EXPEDITION: An Unmatched Fanfiction

Chapter Fifteen: Intense Experimentation

After their discussion, Holmes did not hesitate to gather his things and prepare himself for travel. "I know a man," he explained, "a passing acquaintance of mine, really, and if my memory does not fail me, he should be in London right now working on a project that would be greatly beneficial to our motives." Holmes rushed to his desk and, with a quill ink pen, jotted down a few words on a ripped scrap of paper, then handed it to Watson. "Meet our kingly guest and I at this address. You may want to visit your home and drive your own vehicle, separately from us. I shan't know how long we will be there, but I do not want to separate you from the rest of society for too long."

Watson examined the paper, then looked at Holmes with befuddlement. "This is that old abandoned workhouse, no?"

"Indeed," Holmes replied, "but if the rumors are true, my old friend has done many a wonderful thing to it! It may be our only chance to help the king."

Watson shrugged. "I trust your instincts, Holmes." With that, he tipped his hat to King Arthur and left the office.

Holmes continued to gather a myriad items, each of his movements filled with an excited intensity. King Arthur felt some elation within himself as well, thrilled at the prospect of getting closer to the goal of finding his source.

"Where are you taking me?" King Arthur questioned. "What can this mysterious man do to advance our journey?"

"With all due respect, your majesty, if I told you, I am unsure if it is something you would be able to comprehend," Holmes responded. "This acquaintance of mine explores deeply the newest technologies of this era in a way that I barely understand most times. An innovator, if you will. My scientific knowledges lie in other specialties, but I do know that his current endeavor is one that could change the course of history as it stands! Even if we did not have our current goals, it is something I would pay great money to see. Either way, I am digressing. My point withstanding, it is a feat of science you need to physically see to believe."

Holmes did not take much longer to gather his things. Arthur realized that he had only the clothes on his back and the mighty Excalibur, but he figured he needed nothing else. Holmes then took King Arthur outside and hailed a cab. Holmes informed King Arthur that it specifically was a Hansom cab. It was a small carriage, only drawn by one horse. The driver, wearing a brimmed cap and long black coat, greeted the pair cordially as they boarded. The carriage's interior provided tight quarters for Holmes and Sherlock to sit in, with close walls and a shallow roof.

The driver closed the folding doors of the carriage, then took his position and whipped the horse. The animal let out a loud bray and began moving. This gave King Arthur the chance to see more of what the future of England had in store. Until this point, he did not have much time to reflect on this excursion. Staring at the passing buildings, though, made him pensive.

King Arthur thought to himself, was this really the future? Everything looked so vastly different from what he perceived life to be before, it did not even seem like the same planet. How were there so many of these impressively constructed buildings so tightly packed together? Most of the homes of his subjects in his own realm were built insularly. It would take a vast amount of coordination and architectural savvy to erect these buildings the way they stood now. He pondered the many light sources he had witnessed over the past couple days as well. What magnificent feats of engineering those are! He did not get to look at any of the street lights or Holmes's lamps too intently, but they did not appear to be powered by any candle or other form of light he was familiar with. How did they stay alight then, King Arthur thought to himself. The deeper he contemplated on the changes between this reality and his own, the further he seemed to be from the answer to whether this was his own timeline or some twisted version disconnected from the life he lived before.