Victorian Undead #6 is an issue of the series Victorian Undead (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 2010. It was published on April 28, 2010.
Synopsis for "Part Six: Inferno"
Confronted by an apparently alive Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes realizes that "Moriarty" is an automaton being controlled and talked through by the real and undead Moriarty. He also reveals that Moriarty was the controller of the original automaton that he and Watson had previously encountered, which is why it was familiar with Holmes. Furthermore, Moriarty's early automaton was used to mesmerize Trelawney Hope to easily gain access to his contingency plans, thus allowing the zombies to easily overrun London. When Hope unwittingly realized that the documents were missing, he called Holmes and Watson to investigate. Moriarty boasts to Holmes and Watson that he is now a deity of the dead and will make Britain, and the world, his dominion, before ordering his zombies to attack them. But Holmes and Watson manage to escape right after the former destroys the robot Moriarty's face.
Holmes and Watson then make their way to the Underground and come out of a secret station that leads into Buckingham Palace--the station was used to evacuate Queen Victoria when the outbreak began. Holmes has deduced Moriarty's location based on the Professor's egotistical comments. Watson separates from Holmes, who goes to confront Moriarty, after being reminded to follow the plan.
At the same time, the countdown for London's scorched earth policy is finalized as Royal Navy warships on the Thames River begin firing on the city. Moriarty observes the bombardment with irritation from the Palace's balcony before Holmes finally confronts him. Moriarty states to Holmes that he cannot be stop as he can create more zombies before firing his pistol at Holmes, wounding him in the shoulder, as he is no longer playing by "the old rules." Holmes takes cover behind an upturned table and throws a live grenade at Moriarty which blows up the entire room. However, Moriarty is only left badly burned and strangles Holmes. Moriarty then boasts to Holmes that Watson isn't here to save him like in Reichenbach Falls. But Holmes on the contrary correctly points out to him that Watson is inside the Palace: Sherlock had sent Watson to the Palace's top floor to fire a signal flare to gain the attention of an airship co-commandeered by Mycroft Holmes which its crew prepares to bomb Buckingham Palace.
Holmes notes that Moriarty's body, either dead or alive, is still "a system of levers and pulleys." He then breaks free of Moriarty's grasp by breaking and dislodging Moriarty's arm and leg before finally decapitating the professor with his kukri knife. Watson rushes to the burning room and Holmes tries to find Moriarty's head. But Watson tells him that it is too late to find it as Mycroft's airship is positioning over the Palace. The two run out of the Palace as the airship drops its payload on the building.
In the aftermath narrated by Watson, London is burned to the ground in the "Second Great Fire" by a combined fleet of warships and airships and the undead are eradicated. The last remaining zombies are meticulously scourged out of the Thames. In spite of thousands of lives killed and the city in smoking ruins, London, and like its people, endured and began its reconstruction three months later.
Watson shows his finished draft of their recent adventure to Sherlock. Holmes is impressed but notes that the story cannot be published to the public as they have obligingly swear to sign the "Official Secrets Act", as the entire zombie outbreak is covered up once again, much to Watson's disappointment. But Holmes encourages Watson to file his latest story for posterity and suggests that it might prove something more in the future. Holmes also notes that in the wake of the outbreak they are "venturing into the unknown."
As London rebuilds, beneath the city the undead head of Moriarty survives in which he is attached to his own automaton and is seen experimenting on zombified heads.
Appearing in "Part Six: Inferno"
Featured Characters:
- Sherlock Holmes
- Dr. John Watson
Supporting Characters:
- Mycroft Holmes
Antagonists:
- Professor James Moriarty
- Zombies
Other Characters:
- Trelawney Hope (Flashback only)
Locations:
- London, England
- Whitechapel
- Buckingham Palace
Items:
- Kukri knife
Vehicles:
- Warships
- Airships
Notes
- Holmes' investigation in Trelawney Hope's missing documents is based on The Adventure of the Second Stain.
Trivia
- Sherlock quotes "Sic Semper Tyrannis" ("thus always to tyrants"), sometimes mistranslated as "death to tyrants", to Moriarty, and was known for its usage during the assassinations of Julius Caesar and Abraham Lincoln.
- Moriarty's derisive "no fond farewell notes" comment is a reference to Watson finding Holmes' supposedly final letter addressed to him in The Final Problem.
- The "May you live in interesting times" is also quoted by Holmes when expecting the coming future; it is a phrase reputed to be the English translation of an ancient Chinese proverb and curse, although it may have originated among the English themselves (or Americans).
See Also