligingly rose and the two departed the café, walking down the street in silence for roughly twenty minutes before Mace casually glanced around to confirm they were on a crowded street.

“I’m sure you’re aware of the Manhattan Foundation, the biggest developer of weaponry currently in existences. According to public records the owner of the Foundation is Howard Haycraft… who is on the Cross Tech payroll as the ‘personal assistant’ of Cross. Now forgive me if I’m wrong,” Mace drawled sarcastically, “but wouldn’t a man of Haycraft’s political and economic stature not be someone else’s employee? The reason I investigated was the fact that I couldn’t find anything about the Foundation or Cross Tech that wasn’t public knowledge without great difficulty—otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered looking. It took me months of searching and a whole lot of creds to get my hands on those employee registers.

“Thus Haycraft actually works for Cross and serves as a front man, that way Cross can play the role of the ‘peace loving philanthropist who refuses to make weapons because he only wishes to serve man kind and doesn’t care about making a profit’.” These last words were uttered in a sickly sweet sarcastic voice as Mace intertwined her fingers and brought her hand up to the right side of her face as a schoolgirl who gushes over the high school football captain. Dropping her hands back down, she snorted, “Ya right.”

“You believe him responsible.”

“There’s no evidence to suggest that, all that’s known is that he is a suspicious character who keeps secrets. Still…” Mace shrugged. “My gut tells me he knows a fair amount more then he lets on. It wouldn’t be the first time someone stole from themselves to wave off suspicion. I’ll try to locate Abeo.”

“And Cross?”

“The last contact I had in Cross Tech was one of his scientist. After our last meeting his hover car crashed into the Thames. My prior contact was killed while being mugged the day after our last meeting. I knew the former for one month and the latter for two; they were the only contacts I have ever had in Cross Tech. Abeo is our surest lead. I’ll keep an eye on Cross as best I can, but my greatest chance for finding anything is Abeo.”

“Very well, I will interview Cross, I am investigating the thefts. It should not be difficult to arrange.”

Mace nodded. “Heard you got stuck with Stott. He’s an annoying prick if ever there was one but he’s good at his job. Milton’s okay.”

“He believes you demand rather large sums for your services.”

“Large but not outrageous. ‘Sides, I’m trying to create 1.5 million cred trust funds for all the kids who are in any way dependent on me, so if I die in the near future, which seems probable, they will be provided for.”

Holmes’s head turned towards the woman at his side, “You’re quite serious?”

Mace nodded, “Ya, it’s a lot of credits considering I got twelve kids, but so far I got seventy-five percent for each currently not in college and twenty-five percent for the others so—”

“Do you believe yourself in danger?” he interrupted.

“I operate on the assumption that a lot of people want me dead Holmes so yes—and the fact that we are being followed isn’t helping.”

“I know. There are six, the man in the black jacket seems to be the leader.”

“I only count four.”

“The woman in pink and the man with long black hair.”

“Oh. Well do you want to lose them or confront them?”

“I think it would be best if we waited until we were holding a few more cards before we attempted any confrontation.”

“Alrighty then, this way,” grinned Mace as she turned a corner and walked into an ally. “The structural integrity of these buildings is somewhat lacking in certain areas,” Mace told him as she jumped for the ladder of a fire escape and started to climb Holmes following behind.

“And this will be of service to us?”

“Yep! Ever wonder why I carry a crow bar with me? And hurry up Sherlock we gotta hurry if my plan’s going to work,” she called over her shoulder as she started to run up the fire escape. Holmes followed suite. Once they were halfway up he heard the three of the six he had spotted earlier begin their climb, two more were waiting on the ground, and the other appeared to be running to the other side of the building. He turned his attention to the task at hand and quickened his pace.

Once they where at the top platform Mace turned to him. “Quickly Sherlock get onto the roof and be ready to grab me.” Holmes didn’t question he just climbed onto the roof while Mace addressed their pursuers.

“Lady and gentlemen I feel obligated to inform you that it is in your best interest the cease chasing us, you have lost.”

The men froze to listen and the woman in pink laughed, “We outnumber you.”

“And we are smarter then you. One, we have advantage of higher ground. Two, the structural integrity of this fire escape is lacking. Three, I have a crow bar,” Mace held out the aforementioned object with an eager grin and went to where the fire escape was bolted to the wall and with one swift movement brought it down and began to pry it lose.

The woman’s eyes widened and she continued to climb, her and a man in blue. It took Mace but a moment to pry the bolt lose, she then ran to the other side of the platform.

“Mace take my hand!” cried Holmes.

“Hold on and get ready!” she shouted as she set about loosening the last bolt. Once the bolt was just about out, she grabbed Holmes’s offered right hand with her right as the fire escape began to wobble. Trusting the crowbar into her belt, just as the woman and her compatriot almost reach the top she grabbed Holmes’s left hand with her own. Twisting around so that her back was against the building she gave the railing of the platform a good kick with both legs.

Holmes grunted as Mace’s sudden shifting weight jerked his arms crudely, nearly dislocating one of his shoulders as he maintained his grip.

The kick caused the fire escape to pull away from the rest of the building and collapsed to the ground with an angry screech of twisting metal and human cries of pain.

“Ha! Take that suckers! Beware the wrath of Mace!” she cried as Holmes pulled her up and the two looked over the edge, their pursuers were in bad shape: the woman’s leg was crushed and the man was bleeding from his forehead.

Mace winched at the sight, “We should call an ambulance.”

“You have bigger problems my dear,” a voice Mace recognised said from behind them.

Turning around, Mace and Holmes found the man in black on the roof with them.

“Abeo,” Mace greeted frostily.

Abeo clapped in approval. “Well done Mace, it does one good to see one’s student triumph over adversity and don’t look so surprised—some of us take the stairs.”

Mace glared and crossed her arms, after giving the man a considering look she smiled. “Going to take us on Abeo? Last time you fought me it didn’t work out so well for you.”

“So true, so true, but I’m not here to stop you my dear. You must be Sherlock Holmes, hmm the famous Sherlock Holmes and the infamous lady Mace quite the duo. How’s the arm Mace?”

“Fine, no thanks to your employer.”

“What makes you think my employer is responsible?”

“The fact that you know about it.”

Holmes glanced at Mace, he would ask later, they had bigger problems. “He is attempting to distract us Mace, we had best be moving.”

“Right,” Mace started forward but Abeo manoeuvred in front of her.

“I regret that you must remain here for the time being.”

“Try and stop us” said Mace as she removed hermanriki-gusari from her wrist.

Abeo smirked as he maintained his distance. “Rather not. I’m paid to infiltrate not fight, that’s what they’re for” Abeo gestured with his thumb to a hovercar that had just arrived to circle the roof. Mace could see Damon at the controls with Kerai in the passenger seat. The car landed and Kerai stepped out, followed by Damon.

“Not you two again,” whined Mace as she massaged her temples, “I don’t want to deal with you.”

“Too bad,” laughed Kerai as she rushed the redhead. Two things happened simultaneously; Mace tossed a fine white powder into Kerai’s face just as the woman hit a pressure point on her arm. Mace’s arm went numb and fell limp to her side as Kerai collapsed to the ground coughing.

“A little something I rigged up just for you, I heard you were back in town,” Mace informed the coughing woman before she addressed Holmes. “My right arm is useless, can you hold Damon off while I call for help?”

Holmes nodded and readied his cane.

Abeo shook his head as his lips curved up into a smile. “It would take five minutes for the Yard to get here and I have little doubt you two could handle us, seeing as Mace has excellent aim with an ionizer and a knife with her left arm,” he gave a sidelong glance to the incapacitated Oriental woman who’s disabled Mace’s right arm. “We were not sent to kill, just ruff you up a bit and deliver a message, ‘This is a dangerous game and you will be given no quarter.’ Personally I don’t see the point in such a warning as, if you two didn’t have a fondness for danger, you would not have chosen such professions. Still, my employer believes that a warning is a simple common courtesy that must be entertained.”

“And no doubt to find out how much we know,” Holmes added as he placed the man as an individual that had been outside 221b when he’d departed. “You were watching myself, Watson, and Lestrade this morning.”

“If you guy’s were talking within view of the window chances are he knows what you said, he’s really good at reading lips,” Mace informed him. “And don’t look at me like that! I was going to tell you before we parted.”

“Same old Mace,” Abeo reminisced with a chuckle. “Still neglecting to bring up important details when she is distracted. Well considering Holmes’s shoulders are no doubt sore from that little stunt and Mace has lost the use of her right arm temporarily, and of course the message has been delivered, I think I’ll consider our job done, good day Mace.”

Giving a curt nod in their direction Abeo headed to the exit, leaving the parked hovercar for the two hired toughs. Damon strode over to Kerai, Holmes and Mace stepping out of the way quickly as the giant took his compatriot into his arms. Kerai coughed and sputtered as she was lifted into the air and deposited into the passenger seat of their hovercar, her eyes were mere slits of malice as she watched the detectives shrink into the distance.

A few moments later the EMS had arrived as one of the neighbours had decided to call the authorities when they’d heard the fire escape come down. Assured that their presence was of no significance within the gathered crowd, Mace and Holmes departed the scene and began the long walk aback to where their vehicles were parked.

“You were attacked earlier,” stated Holmes blandly as they neared their destination, Mace having filled him on what she knew.

“Ya, a few punks attacked me. I managed to fend them off, but not before one got me with a knife in the arm. It is minor so I patched it up and headed to the café. I’ll go to a clinic after I see you to your hovercoach.”

“Allow me to transport you there,” Holmes offered.

“I have a hovercycle and you should tell Lestrade and Watson what you know and what just happened. I’m fine, really,” Mace insisted.

Eyeing the stubborn expression on her face, Holmes dropped the subject temporarily and picked up another one. “What exactly did you mean by ‘Last time you tried to take me on it didn’t work out so well for you.’?”

“Oh, well, me and Abeo had a disagreement of sorts during our last encounter. He wanted me to transport something he had stolen to his employers. Not a big deal I did that all the time, but this time I found out that it was something rather dangerous, that his employers should not have access to it. When I didn’t deliver he hunted me down, we fought, I stabbed him. He has a large scar on the left side of his abdomen. There’s your coach,” Mace exclaimed cheerfully as she lengthened her stride, in a hurry to end the discussion.

“Mace I insist upon seeing you to a clinic,” Holmes insisted sternly as he lengthened his stride to keep up. “It is very unwise for you not to have sought professional attention and assistance especially as your life has been, and is being, threatened.”

“Aww your sweet,” Mace said with a grin as she tapped the detective on the side of the face with her mobile arm. “But one, I can take care of myself, two, he’s not going to try anything tonight. The guy just warned, which means I’m safe until I do something else to tick him off.”

Uncomfortable at the touch Holmes’s never the less saw it for what it was—a diversion tactic. Blowing out a breath in exasperation he spoke again as they reach his vehicle, “Is there at least any improvement of mobility?”

“Its fine,” Mace insisted as she purposely flexed the elbow of her right arm, the only movement she could make at the moment as the nerves slowly unfroze. “I can engaged the autopilot if I need to. Also, I doubt there are any, but just in case, I’ll have Mickey drop by tonight with a special scanner Charlie rigged up to scan 221b for any bugs, okay?”

Holmes nodded in acquiescence at the offer as he ducked into his hovercoah; Charlie Moss was a child of Mace’s that had an uncanny knack for invention. Acknowledging Mace’s farewell wave with a tilt of his head, he joined the traffic and headed back to 221b.

Mace walked the half block to her hovercycle and headed home herself. She had tended to her own injuries since she was thirteen and had no intention of going to a clinic or hospital. They would ask annoying questions and she would have to fill out a report; it was a mess she would rather avoid. She would get some rest tonight and begin her search for Abeo in the morning.

Next Chapter will be on December 17