Weaver's Sons
Chapter 1: Rituals
The Doctor, Rose, and Mickey exited the TARDIS.
"Oregon license plates," Mickey noted.
They walked around a small town, admiring a different lifestyle compared to what they were accustomed to in London. However, they started to feel uneasy by the silence and lack of people.
The Doctor noticed a coin on the ground. He picked it up and started sniffing it. "Minted in 2018, and smells brand new."
A shop door quickly opened and a woman appeared. "Hurry up and get in here!"
The Doctor, Rose, and Mickey looked at each other before obliging.
"Sorry, but we're just visiting," Rose began.
"Yeah, that much is obvious. England?" the woman asked.
"Yes," Rose answered. "Who are you? Where is everyone?"
"I'm Grace."
"Hello. I'm the Doctor. This is Rose and Mickey."
"The students of Empire Eternal have begun their march. It's best to not pay them attention."
"If we ignore them long enough, they'll stop these practices. We won't reinforce their behavior anymore," a man said. "I'm Isaac, Grace's husband."
"Nice to meet you, Isaac," the Doctor said.
"While we wait, can I interest you in some of our dessert selections?"
Mickey laughed.
"It's an opportunity. I'm taking advantage," Isaac admitted.
"Sorry, but we haven't exchanged our currency yet," Rose said while the Doctor looked out the window.
"Yeah, that's them," Grace said, knowing what the Doctor was about to ask.
Mickey and Rose joined the Doctor by the window.
Two lines of young men traversed the sidewalk with their heads down and hands on their chests. They wore green or yellow robes, alternating between them.
"Do you hear that? Are they humming?" Rose asked.
"Yup," Isaac answered.
"No, that's not humming," the Doctor corrected. "That's a biological flux regulator. I can't tell who's holding it."
"What does that do?" Rose asked.
"Transfers life energy," the Doctor answered.
"That sounds like serious business," Isaac commented.
"That sounds crazy," said Grace.
"Yup, that's us," the Doctor replied. "We'll just go and . . . be crazy out there."
"She's very skeptical. You don't need to listen to her," Isaac said. "She refuses to believe that I saw the headmaster times two. Why couldn't identical twins be running the place?"
"When you're sneaking around that place, you see things!"
"They've passed. It's fine now, right?" Mickey asked, eager to leave.
Isaac nodded.
The Doctor and Rose put the backs of their right hands to their foreheads and waved while maintaining the creepiest smile they could give.
"They aren't actually crazy," Mickey tried to clarify before sighing. "Never mind. Thanks," he said before joining the Doctor and Rose outside.
"So that life transfer machine isn't normal for Earth at this time?" Rose asked. "They didn't react like it was normal."
"It's not. We need to find a way into that school."
The Doctor, Rose, and Mickey followed the marching students at a distance until they reached a manor on a large estate.
The marching students passed by other students who were wearing casual clothes and resting on the front lawn. A few of the students looked at the visitors with curiosity, but most didn't seem to care.
"Security's not an issue, then," Rose realized.
A man in a suit approached the three. "Hello, there. I'm Max Weaver."
"Hello there, I'm the Doctor. This is Rose and Mickey."
"Doctor who?"
"Just the Doctor."
"All right, far be it for me to judge. How can I help you?"
"Oh, we're just here to learn more about what you do."
"I run Empire Eternal."
"He means Empire Eternal in general," Rose clarified.
"Right. Well, I'm glad EE is piquing interest across the Atlantic and we're always looking to add to our numbers."
"It looks like a nice relaxing place," Rose commented.
"It surely is," Max explained. "Our members adhere to a regiment that balances a good diet, exercise, and relaxation. We must be at our best physically and mentally in our service to the father. Come, I will give you a tour."
Max led the Doctor, Rose, and Mickey into the manor.
"This isn't a school," Mickey quietly noted.
"It's a cult," the Doctor finished for him.
"That'll be easier to infiltrate," Rose pointed out.
"This is one of our meditation rooms," Max explained as he opened the doors. He surprised three members who were lying down. "Sorry, we don't often do tours."
"How were these people selected?" the Doctor asked.
"Word of mouth."
"So what do you hope to accomplish?" Rose asked.
"What have you heard? It must have been something that piqued your interest if you came all the way here."
"A new lifestyle," the Doctor answered. "A healthier one, free from modern limits." He looked closely at Max, trying to determine if his assumptions were correct and if his ruse was successful.
"Well, that's our goal in a nutshell. Like I said, we maintain a good balance in our lives."
"You said service before, too," Mickey pointed out.
"Yes, and not just to the father. We all look out for each other, maintain the building and grounds, and get involved with outreach. If you're interested, I welcome you three to stay with us for a couple days and get a feel for our life here."
"We'd love to," Rose answered.
"Larry!" Max called out.
A young man approached and Max gave him instructions.
The Doctor did likewise, quietly. "Rose, we still don't know what they're planning or what he's doing with the regulator. Why don't you do some digging? And ask others about the father."
"Sure."
Max finished his conversation and addressed the Doctor and his companions.
"Larry will show you your rooms."
"Excellent," the Doctor answered. "He can tell Rose all we need to know. Mickey and I will go collect our bags."
Larry showed Rose three rooms where she, Mickey, and the Doctor could stay. Later, while still waiting for the Doctor and Mickey, Rose walked around and chatted briefly with others. She noticed another young man and approached him.
"Louis?" Rose asked.
The man turned around. "Sorry, you're mistaken. I'm Will."
"Oh, sorry. You look a lot like a boy who used to live near our flat in London."
"Couldn't be me, then," Will said. "I've never been to London. I think Max has. I've heard him talking about London and some place called Canary Wharf."
"My mistake. I haven't seen him in over twelve years. I thought he grew into you." Rose then noticed the Doctor and Mickey. She took a couple bags and showed the Doctor and Mickey their rooms.
"Did you talk to anyone?" the Doctor asked in Rose's room with Mickey.
"I've found nothing," Rose replied. "They're just living normal lives here. They aren't worshipping anyone or doing anything strange."
"What about the father?" the Doctor asked.
"No one knows anything. They were just told that their work for the father will advance humanity. Most of them think he's just an idea, not a real person."
"But don't these young men and women have lives to get back to?" the Doctor asked.
"The people I talked to didn't seem to care," Rose responded.
"Maybe they're just taking a break," suggested Mickey.
"We still need to find out why they have a biological flux regulator," the Doctor said.
The three heard a clock chime loudly.
"Dinner time," Mickey said.
"Everyone's supposed to be there," Rose noted, looking at the Doctor.
"A perfect time to do some investigating. You'll make an excuse for me?"
"Sure," Mickey said.
Rose and Mickey entered a large room. Max noticed them and approached.
"I hope you like pasta."
"Yes, definitely," Rose answered.
"Where's the Doctor?"
"He's fixing our ride," Mickey answered. "When we went back earlier today, we meant to drive up to the building, but we got a flat tire. Anyway, the Doctor didn't want to leave it out on the road for too long, so he's gone to fix it."
"His loss," Max replied. He ushered everyone to take their seats as butlers served unflavored vegan dishes.
Elsewhere, the Doctor was in a basement, scanning for alien technology. He slowly approached a room from which he heard intermittent beeping and opened the door. He saw an old man lying in bed.
"Do I know you?" the old man asked.
"That depends. What's your name?"
"Max Weaver."
"What?" the Doctor asked.
Max began to breathe heavily and an alarm went off.
Two doctors rushed in to examine Max while the Doctor tried to ease away.
"He's gone," a doctor said.
"Who are you?" the other doctor asked, noticing the Doctor. "Neil! We need you!"
Dinner continued two levels above, with Mickey looking around the room.
"That's Louie Burke, that kid by your flat," Mickey noticed.
"It's not Louis. He says his name is Will. I talked with him."
"That has to be Louie."
"It's 2018, Mickey. Louis probably doesn't look anything like he used to."
"Maybe he was right." Mickey quietly remarked.
"Who was right?"
Neil suddenly barged in, followed by the Doctor and Leah Finn, one of Max's doctors. Silence filled the room.
"What's going on?" Max asked.
"He was in subfloor 2," Leah answered as Mickey got up. "No permission, no excuse."
"Did he see anything?" Max asked.
Mickey approached the Doctor.
"Yes," Leah responded. "He saw . . . the last breaths."
"I knew I couldn't trust you," Mickey suddenly said. He punched the Doctor across the face.