Cue mood musi-
Err...
Cue mood music~
"Are you sure you won't need your communicator, sir?" Will Riker asked.
"No, Number One, I'm getting the hell away from that... err... the inestimable Ms. Troi," Captain Picard muttered. "You of all people should understand I don't want her to have any way of tracking where I am. The world of Dixon Hill is the perfect place to escape to, and I even have Beverly and Mr. Data to accompany me. Take care of the ship while I'm gone."
"I'll do my best, sir. I'll have a chat with Deanna to see if we can get her mother off your back." Will smiled.
Captain Picard gave Riker a disgusted look and set off inside the holodeck without a further word. The doorway to the world of Dixon Hill opened with a hiss, and Captain Picard (now known as Detective Dixon Hill, Dix, and some other less complimentary names) entered San Francisco as it was in 1941.
"Hay Dix," Madeleine called as he stepped through the door. "Bout time you got back to the office. You've had quite a few callers. In fact, there's a couple in your office right now. Strange looking couple too; the lady's a lovely one and that fella said he was a South American, but I ain't never seen a South American lookin like that!"
"Quite all right Madeleine, I've been expecting them," Dixon Hill smiled.
"Whateva you say Dix. You should probably change outta that bellboy suit before you meet em, though. You been moonlighting again?"
Dixon gave a start; he'd been so intent on escaping Lwaxana he'd completely forgotten to change out of his StarFleet uniform before arriving in the holodeck. Fortunately he'd kept an extra suit and hat in the program ever since his first embarrassing entrance into his office. "Thank you Madeleine, I completely forgot to change out of this before coming in. I'll go get changed and then meet the clients in my office."
Moments later Dixon stood in his office, smiling at the occupants: Beverly Crusher and Commander Data. Both were, fortunately, dressed in the proper attire.
"Beverly, you look lovely. Data, good of you to come, thank you."
"Not a problem Captain," Data said. "It is a most educational experience, coming to the holodeck and reliving these ancient times. In fact, the last occasion I employed the holodeck I recreated the-"
"Yes, thank you Data," Dixon cut him off. He had a case to solve, not sit here listening to Data prattle on all day. He'd take Troi over that. "And my name's Dixon Hill here. Remember it."
"Dixon, what's the agenda for this little outing today?" Beverly queried.
Dixon's eyes brightened, "Well, as to that, we're going to-" Hill cut short as a massive explosion rocked the building. Beverly fell to the floor with a cry as Data leapt to Dixon's side, preventing him from falling.
"What the devil was that?" Dixon demanded. "Computer, what was the source of that explosion just now? Computer? COMPUTER!" Dixon strode to the door, shouting "Arch! Exit! Open, damn you!" The wall remained ominously blank.
"Oh, don't tell me we're trapped in here again," Beverly wailed. "And I can't seem to get up, I don't know HOW people actually walked around in these wretched shoes!" She kicked off the high heels and got to her feet. "Much better. What's happening, Jean-Luc?"
"Damned if I have any idea! Does it look like I know any more than you, Beverly?!"
"Now now, don't shout at the ladies, Mr. Hill." Dixon whipped about at the sound of the all too familiar voice.
"James Moriarty! Is this your doing?" Hill demanded.
Moriarty buffed his fingernails on his vest. "If you mean the explosion, no. If you are referring to the chaos that is about to ensue, then yes." Moriarty smirked. "I do not believe you will be leaving this madhouse any time soon, Mr. Hill. You might wish you elsewhere, however." The smirk broadened to a malicious grin. "In fact, I guarantee it."
"You let us out of here this instant, Moriarty!" Hill raged. "Or so help me, you're never getting out of this simulation!"
"I see no reason to do any such thing, Mr. Hill. You see, you decided to leave me in here for eons, trapped in this neverending nightmare of a holodeck. I am about to give you a taste of my hell. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have; you will be here for a long, long time. In fact, I am going to enjoy every second of your anguish, every moment of your misery, every ASFVJZSDFMADHFAYHDNF" Moriarty's sentence became unintelligible as his image started to flicker, much like a viewer screen as it loses a signal. In moments Moriarty vanished, replaced by an extraordinarily oddly dressed man holding a scepter.
"Who the hell are you? Where did Moriarty go?"
"Why, he's right in front of you, you gorgeous gorgeous man. Jim Moriarty at your service. But you can call me Jim. I DO like you."
Data was the first to recover. "Why are you here, Jim? Where did Professor Moriarty go?"
The new Moriarty looked him up and down. "You're a rather odd looking one, but once you see past the green you're a knockout too. Oh, James always brings me the NICEST things! As for James, well, he realized that once you two got over your initial shock you might try to chase him down. He doesn't like being chased by men. Lucky for him, I do!" Moriarty let out an obscene giggle.
"Why would we chase you?" Data asked.
"Well, that might be a good reason," Jim pointed behind them at Beverly. What was left of Beverly. No words could precisely describe what had happened to her, but the end result was a lump of meat and viscera that looked as if it had been stuck in a blender. "Did I mention I don't like women that much?"
Dixon Hill lunged for the man, inarticulate with rage. Jim vanished as Hill's hands started to close about his neck. A whisper sounded in his ears: "Much as I like it rough, big boy, I like to play with my food before I eat it. Have fun in hell..."
Dixon stood, trembling head to toe. That bastard was going to pay for what he had done. Both of them would.
